Frenzy sewing

If I'm going to be in a mental frenzy state, due to grief, I may as well do something constructive while in this unwelcome mental process.  This is what I made this morning in a few hours.  I had the batting cut and many of the pink fabrics already in one box.  There is a bun in the oven in my husband's family, gender still unknown, but in the meantime, I'm having a pleasant morning, making this girly quilt.  This will be QAYG, with white/or busy pink strips joining the blocks, 6 x 8, 48 blocks, 7.5 in. finished.  The focus fabric is all pink, orange, yellow, purple, little black polka dots, sorta lollipop-y, next to the center white strip.

I'm making 4 at a time, so they are somewhat related in appearance.  The backs of each group of 4 is the same.  The seams of each 4 blocks appear to be on-target but really, it's only accidental.  

Tiny Houses

These were inspired by a recent video from Jenny Doan of MSQCo.  So cute!  You can't make just one at a time  -- sit down and cut a lot of each of the pieces, then make several in just a few minutes.  Fabric was from my throwaways, and I noticed that the almost-solids seemed to work best.  Some interesting  characters are sneaking in the front doors.  No plan for these little houses but it's fun at the moment. 

One UFO

What do you do with 480 HSTs?  You zombie-sew them into these 15, six inch blocks!  No plan yet for there future but they are DONE.  Surprisingly most of them didn't need trueing up.  I have no idea where they came from but I DO love the woodsy, earthy colors. 

Also, good news during these Covid days.  My hairdresser called ME to schedule a haircut tomorrow!  Yeaaaaa - masks, small gatherings.  This sad widow needs to feel human again.

Garlic Knots Finished , and a Swing

Garlic Knots, from Quiltville, done - I added the "cross" sashing to fill up the white space between blocks.  Border was my own idea and someone called it a "zipper" design.  The border was done using a ruler, but my DSM has issues when MQ'ing backwards.  Suggestions anyone?  It can handle going backwards at an angle, just not straight back.  Stitches are terrible, so I unsewed and redid a LOT of stitches - shoulda checked after the first few.

For years, the swing has been a planned purchase, "for when the deck is redone" - let's face it -- a wood deck will ALWAYS need to be redone!  Bomgaars, a huge Farm/Ranch store, has everything and the swing was On Sale.   When I checked out, I thought she undercharged me - "No, you get an additional 10%".  And, they delivered it, no charge, and refused tip.   I baked them cookies today, a small Thank You for excellent service.   

Newish techniques, old favorite things

Garlic Knots - I'm practicing ruler work in the border - tedious, but kinda cool as well.  I lost my way, here and there.  Seams under the ruler sometimes helped, sometimes hindered.  I need to improve on sharper corners, and I also wish I had left more extra batting and backing on the outside of the border, to grip.  Two more sides to do, then just binding and it will be D O N E!  

I added a strip of sandpaper to the back of my ruler.   It might not be needed by others but helped me hold onto the fabric.  No technique is perfect - I had to make other adjustments when using this ruler, such as changing the large screw on the foot, to a smaller screw which allowed the ruler to slide under.  Also, it's still difficult to use this ruler behind the foot but must change to a  thinner ruler,  or else modify my approach to the quilting.  All do-able.  Live and learn.

I found this treasure among DH's stuff -- almost 100 years old.  

The pictures are kinda Amish in nature - something about being neat and tidy, use each day to the fullest, etc.  The beer box holds CDs, and the current one is called Ansel Adams - a very calming  instrumental.  The pencil sharpener?  Occasionally the top of the player needs some "weight" to play the CDs.  Yep, that's my technology solution - better than a brick! 

Wow, those white walls are glaring!  I need more stuff on the walls.  No curtain fabric has arrived yet. 

Garlic Knots - MQ'ing, DSM

Basting is my least favorite part of quiltmaking, but years ago, I bought 2 folding picnic tables and have used them frequently.  I even have risers to use when standing up.  I've also decided I have better success using both spray and pins.  This pattern came from Bonnie Hunter/Quiltville - I KNEW she would have the pesky pressing details worked out.  The only constant is the background and the little purple in the cross center.  This went faster than I expected.  It's about 70" x 80".  Someone called my border a "zipper" design.  

 Oh great - My backing was pieced horizontally, but I basted it on vertically and "missed" a few inches of backing at the bottom.  I even marked the batting with Upper Right, Lower Left.  Shoulda marked the backing.   Duhhhhh!  Fortunately, I have extra, but still, it's exasperating, isn't it? 

This is my simple quilting design for a busy, allover pattern.  My thread is Metler Silk Finish, variegated pastels, very light, on top and bottom.  Schmetz has a new "Chrome" top stitching needle/14,  - so far, so good. 

You can barely see the thread on the back.

 Thread is barely visible on the front as well - just texture.  This is quilted on my DSM.

Curtains for my newly reorganized Studio - Hobby Lobby is closed - they always had good choices for simple cafe curtains but they are closed for who-knows-how-long and I found a plaid fabric on sale at Keepsake Quilting - I made a giant leap of faith and I ordered this, wanting to get this curtain job D O N E!  My little bright studio needs some warmth - I have no idea how large this plaid will be but hey, it was on sale!  Can't wait to see what arrives!  If it's terrible for curtains, it still will be a great quilt backing.