Sunday, September 2, 2012

So, what's the hurry?


Nothing like sitting around with your foot propped up, to get things done.

For a quilt with no particular purpose (other than to try out the block pattern) or deadline,  these + and X blocks seem to have taken over.

The last seven rows have been assembled and are ready to be joined to the first eight.

I really didn't want to fold them all up and put them back in the zip-lock baggies. All those little pieces are hard to keep ironed, so I just clipped them as they were finished to the curtains in the living room.

I think rather than join them one-by-one to the larger piece, I will put these rows together a few at a time and then join them to the completed half. I really don't like the idea of ironing these all over again more than I have to.

While I am sewing these, I will have time to think of what I will do for the border and backing and figure out where I am going to lay this out for basting.... no space that big in this house. It is still too hot to be quilting but it will be nice to work on when the weather gets cool.

I am going to need some new take-along work and should prep something for up-coming train rides and meetings. Something brown and green with owls for Son Ken, a big-boy quilt for #2 grandson, Ben, A banner for the Women's Conference next January, (I still have a little quilting left to do on this years) and one Christmas present that needs to be in the mail by mid November. (a little hard to think of Christmas in the late summer heat). Oh, yes, daughter Norie has asked for a bag. A small, easy to finish project might be fun.

Meanwhile, I have managed to finish off a few spools of thread, and that little container is holding hundreds of little threads. All those one inch blocks sure do shed ... not quite as badly as the dog but just as visible on clothing. I tried putting them in the wastebasket but Nikko likes to hunt in there for paper to chew and they will just end up on the floor.

I have a pair of pinking shears that might eliminate a bit of scrap threads. I have had them since I was a kid but they are right-handed and heavy to use so mostly sit in the sewing drawer with little exercise. I wonder if people actually use them these days. The only pinked edges I have seen in a long time, are in my stash.

Meanwhile, those strips keep calling. They are hard to ignore!

11 comments:

  1. I do like the idea of them clipped to the curtain, a great idea, far better than folding up each time, a ready made display wall.You have lots of plans, I can see your fingers will be extra busy.Fond greetings, Jean.

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  2. It looks awesome. Bet you can't wait to see it done!

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  3. wow! your foot might be sore ... but your fingers are busy xx

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  4. Now it's a pinking blade on a rotary cutter or when garment sewing using a serger to finish seams. I bought a pair of Ginger left handed pinkers once when I had more money than sense and they came complete with a little paper that explained that they were true left handed scissors and that most leftys use fake left handed scissors with just the handles reversed, so learn to move their hands differently and the upshot was that using this movement would likely ruin the blades of the true left handed pinkers.

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  5. You've come a long way with your + and x blocks, I haven't done anything to mine for a long time. Thank goodness it's just a "whenever" project with no pressure! I look forward to seeing yours finished, the blocks are beautiful.

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  6. That is such a beautiful quilt and a great way to keep it out without taking up space and being able to see what you have done.

    Debbie

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  7. It looks lovely hanging in the window - like an intricate stained glass.

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  8. I thought you made a curtain.:) Very clever! You now have a revolving gallery.

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  9. Great idea about the curtain! I have an expanse of curtain in this apartment ... will borrow that idea. Your x and y blocks are awesome, and it's really coming together. I'm hoping for some in-person show and tell in the near future!

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  10. Hi Julie, so beautiful! Very hard for me but a piece of cake for you!!

    Hugs... Sandra

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  11. I have two pair of pinking shears and use them regularly. Love them!

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