Monday, December 18, 2017

It's in the hoop


Saturday I finished widening the backing by adding a strip of the same yellow print that I used on the front inner border.

This pastel piece of fabric came from a friend among quite a few large pieces.
It is so soft and seemed to be speaking out to be used.


Saturday afternoon I went to the cold empty apartment and was able to pin-baste the little quilt before it began to get dark. It is nice to have one small piece of floor that is not completely covered in dog hair.

By now the top is about half quilted in the ditch. I have to admit that on these cold days, sitting under this quilt while working is a double win.

When I made the last I-spy quilt, I used five-inch picture blocks. Those I quilted inside each block after doing the in-the-ditch quilting. On this quilt, the picture blocks are only four inches and I used #80 thinsulate for the batting. I rather like the puffiness of the quilted blocks and thinsulate is probably intended for clothing and the batting is quite tacky and extremely unlikely to shift. I am seriously considering leaving those blocks puffy and free of stitching. With other battings, I usually quilt more densely with the widest area without any quilting three-finger's width, or about two inches.

Looking at assorted table cloths and runners which get a lot of use and washing, there has never been a problem with thinsulate shifting. I think soft and a bit fluffy will be nice for a February baby.
With that in mind, I will be finished before long ... especially with my last day of school for this year, being yesterday. This will not take a month ... not that I don't have other things on my schedule to complete....

Unfortunately, the hot sauce plan didn't work for long and my door has new teeth-marks.

I think since this behavior worked twice for Nikko, it takes a long time to find that it no longer works. (maybe never, because she still remembers where she found some stinky rotten fish to roll in ten years ago and never passes that place without checking it out).
I am not happy with the scratched up door but considering the damage she could do in the livingroom while I am away, and the number of things she might find that smell like me to chew on ... oh yes, she has chewed several quilts ... I will varnish over the scratches and maybe cover the area with some stick-on covering that I use for book covers.

Eventually, I have an idea to reverse the two doors. Both can be slid into the wall to open the entire door space... and actually, the two doors are reversed with a metal stopper to keep the inner door from going too far to the left. It often confuses guests because most Japanese sliding doors have the little dented grips to meet at the center, thus moving the doors left or right, so when exiting the room, they often try to move the door to the left with no success.

Well, time to get back under that hoop and warm up. Quilting, what a nice hobby to have! and a gift that rewards the giftee....

14 comments:

  1. double use, and this is going to be so welcome, and keeping you warm as you stitch, a bonus indeed.

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  2. My daughter's dog did the same with teeth chewing. Her vet told her to spray citronella on the door, did the trick. Not sure if you can purchase it in Japan. Stay warm, we had 37 degrees Celsius today.

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  3. ENJOY the handquilting, dear Julie, this is the most rewarding part of the process, when the quilt really comes to life :D
    In heartful thoughts,
    XOXOXOXOXO
    Nadine

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  4. I hear you about whiling away the cold days under a quilt that you are quilting. I need to do some of that myself, come to think of it. Tomorrow, I promise. Enjoy your break!

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  5. Hi Julie, your quilt is absolutely charming, and your idea about the doors is great ! Tell Nikko to behave herself and stop that chewing. We know it is because she loves you so much and really misses you when you are out and about with your busy life. Take care, and stay warm !! Hugs and blessings, from Marina and Daryl Lynn

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  6. This quilt will not only be nice to look at but to touch and snug up under, too.

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  7. That is going to be a wonderful quilt and I like puffy, much more comfy and warm for a baby.
    Have you tried putting someone on the door like sandpaper or something that isn't appealing to bit or scratch?
    We had that problem with a pup once, came home and he had chewed and busted through the bottom slats on the door, and we were renting, so not a good thing.

    Debbie

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  8. Very nice your blog and article. I like this blog thank for sharing.

    แตกใน xxx

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  9. So funny about Nikko and the Tabasco sauce though probably not for you who ends up with a damaged door... I put Choco in her crate too when I'm out and she resignedly stays quiet until I come home and then barks for me to let her out if I am too slow with taking off my coat and muffler. I'd like to let her run free in the house while I'm out but I might end up with one less cat (or one scratched up dog.)

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  10. The thinsulate website should state how far apart you can quilt. very few waddings say are less than 4"
    I'm sure the baby will love it - lots to look at!

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  11. I had never heard about kadomatsu, so I loved this cultural lesson! Oh, dear, your poor door! The things we deal with for the love of our fur friends, eh?

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  12. We left the dogs mostly loose while we were out of town. The little dog doesn't chew (thank goodness) but the big dog chewed hubby's Santa hat (cloth like his stuffed animals he chews, and it smelled like hubby) and, when my son got back home, he stole a sock out of his suitcase, and chewed it (never done that before). Our former Malamute chewed thru a couple of doors, chewed siding off the corner of the house, and pulled on the cable (from outside) that was connected to our VCR. Thank goodness the VCR jammed between the shelf above and the TV it was sitting on. Oh yea, he also chewed thru a leg on our brand new dining room chair.

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