Almost a month with no posts!

I don't know where July went - I was busy doing, doing, ... something, not sure what!

Oh yes, I did complete this Split Nine Patch, scrappy of course.  This has over 3000 pieces, but the "system" is from Jackie Robinson.  It's about 60" x 70".  I started machine quilting with my Janome MC6500 but ran into issues of stitches skipping when quilting over seams, and soon the quality was slipping so I finally quit, but by now there are small issues here and there, and my own satisfaction and patience has deteriorated.  Two trips for tech. maintenance did not solve the problem so I finished the quilt with another machine.  

 


Not knowing exactly what needed fixing, and after routine servicing, timing, threads, etc., I had a new motor installed, figuring all bases need to be covered before thinking of a new machine!  Neither the tech. nor I know how it will work until the next quilt.  The machine DOES sound better, smoother, less labored.  It could be a wear-and-tear issue as I had noticed odd problems during this last year that I thought were my own Senior Citizen issues, but upon reflection believe it IS the machine, not me. 

Above is a bit of the backing.  My quilting is a combination of innies, and outies, various swirls, circles, "bear claws" ... I kept the designs confined to certain "rows" ... I got bored with just one design.  The border is done with  largeundulating hearts, or, "fat ladies on barstools".   I learned to NOT do that border again with variegated threads -- shoulda used a solid color.  (Lesson #843!)

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A few of my quilting friends gathered at a recent lunch.  Me in left background, next to Alice.  Other side in back is Carol M, then Carol L., then Kathy.   Anita joined us later, after the photo.  8-)))

Mom's Grandmother's Flower Garden (GFG) quilt, repaired

( I have shown this quilt previously, but wanted to document the end result, with repairs made.)

This is the back of my Mom's GFG quilt, that sat on a wood shelf for toooo long, being "saved for good".  Upon inspection, the acids had eaten clear thru - front to back, a person could see daylight thru the damage. 

Mom made it in 1936-37, as a young woman of 21, awaiting her first child, Kristin, when my parents lived in Chicago.  We think the lively prints came from garments that her SIL made, Kate, for her little girls.  

I had it for about 10 years before tackling the repair job, thinking it was "too hard." It lingered for about 10 years, but one day in 2014, I jumped in and DID it!  And I heard my Mother saying, "It's never has hard as you think it is!" 

This is the back - it's not perfect, just repaired.  The fold line was extremely weak or damaged, so I added an entire backing and batting across the quilt.  I quilted thru all the damaged area to hold the backing on, and more quilting thru the new rosettes I had replaced on the front.  I did not want to remove old parts, nor remove Mom's hand quilting.  Yes, it's a little lumpy - that's OK, I'm also little lumpy, yet still useful. 

No more holes.  I replaced parts starting in each center, all the way out to the  blue "path" , in some places, one hexagon at a time, as necessary, for 5 rosettes and a few more little places.  

(Above)  Isn't it beautiful? I think I see a new rosette --  right middle, yellow center, then light green with light reddish print.  Hard to tell, right? I appliqued right over the old parts.  NO ONE will ever notice the repairs, except a skilled  quilter or seamstress. 

(Below) New rosette on the left, with yellow print around the light green.

(Above)  Easier to find the new one.  Black print around pink, then another at lower right, a green print around a yellow print.

Later during repairs, I noticed that Mom had solid fabric around the yellow center, then a print.  That's OK.  It's done. 

I added a new binding, washed it twice on gentle with my "homemade laundry soap."  

Mom would be happy.