"T" blocks, dated UFO, and nifty tweezers

 

 

I'm machine quilting this queen-sized project.  My piecing was good, but quilting is difficult because it's a large quilt.  I like small pieces,  although quilting over the many seams is a challenge.  I've found it best to use a hopping foot and an overall quilting design because those seams get in the way of smooth traveling with a ruler foot or other options.  It's not like what we see on the videos.  The real subject of interest is those nifty tweezers, a gift from last quilt retreat.  The tips are flat meaning they can get close and tight to remove stubborn threads, and there is even a light between the handles, if needed.  I've never seen one designed so well and definitely recommend it.  Logo says TOOL SHOP.   

All Day Sew is coming up.  This is a locally organized bunch of sewists.  While most of us are Guild members, we are not connected officially with the Guild.  Because our town is so far from other members, we gather locally to enjoy our friendship and sewing without the drawback of driving times or business needs.  We have no dues, no business ... only fun and laughter - kinda like an adult pajama party. 

Finally, some quiet moments

Just WHO won't appreciate the importance of a fresh new clean board cover?  I even bought my own staple gun for the job!  I prefer using a striped fabric.  

This is my progress so far on a Pickle Dish, aka Trilobites.  I'm working on piecing border units.  Paper piecing methods came back as I worked.  It's turning out reasonably well, and as we often learn, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be.  Size is about 40 x 40 inches.

And my interruption, is this 84 x 98 in. queen quilt top, probably 15 year old UFO.  I did a good job on it and had envisioned hand quilting it while sitting in a rocking chair in a care facility.  Fortunately, that has not happened, so I'd better actually get it done, quilted on my DSM.  You can see the snow shovel and heavy coat and hat in the background, it was too cold to even replace the shovel outside, with temps. in the minus range the past several days.  Inside the house was  not particularly warm either so activity of some purpose was necessary.  The quilt top is folded up on the table, that's the back of the top.  My best basting tool/method is using canned goods as weights -- I recommend this method over all the others I've tried.  

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My last lament fregarding few posts, is that my printer had to be replaced, and the then the  computer was "too old" (all of 4 years!), and a basement drain caused issues with no water in, no water out, and then the hot water heater decided to join the mayhem.  A few other issues of great importance also joined the parade and this quilter was not a happy camper for too long a time.  When is spring?  

Below - I've posted this previously, years ago, but wanted to photo again, as I've given this to an auction and wanted some memory of it.  It's always fun to see them years later, perhaps instigating another similar project.  This one did not bring much in the Silent Auction, but it now has a good home, and helped support a good cause.  I belive it was called New Zealand Star.  Incidently, those rows are made one row at a time, you don't make a star 9-patch, but just one separate row at a time.  I messed up for a while before I read all the instructions.  

  

The end - now, face getting gasoline, while it's minus 3 outdoors.  

 

Trilobites, aka Pickle Dish

 

One of our Guild members will be teaching this paper-piecing technique.  While I didn't sign up for her class, I DID get all excited and enthusiastic when I heard about it,  and even ordered a pattern and templates, coming all the way from Australia!  Talk about "squirrel" action!  It took me a while to re-learn paper piecing and discovered I'd done something similar, years ago.  You can see my Mom's real pickle dish to the left of the blocks.  To me, they look like fossil Trilobites.  Many of the quilt block samples I've seen are pieced in ultra bright values - not sure why - perhaps for the WOW feature.  I've made one block each day - they aren't difficult, just "fiddly".  I tried to make one at All Day Sew but again, it was too fiddly and not much was accomplished -- too many fabrics, colors, parts, tools, which didn't work especially well when not at home.  My goal is for 16 blocks.  I'll continue with the bright colors - especially attractive where the corners meet.  

Quilts from the cupboard, Pickled Orange Peel quilt pattern by ‪@emma_jean_jansen‬

Retreat project

Another triple 4-patch or is it quadruple 4-patch?  I've made this  previously -- it works up quickly.   This was my project at a recent 4-day sewing/quilting retreat.  Fabrics were already in my stash.  The border was 2 different too-bright whites, so I "blurred" the corner meeting points with fused bits of leftovers, and machine quilted right over them.  First I had to re-learn "Lite Steam-a-Seam 2" procedures.   It's about 64"x74".  

 

Below - if this perfect backing fabric was not yet in your stash, and you had made this quilt top, you would purchase it, so I did.  

Close up of other corner.  

Of interest - last year at a similar retreat, I had to return home early, due to exasperating back and shoulder issues, possibly because of poorly designed folding chairs.  So this year, I actually purchased a new sewing chair, with more back and shoulder support.  I made a practice trial run "will it fit in my small car" and brought it with me to the 4-day retreat.  Other quilters had similar special chairs - now I know why.   Additionally, I made a deliberate point to use the Hotel's exercise equipment several times during the days - nothing of great effort, just a few minutes wisely spent moving my joints.  So, if that small suggestion helps anyone, this was a succesful plan if a person has age-related joint issues.  

Pickle Dish - Trial block

 

mmm - a few kinks  needing help ... 

Despite the areas that need improvement, I'm amazed the technique is still in my noggin.  My Add-a-Quarter ruler has disappeared over the years, so that was replaced, then I had to purchase and install a new printer (for copies of pattern),  and my little old Bernina needed an extension table (wonderful  improvement in efficiency).  Trying new things does not always turn out perfectly.  (But don't those outer points look good!)  Not sure why I dislike this layout - those corners seem to be the problem - maybe just a regular square would be better?  It still looks like some creepy fossil thing that lives in a rock.  Feel free to pipe in with opinions about colors or layout or ? ( I recognize the crummy seam.  )

Sandwiching my layers, one method

 

While not a  perfect solution to a puckerless backing, the canned goods do a pretty good job, and even better, I can usually find these "weights" when I'm sandwiching a quilt before machine quilting.