Trying it on

     I was looking through Pinterest (huge time sucker) and found a block I liked, but had to do a lot of digging to find out the name and a tutorial. I pulled out some strips and made the block and it was wrong- it needed mirror image blocks- not in the tutorial. Fortunately, I figured out how to mark the strips to get what I needed. I sewed two of them together and left the other pieces to combine with other colors. I do want to make more. They use 2 1/2" strips and the block finishes at 7".  It is called Two strip pinwheel or Double pinwheel.

Yes, I know the center is not perfect.

Inching along

     Not sure why, maybe a cold and neck pain, but I have been just crawling through what I want to do. I added the blue side triangles to the RWB zig zag and sewed the first couple zig columns. The Robert Kaufman app works!

More Exploding Squares- on the fence

     I have made dozens of the exploding squares quilts with all different starting sizes and scraps. This one uses thin sashings- 1 1/2". I thought the squares were so busy that they needed some relief and I think I was right. I bought a large piece of fabric back at our quilt show in the fabric pool and it was perfect for the back. Someone just gave me a hunk of fabric last week that was perfect for the binding. Quilted with Glide on top and Omni in the bobbin.
    First the beauty shot- I draped it over my little rail fence and took advantage of a rare sun moment. Then I went to my neighbor's fence and shot the whole quilt, front and back.

     I have finished all the string blocks for the RWB zig zag lightning quilt. I used the Robert Kaufman app to figure out the size of the setting squares and corner squares and will be cutting them out of a blue mottled fabric.

Guild presentation

     For the next three years, my friend Elizabeth and I are program co-chairs for our guild, Kenmore Quilters. We have put a lot of time in beforehand, and we started our first program last Monday. We decided that people are not sure how to find something they are inspired by and draft a pattern to make it theirs and to figure the yardage. Elizabeth and I combed the internet looking for worksheets to record and help, but what we found, even to buy, was not real helpful. So, we designed a whole set of sheets and copied them for our members. The presentation started with an inspiration photo, then graph paper, then the same block done in three sizes to make 3 quilts. We will be following these up with more design exercises. 
   Next time up is half square triangles in February.

Time to make the cards and send 'em out!

     I always think I get will get caught up making cards. Wrong. Between birthdays and sympathy cards, my little pack was wiped out. So, with the fabric Mod Podge, I crafted some more...and mailed them out!

Friday Finishes

     I made myself put up the display stand and photo two quilt finishes- the butterfly top, the denim quilted. I decided on the butterfly borders and now need to find a backing and figure out how to quilt it.

     I love everything about denim. This pattern prevents bulky seams and it quilted like a dream. I want to make a larger version. The denim really shows off quilting, and consequently, all my wobbles.

Back

Details, love how denim shows the patterns

Details, back

Clean as a whistle

     Two machines came my way to give a spa treatment. The Singer 66 was a bit dirty, dusty, needed a new belt, but mostly polishing and oiling. Sews like a dream. My friend found it at Savers for $7.00. I showed it in its dirty state here. She has to find a home for it. The case was cleaned, given a coat of Minwax Antique Oil finish and buffed. Just lovely.

My favorite! No smell or harshness

    The other machine, a Universal SAMP, was the crudiest I ever have cleaned. It had oily dirt and a thick orangish brown crud was on every metal part and also on the paint in places. My favorite go to cleaner is Krud Kutter. It has no smell and dissolves it quick and completely. Many rags and wooden sticks later, the machine emerged. It had been totally frozen up. I got everything to move with copious oil and heat. However, I had to buy the manual online in order to figure out the straight stitching. I would have never figured it out. It was like, push this lever to the right, turn this dial here, push the lever back to the left, etc. Total madness. However it sews with a very strong motor. Not my favorite machine, although very soundly built. I was pining to sew on my simple 301 which I did today. 

I always take the bottom of a jean leg and turn it into a pouch for the cord and and foot controller so they don't scratch
the machine paint.