Tips I Have Learned While Sewing and Piecing - Part I

These are some of the discoveries I have noticed/learned during the piecing and sewing process of making quilts....(not necessarily in order of importance...)

1) Do not pin on the seams of a 9-patch when sewing together - pin on either side of the bulk.

2) I am not ready for WOF strip sewing yet....only the length of my 24" template I am using. Varied widths ensue on same strip.

                 2a) Leaning over too far while rotary cutting a strip causes your (add guilty portion of anatomy here) to dislodge the ruler you are using.

3) Measure, measure, measure!

4) Starch and iron Everything! (almost)

5) Take pictures of the layout.  Don't rely on memory...it ain't isn't there no any more!

6) Look at the finished pieces as long as you want.......but the job won't get finished unless you do it.

7) Cutting fabric could be the most important step in creating a quilt....after measuring correctly.

8) Maybe in a year I will get a "Go"....

9) Stash moves! Pieces of fabric visit each other in the middle of the night.

10)  Look at enough patterns and they start morphing together into weird great ideas!



Part II  will evolve at a future date.........duplications are possible due to Importance Quotient  or just plain Memory Loss...

BTW:  THIS IS MY 99TH POST....MY GIVEAWAY WILL BE NEXT..........KEEP LOOKING.....

One Thing One Week Challenge #5 Completed!

 I pulled an almost "all-nighter" to finish the binding on my blue/white Sawtooth quilt.  I started this in 3/2010 and finished the top around 2-3- months later.  I sandwiched and started hand quilting it.  I did not quilt "in the ditch", rather on both sides of the ditch.  It took awhile. 

The block and pattern I found at Marcia's Quilter's Cache.  She has two (2) Sawtooth Square patterns. The one I used was the one with only one (1) pin.  The pattern was on the second page of this block.

I love the blue fabric and its' variety of hues. The main reason I made this quilt was to give me practice on HSTs.    I got plenty of practice!

So here is my completed challenge for Amy's One Thing, One Week Challenge .  See what others have done during this week...it's awesome! 

Stray Stitches Giveaway.....

Just found a new (to me) blog...what fun! Linda at Stray Stitches is having a great giveaway! :: Thimbleberries Quilt Club 2006 BOM Quilt Kit.  It is minus a couple of pieces of fabric (outer border for one), but still a LOT of fabric.  Go check it out.

Finished Tool Top

Yes, I have a brand new UFO.  Just finished the top to the Tool Quilt (52" x 60" ).  I cut a simple panel and simplified its' original pattern.  With the holidays and such, I figure it will lay in its' tool box for awhile.  My side list of things to do before the new year hasn't seen much progress...given the time of year I am not surprised.  

I have also come to the conclusion that grandchildren grow faster than a quilt can be made for them.  I have some darling fabric that is quickly being outdated by their recipients ages.....Wonder if a 12 year old would still be interested in Dr. Seuss??? 

BTW, I have decided what to do with my giveaway on my 100th post...wait and see.....have to take pictures first. I (think) this is my 96th post.

I'm Guest Blogger Again!

Yep! Madame Samm allowed me to come back with the story of DHs Crazy Quilt!

So those of you who followed the saga here, can see it again on Stash Manicure. 

Go check it out!

Amy's One Week One Challenge is here again.

I promised Amy on her post that I would bind my blue/white quilt and Finish it! So be looking for a picture of it in a week....gotta go, have some Thanksgiving cards to mail out today...

Happy Thanksgiving!

BTW, only 6 more posts until I reach 100...keep watching for the giveaway.......

Quilting is like Waltzing.....

Seems I have waltz time in my head.  Slow step, quick, quick steps,,,etc.

Every task  has a behind the scenes action which is necessary to keep up the momentum...reminds me of  the rhythm of a waltz.  1 slow step (starch, iron, measure, cut,) , 2-3 quick steps (sew, sew).

 Yesterday was a big step for me... I gave away a twin bed in my sewing room that was just taking up space.  We have other means for keeping company comfortable now...other bedding that is hidden or folded up in DHs barn...not that we would send people to the barn to sleep (that is another post altogether!)..

I have rolled this into the space temporarily....

while deciding whether to put this in its' place.

or put it in front of the other two windows I have on another wall.   

In the meantime, I am starting to work on a simple tool quilt that is taking a little longer than I thought to cut.  

 I also have to recut some squares for the mystery quilt I am working on... turns out they evolve into half quarter squares, which, if I had known, would have started out as bigger squares than the directions told me.  I do not have very much experience with HQSs, so try to allow myself room to work when I make them.  I should have enough fabric.

So my machine will have a rest for a few days, but I will be working..

See you in a bit.

Quilt Stolen at Festival

I am trying to help get the word out.........

Saw this on Bonnies site(Quiltville Quips and Snips....she referred to this site for further information.  This was stolen at the International Quilt Festival.  The owner is from Tyler, Texas.  I can't believe someone would do such a thing! 

I Found These - They Were Hiding

It's amazing what you will find when you decide to (slowly) straighten out your stash....

I remember doing this....I had read in various blogs and the internet about "leaders and enders".  So when I was working on a quilt (can't remember which one) where I was able to sew a lot of  pieces together in a long string (see, I so can't remember this morning!...what is the phrase I am looking for...string pieces??),,,anyway,,,,,I decided to try it, spur of the minute. So I grabbed what was handy, which was left over pieces from this quilt I finished in Oct 08,

 and just started sewing.  I left the shapes the way they were (basically) and then started sewing them together.

I guess I finished sewing the pieces I was really working on, and then just put these away.  I know I have some other leaders and enders of other fabric somewhere.....I know I did not throw them away.....hopefully....maybe....

Anyway, I was thinking of using these as they are, throw them on a neutral colored background, and just sew.  What do you think?

Yes,  in the background are strips, larger pieces, and left over binding that I could use if I wanted to.....

(Sigh.....) Leave it to me to find these AFTER Halloween this year.. Well, I have a whole year to decide how to do this, if I don't lose them again!

Nice Giveaway from Retromummy and Catch Up Time

Just wanted you to know that Retromummy is having a nice giveaway consisting of 14 fat quarters of Sweet Broderie fabrics.  And there will be two (2) winners!

I am working on the Mystery Quilt that started the first of September.  One clue every two weeks.  I got behind due to quilts beyond my control, but it should be easy to keep up.  Would let you see what I am doing, but then it wouldn't be a mystery, would it?  Will be taking pictures along the way, tho'

Picture of DHs Crazy Quilt

It's not an outside picture....things got hectic around here for awhile (sick car, etc) so I resorted to my ususal display spot...the den floor, with a little help from a tall ladder....

My estimated size of this was off the mark also.  It ended up being 87" X 105", draping well over a queen size bed.  Weight:  10 lbs. (seemed like more when I was working with it!)

Have fun looking..

Working on Necessary Chores.....

Since finishing with THE QUILT, and while waiting for DH to help with PVC and rope so I can get a good picture,  I am starting to clean up and work on my sewing room. Since it has been ages since I have picked up, sorted, thrown away, etc in here, I am ashamed to show it to you.  Just trust me when I say it needs it.....


After I finished  THE QUILT .  I had quite a bit of leftovers from DHs old clothes, and although I could have kept them for future use, I decided to use them as stuffing in this:

I used some striped denim and made one huge doggie pillow....I really had enough stuffing for two pillows, but opted for just one.


Another benefit from using the leftover stash.....

I went from this

to this:

Empty containers ready for new contents..... and just in time for the sewing room fabulous clean-up (I hope).  I am alloting about a week, during which I will not start anything new and will satisfy myself (quilt-wise) by continuing to handquilt the two I am working on  now.


And that is my cue to quilt procrastinating and get busy,,,,


Bye for now....

IT'S DONE !!!!

I finished the quilt!!!

Had to show you a picture.  You can't see all the blocks because it hangs down.  I hope to bore you with another picture in a couple of days or so, when DH works his magic with PVC and rope on the front porch.  This dude is too heavy and big to hold up by itself... (approx 80" x 96")

I'm Not Teasing, Honest.......

By now, those wanting to see the finished quilt are expecting to see pictures....

Evidently, I am slowing down...I know I have said this before, and I am definitely not the only quilter to face this situation, but that dude is heavy!!  I find myself having to relax after tackling it.  I am thinking I made a mistake by adding the batting....but not to dwell on that.,.,adds to its' charm....

But this is the last of the sashing I have to do, and then I can work on the sides, hopefully which will not be as demanding.....

Just wanted to show you the new configuration of tables and sewing machines I have come up with since the last picture.  As said before, this is the last sashing to be done and by the time I finish this post, I will be rested enough to sew. 

BTW, please note my "elevator" chair.  That is no optical illusion....it really is almost as high as the table.  The up/down spring is messed up on it and if I am not sitting for a short length of time, it proceeds to rise to the occasion.  I have to pull the lever to make it go down so I can reach the foot pedal of the machine.  I get up to do something, and up it comes again......Oh, since that picture was taken......it has gotten higher....the arms are above the table now....  It's a comfortable chair, but its' days (or weeks,,,or months...) are numbered