It's in the hoop!

After making yesterday's post, I decided to just get on with the next thing on the list.

I took the big quilt to the empty apartment and tried laying it out on the floor.

Nope! Not enough room to spread it out. Well, then I decided to try the loft. First I had to wrestle down the two heavy futons. Then I spread the quilt out face-down on the floor. It just fit with no extra space to walk, but I crawled over it and made sure all the seams were lying flat.

Then, I went back to my closet and pulled out the rolls of thinsulate. There was plenty left on the #60 which I had used on the test quilt. My grandson is living in Colorado, where they already have snow. so I think the #80 might be more useful ... though, in the end I don't know if this quilt will serve as a warm cover or a top spread.

Well, there was surely not enough batting left on the #80 roll, so I would need more anyway. The last batting rolls were bought at Yuzawaya and there are no branches in my area. The last one I used in Shinjuku closed over a year ago. I did not want to set out without knowing whether or not my goal would be met, so I pushed my "phone-phobia" aside, and made a call to the main store in Kamata.
Actually, I had to call a number of times to get through. Then, after apologising for my poor Japanese, I asked if they had thinsulate #80, and that I wanted to buy a whole roll. Yes, they did, and they would hold it with my name on it for pick-up in the afternoon.

I quickly went back to the loft and folded up the finished top ... trying not to mess up the seam allowances. Then loaded that and the backing, my basting thread, sewing kit, big scissors, and just in case, my box of basting pins.

The finished quilt went neatly into another bag, along with a note, and after stuffing Nikko's kong with multiple treats, and making sure I had enough yen to cover trains and batting, I set off with my purse on one shoulder, the big bag on the other shoulder, and the finished quilt on my arm... and the train route notes in hand.

No matter how many times one goes to the same station, those areas are always changing. It was less than a year since I had been there with my friend, Cynthia, at wabisabiquilts.blogspot.jp, and it was still a struggle to find the right building. I think I ended up asking at least three different people.

When I finally found the right place. there was a long line at the cutting counter and only two people doing the cutting. I finally stepped up, because I could see the roll of batting standing in the corner behind one of the women, and asked if that was the thinsulate saved for me. Whew, after checking my name on the note, it was passed over and I could move to the checkout on the first floor.

The guy tying up the bolt for carrying was frustrated with the size and the fact it couldn't be folded, but I was happy to tuck it under my spare arm and pay the reduced price using my members card.
By 2:00pm I was at the church. I passed the bag containing the finished quilt to the office secretary, and asked if it would be OK to use the floor of the fellowship hall to do the basting.

I am so happy it worked out! by the time my meeting was beginning at 6:30, I was just putting in the last of the basting stitches. The pins were not needed and the basting thread still lasted. Both the Pastor and his wife came down while I was working to thank me for the finished quilt. I was happy those left-over blocks had made a hit ... and of course they both had noticed the print in Afrikaans donated by my friend, Ester.

In all, though lugging all that stuff two ways on the sardine can trains, it was well worth the effort. I can do my sitting at home on the sofa ... much more comfortable than a train seat should one be offered ... And Tuesday was the day of the super-aggressive shovers needing seats at any cost ...

The in-the-ditch quilting is well on the way, and I await feedback from Kai as to the big-stitch results.
At least I have something to do while at home. Maybe time to start prepping pieces for the new grandchild on the way....

Finally moving forward

I have been holding off on laying out the black and white quilt for planning the backing because the only space large enough is the second floor apartment, and with it closed up in the heat with the electricity turned off, it didn't seem like the best option.

Well, my daughter has offered that space for a friend to use during a stay in Tokyo, and I needed to get a few things done to make it liveable.  Today I took out two futons and hung them outside to air. Then I went to do some cleaning, starting with washing the floor in the loft, then the main room floor, windowsills, hall etc. I opened all the windows. Not sure the place was cooled off any but there was a slight breeze....    and as long as I was running up and down anyway, I decided to take the quilt up and lay it out and see what I could come up with for the backing.

I really like using tenugui for quilt backs and I had found these partial rolls at the Salvation Army store. They aren't black and white but indigo-dyed. If they were made into a yukata, the prints could be matched up into a picture of a dragon in the clouds. Since these are just random cuts, I needed to lay them out and come up with a plan. I didn't really want to chop up those strips any more than necessary other than to adjust the length. The center strips are from a roll representing a sumo wrestler. (the kanji is his name).

If I look at the weather report for the rest of the week and into next week, it seems a week of rain is predicted. Of course, my weather app on my cell phone is wrong more than 50% of the time. I should be glad for this day of sun ... and take every advantage I can. I can stay inside and do the sewing when the rain comes.

For now, I will hunt up bedding, electric cords, dishes and utensils, and whatever might be needed for a few weeks stay. I can't say life is dull!

On the fence

A quick trip to the park for a photo shoot... I like the look and how the border works ... but ...

The total size is now 85" x 100.5" or 255cm. x 216cm. According to what I read on line, that is more the size for a double bed.

The blocks I have left could now be assembled into 6 x 8 blocks plus a border or 48" x 64" plus a border, which, depending on the width of the border, make it more of a single size. I also have a bit smaller version of the wave print I could use.

Anyway, progress will be on hold until I get feedback from grandson#3.

A spectacular thunder and lightning show over our area last night, only added to the humidity with no let-up on the heat. This photo shoot was like a trip to the shower with clothes on. According to weather reports, we will be getting another storm tonight.

And, happy to say, the crumb quilt made it safely to Oregon in record time...

And is now hugging my daughter, Kimie.

Sure do wish I could hug her in person, but this is the next best.

Making use of the typhoon

The inner border has been added to the black and white quilt.

I am now rather wishing I had mitered the corners, but by the time I thought of it, I would have had to do a lot of re-cutting and re-sewing. So, I will just carry on with the plan.

Since Kai ... or his name "Kaiea", means rising wave both in Hawaiian and Japanese, I picked our this wave fabric for the border.

The design is quite bold and the shade of white a bit bright, so I took it to an empty apartment to lay it out and decide if it might work.

Since I used a variety of black and white prints, I think there are enough of this tone that it will work.

I really wanted to see before I started cutting and sewing.

I don't think there is enough of this fabric to make mitered corners.
Maybe I will make the waves go around in a circle so the quilt will have no particular top edge.

This room is a bit small to get a good picture. These shots were taken from the ladder leading to the loft.

In the first picture, one side is in the shadow, but if I pull it over to the wall, the edge will be under the loft, so this is about the best I could do.

Actually, the purpose was just to audition the wave print and for that, it worked.
I may take it back up to lay out once I have the border strips cut.

Now that it is this big, it no longer serves as take-along work.

This is really the last week with indoor time, as Sunday everything starts up with schedules being filled.
The "crumb-quilt" is on its way to Oregon ... where it will be cool enough to be used.

On my list coming up, besides a new Stewardship banner, is a baby quilt for a new granddaughter expected the end of this year. Maybe I need another typhoon to keep me inside ... though the additional humidity is not welcome as long as the heat remains. What might pass for sun tan is actually rust.

On the design floor

Tuesday evening, I took my pile of blocks to the church and made use of the fellowship hall floor to lay them out.

These blocks were sewed light on dark and dark on light, but some of the medium shades have been used as either. I tried to arrange them so that where a fabric appears in both the center and outer areas, those blocks would not be close to each other.

Something happened to my camera that it keeps saying "Lens error" when I try to take a picture, so I took this on my cell phone. It has taken several days of frustration to get this one picture into my files in a place where I could share it. What I had been doing formerly, no longer works.

I keep a small notebook where I write everything down. How to do this or that and which password goes with which place where I have to sign in to do things. Even when I have it all recorded, sometimes the computer wants something else. Ever tried using every single password you have ever used only to have them all rejected?

Well, anyway, I may still move one block on the side to a place where the light is a wee bit lighter than the dark. I now see two places that might be changed.

Meanwhile, the top three rows are now together and I made a funny discovery. As I made my templates from six-inch plastic, I had just assumed these blocks were going to come out six inches square. Well, I forgot about those two-inch corner squares. What I had planned for a wide border is going to have to be adjusted or this will be way too big for a single bed. Well, that is still a way off. The blocks made good take-along work but once I get a row together it is a bit difficult to control on a crowded train. (and involves a rather long length of thread.)

Vacation Bible School has one more day to go. As I am doing the "Games" section in the sanctuary with pews moved together, the suggested games take a large amount of adjusting if they are to be used at all. Luckily, I have found that once I explain the challenge to the participating group, they come up with ideas that are even more fun and will work in the space we have.

Last week I asked Leia to come up with an origami boat that could be blown over a course. It needed to go straight and not tip over. A week ago, she came and taught me how to fold the perfect boat to run the course. I think this will be more fun than hitting croquet balls through wickets and will fit the rolling river theme. Tomorrow I will see.

Then, Saturday I have a nature hike with my scouts. Luckily, the typhoon has blown through and we enjoyed a few cooler days. Now it is back to hot and much more humid as the typhoon left water behind. The electric bill is very high with two ACs going, one of them all day and night ... BUT ... Not as high as the vet bill for one night! Nikko happily chooses her space to lie.

Sorry for the strange former post. Suddenly, if someone posts on the family blog, I can not get back to my dashboard and reading list without making a new post. Just about the time I get this figured out, it will probably change again.

Staying indoors

There are certain advantages of the heat wave. One is staying indoors and getting things done. No, not a lot of house-cleaning, but some stitching. This morning, I finished turning the binding on the "crumb-quilt"
If you have not been following this adventure, you may wonder what makes this so crummy. Well, a while ago, my left-handed quilting friend, challenged her readers to try her pattern with different color background. I had a rather large chunk of this mottled-purplish-black that I thought needed to be used. For scraps, I cut my bits and pieces into the smallest square, so instead of machine-piecing crumb blocks, I pulled out my scrap collection and used the 1.2.and 3-inch bits. "Organized crumbs"?

Though I had planned for a feathered quilted border, after starting the feathers in the four corners, it was clearly a waste of time and thread, as nothing was going to show.

I thought with all the squares, it needed something curved and I think this cable worked as well as anything I might have chosen.

For the backing, I used a large piece of mottled light purple, and framed it with tenugui.

These two are the Seven Deities of Good Fortune.
These deities are aboard a treasure ship. It is said that placing a picture such as this under one's pillow on the night of 1 or 2 January, will insure that the year's first dream will be a lucky one.  (nothing said about covering one's self with it)

These deities are, Fukurokuju, deity of long life (recognized by large head).
Jurojin, another deity of long life, accompanied by a deer.
Benzaiten, deity of water and music (plays a biwa ... a kind of lute)
Bishamonten, another deity of good fortune dressed in armor.
Hotei, a deity of good fortune and happiness, known for large stomach.
Daikokuten, a deity of wealth stands on a bag of rice.
And, last of all, Ebisu, a deity of wealth and fishing carries a large fish.

Interestingly, this group dates back to the 15th to 17th century and includes gods and sages of Indian, Chinese, and Japanese origin. Also interestingly, yesterday, I passed a shrine to these gods. There were separate sculptures all dressed in red hats and bibs. I took a picture on my cell phone but have had trouble transferring it ti my laptop.  Anyway, this is probably more than one needs to know.

Meanwhile, the piecing of black and white blocks is moving along. Train rides add to the blocks.

Yesterday I hung a sheet from the door frame and pinned the finished blocks on to it with a half-inch overlap.

Each block is six inches square finished.

So far, what was done at that time was 36" x 54".

The blocks will need some rearranging once they are all done.
I still have a small pile of medium tone fabrics I have not used yet and about a dozen sets cut and in the tin for take-along work.

I have not yet found something suitable for the border but it won't be needed for some time yet.
So far, each fabric has only been used once, (used as both a dark and a light in two blocks, or only once with another single fabric.

I am still thinking about a row of navy and white along the borders, but I also like the consistency
of the black and white ... and find the off-whites fit in better than I thought they would.

Rain is predicted to come and cool things off on the weekend ... but some was predicted yesterday and though the sky did spit out a few random drops, there were more drops falling from my eyebrows on to the inside of my glasses than what fell from the sky. Carrying an umbrella was a waste of space in my bag, as the spitting stopped before I might have dug it out and opened it up!

Back to the cutting board ... and maybe a label for the finished quilt. 

Beating the heat

Nikko gets her morning walk before the sun comes out, and will be glad to wait until after dark for her evening walk. I can't say those times are cool, but anything would be cooler than while the sun is out.

I laid out the first 24 black and white blocks on the bed. I have been marking and cutting bits and pieces from my stacking boxes. Many in the "black" box had other colors, such as florals. though they were on black backgrounds, so not many I could use. 

The same with the "white" box. But, I hit the jackpot when I opened the "gray" box. Some read as rather dark and many are light, so they can be used in a variety of ways.

I have cut 24 more blocks, and so far fewer than two blocks will contain the same fabric. (some of my scraps were too small to cut a whole set".

I haven't had any feed-back from Kai as yet, but I am hoping he will like this as much as I am enjoying the results. 

I'm wondering if I switch to using some dark blues as I move to the edge, if I could find some good yukata print to use for the border like this one I made years ago. 

Adding blue might open many more possibilities of scraps and the center would still be black and white. Well, I have lots of time to think it over.

If I did make blue and white blocks ... and they didn't work, I would have enough to make one of these for my own pleasure ... or maybe a 'Big Girl" quilt for my first granddaughter, Kai's sister who will be next in line.

Over 23 days of temperatures over 30 degrees, and high humidity. It is predicted to get even hotter before we might see some respite. At this rate, this quilt may get pieced in record time.

Black and white (and in between)

Grandson #3 is next in line for a "Big Boy" quilt. His choice of color is black and white.

I looked over a number of ideas, but most of them required large amounts of just a few fabrics, What I prefer to do is something scrappy. Some of my prints ... maybe the largest amount  ... are in the medium range, so could be used as either dark or light depending on what it is partnered with.

I made a template yesterday and have managed to piece these on several train rides into town. The finished block measures six inches square.

I plan to mark and cut one set of each of my fabrics so I will have take-along work. I sent an image off to Colorado, and will be waiting for feedback. I asked Kai if I might add a color, and he said indigo. Hmmm. Not too many shades of indigo ... maybe in the border? This may end up a design-wall challenge but so far, so good.