The Curious Quilter When people view my more artistic quilt designs they sometimes ask how I got the idea or how I knew to use a particular technique. Usually I shrug my shoulders and say “it just came to me”. And that is the truth—but …
The use of linen and lace has become obsolete for most dinner tables and few make their own fresh flower bouquet to grace the table but somehow both continue to hold a place in my heart. (At least the romance of the …
I still like to thread baste to prepare my quilts for quilting, especially when I am in my small space at our winter home (I make mostly small quilts). I made a hard foam folding board (48” x 13 ½”-54)” that hides under the sofa and comes out when I have several things ready for basting. I can lay it out on the bed, turn it for accessibility to all sides, pin the backing to assure it is straight on grain and smooth before layering the batting and top. Yes, it is faster to pin or spray or fuse and sometimes I use those methods but I use basting time to study the quilt. How do the fabrics and colors interact to create the design? Would different values or styles of fabrics yield a similar or different result? What type of quilting will complement the pattern design? Free motion or walking foot? What color(s) of thread might I use? I was probably supposed to think about those things before starting the quilt. I do feel like I get a smoother backing and I haven’t tied up my pins if I don’t get to the quilting immediately. The only downside for me is the small callous on the end of my finger—a thimble might help that!
Project pictured is a bed runner, 28” x 84”.
Many years ago my father-in-law chided me for having three sewing projects all in various stages toward completion but none finished. It was his belief that one did not start a new project until the last one was finished. How could a person work on …
We have been in Texas for almost a month. The weeds are under control again. The mosquitos are fewer and the cutter ants have been subdued for a while anyway. And my temporary sewing room is set up in the camper— in fact …
Yesterday was the hardest day of work I have put in for a loooonng time! While Craig was under the park model (crawl space) wrestling with wires to get the electricity hooked up for the sewing room I was in and out of the 18” x 24” door numerous times bringing things like crescent wrench and flashlight and another crescent wrench, etc. And then I had to go in and get the drill so I could go back out and drill a hole from the outside for the wire to come out. Granted Craig wasn’t just laying under there doing nothing. He had to loosen the axle braces so he could get up and over them on his way to the front. Today I took it easy and nursed sore muscles and skinned shoulders after walking two miles to make sure the muscles still worked. He finished wiring the room and at end of day I have electricity in the sewing room!!!!!
Now for the insulation……after Christmas.
Circle of Prosperity, January, 2015 I have titled this small quilt “Circle of Prosperity”. It may be recognizable to readers as Burgoyne’s Quilt but was also identified by other names one of which was Wheel of Fortune. It seemed a likely candidate for sending a …
Circles are a part of our quilt life but they played quite an important role in the progression of life. Just a few photos from the past year to reflect upon the role of circles from our past..
For the next year I will share directions for making a 20″-24” table mat or small wall hanging once a month. Each will be based on a single block. The first reason for doing this is to provide my mother, who is in a care center, a bright spot in her room. When she first moved in for rehab I brought one of my small wall hangings once a month to brighten her room. I found they were a good stimulus for her to have conversations with staff and visitors and they also engaged her mind to examine how they were made, what patterns were used and patterns that emerged at the different angles from which they were viewed. She likes seasonal things and also bright colors—I think because her eyesight is failing and the brightness and strong contrast is easier to discern. She also likes to hear the stories behind why they were made. After going through the few small things I had in my closet I found myself scrambling to make sure she had a new and different one. Thus, a plan to insure there is a new one each month for the next year.
This effort also fits well with my desire to try different blocks that are of interest to me but that I do not necessarily want to use to make a larger quilt. Of course, it also feeds my addiction to try new fabrics and color combinations that may not fit any specific home décor needs. I hope that others may choose to use the directions in whatever way it fits with their need to create something from fabric. (All will be fast and easy so would also make great gifts to have on hand for housewarming and other occasions.)
The first project will be posted next week on whatever day I have a strong enough internet connection to enable pictures to upload. I hope you enjoy and will share this site with others.
The cover quilt for Something Stitched is my interpretation of a quilt featured in Pamela Dinndorf’s book “Colorific”. I was inspired by our trip east through the Pocono mountains to pick up a camper as well as the Mississippi River bluffs where we live in …