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Post by graylady on Aug 15, 2016 14:34:16 GMT -5
I finished 5 rows of blocks last night - and I'm working on the 6th row today - out of 8.
But I have out-of-house chores to do today - so won't get back to my sewing room for a while.
And the A/C unit is vented through a sliding door - so I can't leave it on while I'm gone.
I did some "ripping" on piecing yesterday. How the exact same size blocks can sew together so differently - is a real mystery. I think it also has to do with the half-square triangles and their stretching out of shape. I've also found that steam ironing helps a lot to "size up" my blocks.
Later - must tend to my chores now.
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Post by graylady on Aug 16, 2016 17:32:14 GMT -5
Too hot for any quilting projects, I guess.
Even I have not touched my sewing machine for two days.
But I have been "studying" the sashing with cornerstones process - and have found several tutorials on the subject.
And I've decided to do the sashing in sections of blocks - instead of doing long rows across. Since my quilt has 6 rows across and 8 down - I'll do sections of 3 x 4 - and then connect those together.
It's good to have a plan. But I'm not there yet. Have to finish all my blocks by August 20 - 4 more days.
Then, the sashing will begin.
I'll be glad when the Olympics are over - so I don't have to spend so much time watching my favorites. However, I do enjoy the games - and it only happens every two years.
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Post by cj59 on Aug 16, 2016 20:23:57 GMT -5
Too hot for any quilting projects, I guess. Even I have not touched my sewing machine for two days. But I have been "studying" the sashing with cornerstones process - and have found several tutorials on the subject. And I've decided to do the sashing in sections of blocks - instead of doing long rows across. Since my quilt has 6 rows across and 8 down - I'll do sections of 3 x 4 - and then connect those together. It's good to have a plan. But I'm not there yet. Have to finish all my blocks by August 20 - 4 more days. Then, the sashing will begin. I'll be glad when the Olympics are over - so I don't have to spend so much time watching my favorites. However, I do enjoy the games - and it only happens every two years. Hi graylady - I agree, it's been too hot to do anything!! I'm glad to hear you are making progress though and I wish you the best getting your block done by the 20th.
I think you are smart to do the sashing in sections of blocks. I've done it that way and in the long rows and it does seem like it was easier doing it with the blocks, with a quilt like the one you are doing.
I took the anniversary gift pillow to my brother and sister-in-law today and it seemed like they liked it and it fit in well with their decor
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Post by graylady on Aug 16, 2016 23:32:51 GMT -5
Hi CJ: You're so clever about how you answer these posts. Thanks for respeonding so quickly. But - you still haven't told me about the design/color of your gift pillow - which you worked so hard on completing.
Today - was another day away from the sewing machine - as I am Chair of a committee that met this evening and I worked at setting the agenda today - and my printer was being stubborn. Finally, my DH and I figured out how to get it working again. So frustrating - and the upshot is - that we need to get a new printer. But it took me several hours to get it all done.
I've had a series of these committee meetings going on for several months - not too many left - it will be all over by October - just before we leave for Vegas.
Anyway, no sewing again today - I may do a little tonight yet - but am watching the Olympics right now. But I have my laptop handy and I continue to check out quilt tutorials while I'm sitting in front of the TV.
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Post by cj59 on Aug 17, 2016 12:36:41 GMT -5
Hi graylady - sorry I missed giving the details of my pillow. The design was a double wedding ring and was just a large (24x24) block of two rings intertwined. All the fabric in the rings are assorted gold fabrics and the background was a pretty cream with a sort of paisley type lighter tan design. I added a border to it and it was a medium gold-brown color fabric. The back of the pillow was the same fabric as the border, and the cornerstones for the wedding ring were done in the fabric too. I used the Quiltsmart method to do the double wedding ring and that makes it very easy. I wanted to personalize the pillow with some appliqued initials or the number 50, but I'm not that experience at applique and didn't want to mess it up Sounds like you are very busy from now until you leave for Las Vegas in October. Good luck with getting everything done Hope everyone else is doing well with their projects. Have a great day!
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Post by graylady on Aug 17, 2016 16:04:06 GMT -5
Oh, CJ, that pillow sounds just beautiful. Those colors are just perfect. I can't imagine anyone making such a cherished gift for us - as we've already celebrated our 50th - going on 55 next year. (Yes, I was a child bride - though I was already teaching school.)
Wish you could send a photo - but hope you've kept a photo of it for yourself. I'm taking photos of my project as I go along - and I've kept a diary.
I'm about to do some sewing now - after spending a couple of hours writing many emails I've sent out in response to queries re: my "other" commitments. I have another meeting tonight.
It will soon enough be over - and I'll resign in January from some of my more involved responsibilities. Then, I'll have more time to devote to quilting.
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Post by cj59 on Aug 18, 2016 10:13:33 GMT -5
graylady - thank you I did take a picture. I've rarely made things for others since I haven't been confident in my skills, but I really would like to do some quilts for others as donations, so I need to get motivated for that. Congratulations on 54 years of marriage!!! It's so rare for people to stay together that long anymore. This year in the 50th wedding anniversary of my two older brothers, and I admire them for their long marriages. We're supposed to have temperatures in the 80s next week so I'm hoping to get working on another project then. This 90 degree weather has been draining. Hope everyone is working on a project they are enjoying and will share the details with us here
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Post by graylady on Aug 18, 2016 15:46:29 GMT -5
CJ: Yes, 54 years - hasn't always been easy - or wonderful - but we survived - and we're glad we did. Part of reason it works is because my husband let me "do my thing." We each have our own activities - and we share some activities - and we have a very big house - so the upstairs is mine - and downstairs is "his." Anyway, we're best friends - and in the end, that's the most important aspect of a long relationship. And - one doesn't always "like" the person one "loves." (And it's a mutual thing for sure! I have my quirks - he has "his.")
Anyway, did I ever ask where you live, CJ? Sorry if I don't always remember what we've previously discussed. Because your weather sounds like the weather we're having here in Seattle/Bellevue this week - though the temps for the next 4 days are supposed to get up into the 90s. I have our portable A/C unit blowing away.
And yes, where are the other quilters. I would love hearing from all of you and your projects and progress.
I did finish 3 more blocks yesterday - I'll finish 3 more today - and get a start on the next row of 6.
It's coming along.
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Post by graylady on Aug 20, 2016 16:27:23 GMT -5
Very long day yesterday - with appointments at considerable distance from home - returning after 10 PM last night. And - it was a 95-degree day here in Seattle area - so lots of A/C operating everywhere. The upstairs / living / family room / areas in my home stayed quite habitable with our portable A/C unit operating until midnight - when I closed it down and opened everything up because the temps were the same indoors and out - about 69 degrees.
Today is another 95+ day - and the A/C is operating - and I will be doing some sewing coming up - but am catching up with emails and reading newspaper, etc... right now.
I was in a private home for a small get-together for dinner last night - and noticed a quilt on a chair - and talked to the hostess about it - it had been done by her grandmother and it was simply "tied." But the hostess, too, does some quilting - and we enjoyed discussing our common interest.
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Post by graylady on Aug 20, 2016 20:55:51 GMT -5
At 6:30 PM, it's still 90 degrees outdoors. But inside our home, the A/C unit has the family room at about 76 degrees - and this is a room with cathedral ceilings and floor to ceiling, wall to wall, picture windows all along the west side. In my sewing room, I would say that it was closer to 80 - but with a fan, it was tolerable. It's the steam iron which creates the heat - but I managed. Soon, it will start to cool down outside - but we don't dare open anything up until after 11 PM.
In the meantime, I've completed 6 more blocks - 42 out of 48 completed. And I intend to finish them up this evening - so that will put me on schedule for beginning the sashing by Monday.
And, thankfully, the Olympics will be over Sunday night, so I won't have that distraction.
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Post by graylady on Aug 21, 2016 4:13:35 GMT -5
Finished my last 2 blocks - 48 completed - 2:09 AM, PDT.
Now, on to the lattice - have to cut the 2" wide strips into 110 8" long lattice rectangles - and I'll need more 2" squares as well. The lattice strips all have cornerstones. Pretty trick to match.
But I've learned a lot from making these blocks with cornerstones. Certainly, the last two rows of blocks went together so much more quickly and accurately - lots of good looking "points."
I may take a day or two off - though probably will cut the 8" rectangles tomorrow.
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Post by cj59 on Aug 21, 2016 16:06:11 GMT -5
Hi Everyone - hope you are all doing well and working on some projects graylady - congratulations on finishing the last 2 blocks. Sounds like you are making lots of progress! Hope your weather is cooler today. I made another envelope pillow cover today - just a 14x14 pillow for myself. Now I'm ready to start on something else. I think I'll start sorting my 5 inch squares into lights and darks, so I can start piecing them together. I'm watching an old video from the Simply Quilts show that used to be on HGTV and it has the Thimble Lady on it showing her process for hand quilting. I have several projects waiting to be hand quilted and I'd really love to get to them when the weather gets cooler. I've also thought about using the Big Stitch method to quilt some of them.
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Post by graylady on Aug 21, 2016 16:29:28 GMT -5
CJ: I notice that you kindly invite the other quilters to join in on here. I wonder what happened to them? I'm worried that my comments about "points," has put them off.
And getting "points" closer in line probably is a lifetime project - sometimes, they do - and sometimes, they don't. "Close enough" works for me too.
I'm wondering what kind of a quilt package I can devise for my quilt I"m making for my son. I'm trying to say, something like a pillow case that can be used to encase it - for travel - but also, he might want to protect it - though I hope he'll put it on his bed - though he's in a small apartment that he's sharing - and doesn't have a lot of material possessions. I'm thinking he might put it up on a wall.
Anyway, any ideas (as usual) would be appreciated.
On another quilt message board, a quilter - who sent me a 1/4-inch seam guide in the mail - has given me a good idea about how to do the sashing with cornerstones - and she posted a picture.
I'm glad you're planning new projects - or how to finish the hand quilting you'd like to. Has the weather cooled off back there? (And I'm really surprised that you wouldn't have A/C back there.)
Anyway, I have other chores to attend to today - but I will be getting the sashing strips ready too. And tonight are the Closing Ceremonies for the Olympics.
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Post by graylady on Aug 21, 2016 21:11:55 GMT -5
I've had a set-back. First, I miscalculated the fabric yardage for the sashing strips. I "assumed" that they would be 2 x 5" - and calculated my fabric thusly. But - sorry - the strips are 2 x 8" - and thus, when I went to cut rectangles - I knew immediately that I would need additional yardage.
So - I went to the fabric store - couldn't find the same fabric - does one ever? So - I found 3 fabrics I liked - at 40% off - remember, this is a patriotic quilt - so I'm still looking at red, white & blue-themed fabric. Whatever is left, is at 40% off.
Bought 2 yds each of 3 choices - and I like one of them more than the one I thought I would be using. Yay for that.
Then, as I sorted through all the blocks, on separate thin paper plates - as each block has to be oriented a certain direction - I found 4 blocks uncompleted. So, I've got to finish them.
And I've had other set-backs today - with phone conversations and emails that haven't gone so well.
Even the trip to the fabric store was stressful - too many people waiting in long lines to have fabric cut - and one man - expecting that he could be served "first" or that he could cut his own fabric (it actually was what appeared to be some kind of probably boat upholstery). And he loudly proclaimed to all the women that he was the "only" man - duh - we could tell. And that at Home Depot he could cut / measure / his own. One woman reminded him that he wasn't in Home Depot. Then, he proclaimed loudly that "obviously, women couldn't be trusted to cut their own merchandise." Yes - he said that out loud.
Well I stood up when I heard all of that stating that he was out of line. He yelled something about being a "free country," and I again responded that indeed it was and that my voice was "equal" to his. Well - that shut him down. But he waited - and kept his mouth shut.
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Post by corgi on Aug 21, 2016 21:38:06 GMT -5
So at Home Depot you can cut your own stuff. Would he cut his own meat at a butcher shop? Cut his own diamond at a jewelry shop?
Loud, blustery, attention grabbing men like that always make me say in my head, "Gee, it's a shame about your tiny dick." Not sure I wouldn't have slipped and said it out loud to that guy.
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Post by cj59 on Aug 22, 2016 19:19:57 GMT -5
Hello Everyone - hope you are all doing well and enjoying working on some projects. I didn't get to anything today, but did buy a quilt magazine at the store, so I think that counts, right graylady - I don't think you made people think they couldn't post here. I think everyone just has really busy lives and hopefully they will come back and post when they are working on or finishing new projects Sorry to hear about your fabric problem. I've done that too, cut wrong or miscalculated, and then had to go back to the store. I'm glad you found some other fabrics that work for you. As for storage for your son's quilt, I googled "how to store a quilt" and there was a lot of information there. One was to wrap it in a cotton sheet. You might find a really nice sheet to do that. I know they recommend acid free boxes too. They always say not to store it in a plastic containter, but unfortunately that's what I keep all my finished quilt tops in!
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Post by graylady on Aug 22, 2016 23:55:15 GMT -5
CJ: Thank you for researching quilt storage possibilities for me. I'm thinking of how to transport it in the car with us - so it doesn't get soiled - and also for him to be able to transport it. I'm thinking of making a fabric bag of some kind. Will do more research on that when I'm closer to finishing.
I did cut some more striped rectangles - to finish the "lost blocks" - that I didn't know needed "finishing." Then, it's on to cutting the 8" rectangles and lots more cornerstone blocks. Another quilter suggested that I make a "set" of 8" fabric and 2 inch fabric and cut them together at one time. I'm trying to figure that one out.
I was gone for several hours this afternoon / early evening - and will probably finish those "lost blocks" yet tonight before I call it a day.
I also went to the library and got a couple of CD books - so that I can listen to a story while sewing. We'll see how that works - sometimes, it becomes too distracting.
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Post by graylady on Aug 23, 2016 0:01:01 GMT -5
I found a bag for holding/storing/transporting a quilt. I hope this link works.
file:///Users/sonjarossman/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Masters/2016/08/22/20160822-215943/described%20bag%20a.JPG
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Post by graylady on Aug 23, 2016 15:19:09 GMT -5
Tres: Yes, muslin is a good idea for "storing" quilts.
This patriotic quilt I'm making for my oldest son will be a complete surprise for him. He lives in one room - sharing living space with an older woman. He has few possessions - and I'm wondering what in the world he's even going to do with this quilt - as I suggested - possibly hanging it on the wall - or possibly even using it - but he lives in Las Vegas. Though it does get quite cold in the winter months.
What will I transport it in - on our two-day car drive down there from Seattle? A box is out of the question. It has to be something soft.
I'm thinking that denim would be the best solution - a denim bag - or pillow case of some kind.
He's a former Navy guy - works as a casino dealer - and lives quite simply.
I don't think that muslin would hold up over the long run for his type of life style. I think denim is the solution. We'll see. I'd love to use old jeans - cut them up - etc - that would take me the rest of my life though.
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Post by cj59 on Aug 23, 2016 17:46:06 GMT -5
graylady - a fabric bag sounds like a good idea for transport of your son's quilt Also sounds like you are making good progress. I went to a local quilt store today and bought another presser foot for my machine - it's a wide mouth one so that I can see applique stitching better. I also bought a Christmas panel and a few yards of snowman fabric that I liked.
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Post by cj59 on Aug 24, 2016 17:22:37 GMT -5
Hi Everyone - hope you are all well and working on some wonderful projects I haven't done any quilting this week, but I did do a little crocheting today. I needed something that would occupy my hands and soothe me and the repetive motion of crochet does that for me.
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Post by graylady on Aug 24, 2016 19:11:55 GMT -5
Yes - I'm working again on the sashing - having cut all 22 - 2" strips - and then half of them into 8" lengths. I've begun sewing sashing to blocks - and I'm trying to figure out which way to press the seams - so they "nestle" together.
I've got an audio book to keep me company - "The Kingmaker's Daughter" by Philippa Gregory - a story about 15th Century England and the daughter of the "Kingmaker," a nobleman who finagles and arranges to have his daughter(s) married to potential kings of England. I love historical fiction - but I've never read Gregory before. The narrator is wonderful - her voice changes for different characters and she makes it most believable.
Otherwise, I'm tired now from the concentration of cutting 22 - 2" strips. When cutting such wide strips - because I cut across the doubled width of the piece - I find that the ruler tends to "slip," even though I have put on non-slip backing. So - I'm putting heavy weights/cans on the ruler to keep it from slipping - and I tape down the fabric with small sticky strips to help prevent slippage.
I'm tired now and will rest for a while - and then I must cook dinner tonight - which I didn't do for the past two nights.
CJ - interesting that you find crochet needlework "soothing." I hope nothing terribly serious is going on in your life.
However, in my case, I also find quilting to be soothing too - when I'm working on repeitious piecing. (But I also love to crochet - and have made a few afghans and infant clothing - like a christening set for a grandchild that's yet to be born - if ever.
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Post by cj59 on Aug 25, 2016 12:49:53 GMT -5
graylady - I'm glad to hear you are making progress on your quilts and enjoying listening to a book at the same time! Sounds like you've worked out a method for cutting. I don't like cutting long pieces either, it is difficult to keep the rule in place. I've just been feeling "tired" of dieting and all that goes with it. The crocheting (granny square) is kind of mindless and lets me stop thinking about things. I've been on this current eating path since March 2015 and have reached that point in the process where it just gets boring and it's difficult to remain motivated. But I know I have to keep with it this time, I actually don't even like to say I'm dieting, instead I say this is the way I eat now. I'll just keep plugging along, because I'm not going to give up this time. I need to do this for my health Hope everyone is doing well and working on some projects. I'd love to hear about them
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Post by graylady on Aug 25, 2016 18:26:58 GMT -5
I'm happy to report that I've started the sashing and have 4 blocks attached together. I figured out the seam direction - and have a note to myself pinned up to check the direction of each block as I press - they alternate.
Now, I'm taking a break - but will sew some more in the evening.
I'm repeating my mantra: measure - measure - measure - it's the key to getting the points to meet. And in the case of a geometric design like this quilt, meeting of the points is necessary for accomplishing the stunning design - and sub-design - light and darks, etc...
I've learned so much in the making of this quilt top - and I'm anxious to start another project. I have one in mind for Xmas gifts - just small table top mini quilts.
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Post by cj59 on Aug 25, 2016 18:45:39 GMT -5
graylady - I'm glad to hear the sashing is going well. I've heard this said many times when watching quilting shows - measure twice, cut once I usually measure more than twice, just to be safe. It's nice to hear you are already thinking about another project too! I started looking at some small pieces of fabric I have, thinking about just sewing them together - kind of like in a postage stamp block. But the colors really aren't appealing to me, so I'm not sure if I should just scrap the idea or just go ahead with it. There are probably less than 50 pieces, about 1 1/2 inches square, so it wouldn't take long to sew it.
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