BLOCK OF THE MONTH

Well over a year ago I signed up for a Block of the Month class.  I made it to one class, maybe two.  Over this winter I would peck away at the project.  I completed the last block today.  Yesterday I set up the design wall to audition the blocks.  (that is a pull string in front of the star on the left)

I had just enough background fabric for the setting triangles.  The pattern calls for an additional 2 inch border all the way around cut from the same fabric.  Since I won't have that I may just go with a dark, narrow border.  Then light, then the flowery focus fabric, then light then ON THE FRAME!

I have completed two columns.  I just don't have a photo to show you.

That Rose Wreath block in the middle was laborious.  I switched out the 201 for the 237 so that I could Zig Zag around the applique.  (I am not a fan of applique)

Boy is that a quiet machine. It treadles beautifully, never spinning backward. It makes a decent straight stitch but I switched back to the 201 just for consistency.  

Steven worked on cleaning his shop today.  I have to get out to mine.  He said as much

This One is for you, Mary. TUTORIAL: Strippy Block

Today, as I was chatting with Mary about quilting, I told her about how I have been using up my scraps.  I mentioned this in a previous blog, but I promised her that I would write a tutorial specific to this method.  So, here it is.

I learned about this technique last year.  I attended a local quilt guild meeting where the speaker described it.  She uses the slippery newspaper ads that come in Sunday's (or other) paper.  Cut them into squares of any size and sew strips of any width to the paper on the diagonal and you have a very colorful scrappy block.

Step One:  Cut some paper to size.  I used five inch blocks.

 Step 2:
Gather your strips.  I prefer one inch strips but any size will do.  Anything less than 3/4 of an inch is really to narrow, IMHO.  Mix light and dark as well as some really bright ones 

Step3:
Press and sort

 Step 4:
Prep your square.  Smear some gluestick glue on the diagonal of your paper square and place your first strip, right side UP, on the glue.  Press to set the glue.  You can skip the pressing if you want and just put your next strip on top (right side down) and then press if you would like.  Stitch.  When I am using very narrow strips, I use the 1/8 in seam.

It is recommended that you set your stitch length to a small stitch and a #90 needle. 

But don't set your stitch length too short or it will cut the paper and you won't have it for the foundation anymore.  AMHIK.  This is a European 201. Between 1 and 1.5 was too small.  Just over 1.5 was ok.  I thought it was closer to 2.  I need new glasses.   For an American gauge I think 15 SPI is ok. 

 As you can see I started over.

Press the seam open and place another strip on top of either strip.

Stitch.  I used a 1/4 in seam on this one.  You can do either.  The narrower your seam allowance, the wider the finished strip, right?

Keep adding strips on each side.  I usually complete one side and then finish up the other.  It doesn't matter one bit if you go back and forth.

When you get close to the corner, audition a wider strip to see if it will fit when stitched and pressed over.  Here you see there is just a wee little bit of the corner peeking through.  True, that would be caught in the seam allowance when sewing these blocks together, but I like to have plenty. 

So I added just a narrow little strip

And now it is just right

Keep working outward until you have covered the whole piece of paper.

Square it up.  I like to use a squaring ruler because the original paper may not be cut exactly to size.

Voila

Use any size square you would like.  The principle is the same.  Have fun.  Use up those scraps.  Free Quilts

It Snowed

four inches and the high was 25 today.  WTF?

OFF TOPIC

I was a mother before my son was a father.  I remind my granddaughter of that every time I see her.  Of course, I don't know that she understands me.  She is almost two and has many words.  She may, however, not comprehend the complexity of before and after.  Just the same, it is helpful for me to verbalize it, particularly when the DS instructs me on how to care for his most precious little girl.

Yesterday and today I was the sole caretaker of this wonderful human.  The kids are away on a long weekend so the Grannies get to play with the DGD.   Today I turn that duty over to the other grandmother so that I can beat the storm home.  The winter was incredibly mild, rarely a storm.  April, as I knew it would, brings an early spring mess of snow and freezing rain.  Truly unpleasant traveling conditions.

I am a country girl. The nearest grocery store, a Whole Foods is a 6 minute drive or a thirty minute walk.  I opted to walk yesterday.  I was over dressed for the 70 degree weather.  Very few people were out on foot.  Those I encountered were college kids either walking to class or out for a run. I am certain that I was virtually invisible to them.   I had a back pack too, but mine was full of food.

Where I live we have a limited choice for groceries: Price Chopper or Hanaford.  I know where everything is in the Price Chopper.    I wandered around the Whole Foods, looking for something less expensive.  I didn't find it.  I ended up with everything on my list for just under fifty bucks.  The ingredients for a meat loaf, some toddler toothpaste, a dozen eggs and some organic coffee. 

True, everything I bought was either organic or natural ingredients.  I do expect to pay more.  I am not really complaining.  The meatloaf was delicious.  Truly.  The DGD didn't eat it but she did eat some brocoli.

HOME DEC

As much as I would rather be using up scraps and playing on the Nolting, I must make slip covers for the couch and the two orange chairs.  Admittedly the fabric I have is not much better than the orange, but it cost nothing.  I am saving for retirement. 

Mom used her Viking to make a cover for her studio bed.  She used upholstery weight fabric and made piping,  The full Monty, as it were.  She had no problems with her machine.  But I don't want to take my chances with it so I brought in my Necchi Super Nova.

In order for it to function as a flat bed, vs a table top, in the Horn Cabinet I had to adjust the airlift. 

It was relatively simple: loosen the 13mm nut, slide it to the proper position, tighten said nut.

Steven fashioned an insert from a piece of luan underlayment.  It isn't quite thick enough but it will do for now.  I can use this same piece as a template for an acrylic one.

I am now good to go.  I have picked apart the seat cover on one of the chairs.  After the bike ride today I can think about cutting out the pieces.  (Yes Dre, I see the typo in the watermark)

Kitty Lola Update

Lola has found Mary's bed already.  She loves to run up and down the stairs and basks in the sun in front of the sliding glass door.

She also is a very efficient lap warmer.

I think Lola got what Lola wanted.

Twenty two days

It was fun, ahem, while it lasted.  Yesterday, though, it became clear that Wrigley could seriously hurt KittyLola.  We tried to introduce them.  Wrigley on a very tight leash and Lola on the couch.  It looked OK for a minute, then the canine went for the feline and had I not had the leash held tight, Local may have incurred some serious injury.  Fur did fly. 

I was very upset and Wrigley was severely admonished.  He was here first and I promised myself that I would not let that cat die at the mouth of my dogs.  I could not justify disciplining my dog for being, well, a dog.  It would have been romantic and sweet had it all worked out. 

Lola went to live with Mary, our wonderful, down the road, neighbor.  I dropped her off this morning and she hid for a bit under a desk.  Then trotted up the stairs and hid under a bed.  I am sure that she is now purring, happily, in Mary's lap.  That cat loves human contact.

Wrigley and Frannie do not seem to know the difference.  I am more at ease and Steven, too, is relieved.   We do have family members who are cat allergic and we love all of them.  Were that not the case, we might have tried harder to make the dog/cat thing work.  You know, the excuse....