Friday, November 28, 2025

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.  


7 comments:

  1. I was in agony at the end of two days of my most recent retreat, thanks to the chairs. What chair did you buy?

    Love that 4x4x4 pattern!

    Carolyn

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    1. And a damned cute corner treatment!!

      C

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    2. It was a boxed chair from WM. Black, he usual You-Put-it-together, wheels, etc. Somewhere in descrip. was the right word, "orthopedic". Taller models for the neck and shoulder were too large to fit in my small car, but might have been healthier. The picture on the box looked acceptable. It was in the store, priced around ??$70. A quilting friend had also just purchased one for her sewing room and she helped me put it together. Construction was not difficult.

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  2. Congrats on this wonderful finish, Elaine. I SO love the corners' treatment. It looks like you are still in the process of auditioning fabric for the next block. So cool. While at retreats, I go for walks or go up the stairs for no other reason then getting the circulation going. I'm sure your suggestion will help others. Enjoy! ;^)

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    1. Exactly! "But...but...I still had these pieces to sew up for the top!!!"

      Stairs--gonna have to remember that, as well as walks. Goodness knows there's lots to walk to and observe at the retreat location!

      Carolyn

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  3. Another lovely scrap creation, Elaine. And I agree that the corners look like you have some blocks scattered, trying to decide if you can work them in. So clever!
    The monthly, one-day retreats that I try to get to has nice chairs for most of the tables. The trick is to get there early enough to get one of them! If retreat gets more popular, and the tables fill up more, I may have to find a chair I can take along. I know their are women who bring their own--especially on the longer retreats.

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  4. The clever corners pump this up! And, yes, when the perfect backing appears you've got to buy it. I haven't gone to many classes or retreats but I agree that standard hotel meeting room chairs don't provide the right support. Glad you found a fairly portable chair that works well.

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