Pickle Dish (aka Trilobytes) Finished, Double T Star Finished

Pickle Dish (aka Trilobytes) DONE

This was more of a personal challenge than a perfectly finished project.  After a few false starts, paper piecing techniques from long ago kicked in.  My colors/values were good, and piecing skills were better than anticipated, but my machine quilting leaves something to be desired.  I tried to use each and every good color thread/type possible which caused continuous uneven tension issues on the back.  I started with determination and patience to get the tension right after each change of thread, but impatience overwhelmed me and finally had to finish best I could.  It looks good on the top.  It's about 50" x 50". 

And now, a finish to a 2011 UFO!!!!!!!   Piecing was good and due to its size, I was possibly afraid to actually quilt it.   But here it is, finished under pressure for an upcoming Trunk Show, it is DONE.  It's about 84" by 94", and called a Double T Star block.  All those brown vertical zig-zags were done with ruler work, and all MQ'ed on my DSM.   I had apparently learned Eleanor Burns' method for making Flying Geese.  The binding is a faux flange. 

"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.