Sewing Weekend Week 2 of 2021

I hope everyone is well and enjoying this new year. So far, so good for me. I have discovered that using the sewing machine (first time since August) perfectly hits the sweet spot of my vision. The only problem I've had this week has been not being able to tell which is the right side of the fabric, which made me try out Mr. Ripper sooner than I wanted. And that was tough. I threw some pieces away because it just wasn't worth trying to hold the fabric and a magnifying glass at the same time. But all in all, it was a very encouraging week, and I got a lot done.

I worked mainly on my string Scrappy Pinwheels. Originally, I was going to make the quilt with all pinwheel blocks doing quilt as you go so each block would be separated by a half inch sashing. But I've been playing around with designs, and made then made another block to see how it would look. It looks better on the computerized design than it does on the design wall. Now I'm not sure which direction I'll go with it.  Sorry for the dark photos.  I should have taken pictures while it was still daylight.

On to the reports!

I stitched every day this week so my 15 minutes to stitch report still shows 100% success rate.

Since I am using scraps and previously cut muslin, my stash report remains the same as it has for the last eight months. I'm not going to reduce my stash at this rate.

I'm linking this post to these blogs. Click on them to see what other quilters are doing:
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun than Housework
15 Minutes to Stitch at Life in Pieces
Sunday Stash at Quilt Paint Create
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Sewing Reports and Design Board

I had a great sewing week. Finishing two UFOs this month made me feel great, and having positive numbers in both reports made it even better. On Friday, I started working on the green RSC blocks for March. After I made the first one, I thought it looked kind of like a clover, so I took a detour to make a miniture shamrock block.

So cute and fun to make except for those dog ear corners on the snowballs. Since I started having double vision, sewing on a thin pencil line has become very difficult. When I made the blue blocks in January, I forgot to put the dogears on the corners opposite the yellow corner on one block. I corrected that, but now I wish I had done all the blocks that way. That would be four less lines to see on each block. I don't think I hit the line on a single block yet. I have had to give up perfectionism. Maybe that's a good thing though. I used to redo things that were perfectly acceptable at work and home, and now, well, I've just had to tell myself that it's good enough. But if I ever make another quilt with this block, I'm making the snowballs without the dog ears on the far corners.  What do you think?  Could that look like a flower?

In the evenings, I'm working on the EPP Ferris wheels.  It's slow going and seems like I am using the same fabrics over and over.  I need to go dig through my bins for more variety.

I've also continued to make string blocks and have them in several sizes now thanks to another unpacked box. Among all the blocks in it, there were some pastel four inch string blocks. I have no idea what project I had in mind for blocks that size. Maybe as I continue to unpack, I'll find some instructions packed with the silverware or tucked inside a jar. Every box is a surprise.



And even some string blocks in single colors.  I think I'm going to continue making these in the RSC colors for this year.  Making just three snowball blocks each month isn't very challenging.

And of course, the UFO of the month, Jacob's Ladder, is still on the board.

Now on to the reports.  I never know how to record a week that is split between two months, so I basically do a double report. I spent time every day sewing. A good forecast for the coming week may be my downfall though. I really need to get outside and build some raised beds if it isn't too muddy. Digging in wet clay is almost impossible. It sticks to the shovel, shoes, and everything it touches. But for now, my report shows 100% for the month of February, for the week, and so far, for March.

Even the stash report is good. For the first time this year, I am showing more fabric used than added. Not only did I not buy any fabric this week, I didn't unpack any either. I've had a box sitting on my cutting table all week though. But it can just sit there, because a negative in that column sure looks good for a change.

Linking to:
Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun than Housework
Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts
15 Minutes to Stitch at Life in Pieces
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
BOMs Away at Katie Mae Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Main Crush Monday at Cooking up Quilts
Tuesday Archives at Val's Quilting Studio

Double Irish Chain

Began 2016, Finished 2018

It's Sunday - Time for the Weekly Reports

We had a week of rainy weather, cold, rainy weather. There were several days that I stayed in my rocker next to the heater doing English Paper Piecing instead of venturing out to my sewing space in the unheated attic. This is my Slow Sunday Stitching for the week. I started with a Ferris Wheel block but I'm not really sure where I'm going with it. It's a great way to use scraps, so I may just let it grow for awhile.

Someone commented that they knew this block as Jack's Chain. I had heard that before and looked it up again. Some Ferris Wheel patterns also list the name as Jack's Chain. But a search for Jack's Chain pattern mostly comes up with a block that uses nine patch blocks instead of the solid square block around the hexagon. I think it could go either way, so I had to decide which one to call mine. I'm not sure what a chain belonging to Jack looks like.  Maybe it belongs on a tow truck. Maybe Jack is on a chain gang. Maybe Jack is a giant swinging a chain around his head.  What is Jack doing with that chain? I don't know. On the other hand, I like ferris wheels. They are at the center of the fair next to the cotton candy. Bright, colorful, and fun and a great view from the top. So Ferris Wheel it is. See what other scrappy quilting are in the works at Quilting is More Fun than Housework.

I used a bit of fabric this week, two-and-a-quarter yards, and I didn't buy any fabric this week. I would have shown more going out than coming in if it weren't for the box of fabric I unpacked. I brought home a box from the storage unit today that probably has fabric in it, so next week's report won't look any better. So sad. I just need to be using more every week. Click over to QuiltPaintCreate to see how other people are using their stash.

On the other hand, I had a good week sewing every day. I have one finish to show for it, and hope to finish another in the next day or two. I'm read to get these UFOs done so I can start working on some new quilts. Check out Life in Pieces for more 15 Minutes of Sewing.

Design Wall Monday, It's a Race to the Deadline Now

Besides the RSC blocks, I have been quilting the Double Irish Chain. It is my February UFO and the quilting is killing my shoulder. I tried to divide the remaining quilting by the number of days left in the month, less a day for binding, and I have to quilt the equivalent of four blocks a day. I have scaled back the amount of quilting I was doing on each block and my shoulder still aches for hours after doing four blocks. I'm not sure it's worth it, but I'd like to make my goal. After this quilt, it's QAYG or send out for quilting. I don't know if it's possible to tear a rotator cuff by quilting, but it feels like it. I prescribe rest in the month of March.

I am using the Double Irish Chain to practice with the ruler foot. I am still having tension problems but it's beginning to look a little better on the back. Now if I can get the stitch length on the front to be uniform, I'll be happy. Painfully happy.

(Ran out of bobbin thread on this block)

Now something I'd like to ask all of you, especially those of you who use Google Blogger for your blog host. Something has happened in the last month or two (maybe longer). Now, people who use Google+ show 'no reply' in their emails. And if they also don't have their blog linked to their profile, it's impossible to respond to their comments, either by email reply or by return comment on their blog. There was someone who commented on my blog for awhile whose ID was only "T" with 'no reply' in the email and no blog on their profile. There are others like that too, but the "T" stuck in my memory. I feel really bad that people go to the trouble to leave a comment and there is no way to return it. Some blogger themes don't have a reply button under each comment, but I just saw on another blog that there are themes that do have a reply button. I'm about to try out one of these themes. How do you deal with 'no reply' emails?

Well. You know how you are supposed to back up your template before making changes? I didn't do that. I don't remember what my width was so if my blog doesn't look right on your computer, like pictures or words overlapping something they shouldn't, please let me know. I also changed the background for a cleaner look. And after all that, the reply button isn't part of a theme at all. It's in the settings!

Also, there are some blogs that only allow comments by Google+ members. I signed up for Google+ when it first became available, but it seriously messed up my email login unless I used gmail, and my blogger sign in isn't gmail. In fact, I didn't really like gmail. I couldn't log out of it easily to check my other email. So I ditched Google+ and gmail. But that means I can't comment on those blogs. For those of you who have Google+, is it an option to only allow Google+ members to comment on your blog, or has Google taken that choice from you?

Now back to Design Wall Monday. I'm linking to:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts
Moving it Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag

Sewing Report Sunday

I've been having fun with my scrappy flower blocks for the RSC Challenge. I've determined that I need two and a half blocks for each of the ten months. And since that isn't going to work, I think I'm going to make three one month and two the next. That will work well with similar colors like medium blue and dark blue, but I'm not sure about some of the other colors. I'll have to play it by ear.

Friday night, I dug out my travel kit and worked on a Ferris Wheel block (English Paper Piecing). In an effort to spend more time in the evenings with Hubby, I'm going to start working on these in the evenings instead of spending time by myself at the sewing machine.

This week I was gifted with fabric. A friend was thinning her stash and asked if I wanted some fabric. Well, yeah! Thinking it was odds and ends of less than desirable colors, I told her that my quilt group could always use fabric for our donation quilts. This was way better than odds and ends.

A kit with all the fabric needed plus the pattern. A really cute pattern, I might add.

A magazine with a pattern bookmarked and all the fabric to make it.

Another pattern with all the fabric to make it.

Some fabrics she had marked for various things, like "border" and "backing" but no pattern with it.

And 36 fat quaters.

After looking at the three patterns, I could tell they are not the kind my group likes to make, so I'll keep those and make them sometime.  The other fabrics will make some great wheel chair lap quilts.

Score!!!!

Unfortunately, now I have to record this in my stash report.  My supposed stash reduction report. Thursday, I thought I was doing great because I had used more than I had bought.  Then, this gift.  And to compound my loss of control, I ran across a sale Friday that I couldn't pass up.  A local quilt store had a shelf of 75% off fabrics and a few bolts of fabric for 50 cents a yard.  I didn't buy any of those 50 cent fabrics though.  I didn't think I could cut them into small enough pieces to hide the ugly.  But I got several of the 75% off.  So they too will add to the report.  Now my report is a runaway train headed in the wrong direction.

I also unpacked a box of fabric.  A big box, and it was nearly all fabric. QuiltPaintCreate said she gets a laugh out of these boxes of fabric I keep finding.  When we were packing up to sell our house, everything was going into a unit at a storage facility with pretty poor security.  Anything of value, I marked with code words like "Large canning jars" (or something else not worth stealing) meaning something of value and another code word to describe the item, or "Small canning jars" meaning something with little value.  Sounded like a good idea at the time, but I also had real canning jars or gladware, or whatever the code word was, and over time, I forgot what the other code words meant.  So nearly all our boxes are labeled "Canning Jars", "Gladware", "Books", "Paint clothes," etc.  Most fabric was used as packing for lamps and other odd-shaped breakables, but there are some boxes marked "Sewing fabric".   It's an adventure to open boxes; we never know what to expect.

I'm happy to say that I am still headed in the right direction in my 15 Minutes of Sewing Report. That will change in a month or so, so I'm going to claim this victory while I can.

If you saw yesterday's post, you know I finished the Glory Box Wallhanging. I spent some time one day quilting the Double Irish Chain but it was a battle. I think I can get it done but it's really bigger than I would like to quilt on my machine. After a few hours, my shoulder was killing me. I decided to give my shoulder a rest and then work on it in much smaller time slots until I get it done. I think it will also be a wall hanging because I still haven't mastered the ruler foot. Even when the top looks good, there are places on the back that look like the tension is off. But then the next section looks fine. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I'm pretty sure it is the user, not the machine.

I also spent time this week with the ripper, and finding that some blocks I made several years ago didn't have quarter inch seams. More about that another time unless I decide it's not worth the effort.

I have sewed every day this week and for the month so far. I'm at 100% for those, but at 88% for the year. That shows what one bad week can do. I can just imagine how low it will be in July and August.

Linking to:
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun than Housework
15 Minutes of Sewing at Life in Pieces
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Shivering Through the Weekend and Quilting

Mother-in-Law is still miserable with shingles and a UTI. My brother-in-law came down for a few hours Friday to fetch and carry for her and reported that she didn't feel like eating the whole time he was there. She called after he left to say she was throwing up and wanted Hubby to take her to the emergency room. He asked her if she ate anything when she took her medicine. No. Well, eat something and call back. She called back about twenty minutes later to say that she ate and now she felt better. The last time I talked to her she said she wished she had been admitted to the hospital Thursday. Hubby and I both think the last place she needs to be in the middle of flu season is at the hospital. She just wants someone to take care of her and keep her company.

At 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning, the phone rang. She was dizzy and bleeding and wanted to go to the hospital. Poor Hubby got dressed and went to check on her. Her shingles blisters had burst and there was a little blood, but nothing serious. He ended up staying most of the day. She hadn't been drinking water either, so Hubby made her eat an egg and drink some water with her morning pills. She felt better after that, but said she really had to make herself eat the egg and wouldn't eat anything after that. Hubby said she was a little confused, probably from the medication. She kept thinking it was time to take more medicine and he kept telling her it wasn't time yet. She slept a lot and Hubby went to the store and bought some heat and eat foods and other things she needed. Then, after her mid-afternoon pills, he came home and let her sleep.

Before the cold front moved in last night, Hubby called her to tell her to take her last pill and she said she felt ok. He told her there was a cold front moving in with sleet and freezing rain and she assured him she would be ok. Well, she called this morning, and she had fallen. She tripped over her oxygen hose and hit her head on the corner of the dresser. Off Hubby went again. He called when he got there to tell me he made it okay. She just had a tiny bump on her head, not the gigantic purple lump she had the last time she fell. So no trip to the hospital needed this time. He said other than that, she felt pretty good today, just wanted company.

Before he left, we discussed getting someone to come in several times a week to clean, cook a decent meal, and just be with her. She is adament about not going to a nursing home, but I think she doesn't need to be living alone any longer. He was going to discuss that with her today. The last time he mentioned it, she said she didn't want help. I hope she agrees this time. Tomorrow is my day to check on her, so I'll see what she says after she's had time to think about it.

In the meantime, I've been staying inside. I did brave the cold of the attic to open a few boxes and sew a few blocks. I'm much happier with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks now that I've made each section from a different fabric. I was going to make a queen size quilt and so needed nine of each color. But I just realized that I don't have any baby quilts set back so now this will be a baby quilt. I need to refigure my design to see how many I need to make now. I need to decide on a backing fabric soon too so I can start quilting the blocks. I'm doing this as a QAYG.

Hubby complains that his right hand gets cold when he is on the computer when it's cold. I've noticed my hands get really cold when I'm sewing very long. Now I'm huddled next to the heater listening to sheets of ice slide off the roof and hope they don't dent the porch covers. There's a pot of steaming tea on the stove and I'm about to warm my fingers around a cup of tea and watch a little tv before starting my next block.

Linking to:
RSC Challenge at soscrappy

One Step Forward and Two Steps Back, and for What?

The upside is that today was gorgeous! It started out cold but warmed to about 60 and no wind for a change. Tomorrow is supposed to get up to 70, but it will be breezy. We've decided that breezy is a meterologist code word for a stiff wind, and windy is code for anything between a stiff wind and tornado.

The downside is that my mother-in-law has shingles and a UTI and is feeling pretty miserable. Hubby took her to the doctor yesterday and spent the rest of the afternoon getting her prescriptions and other things she needs. Evidently, she is a grumpy, needy patient. Hubby told me it was my turn to listen to her today. I had shingles a few years ago, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, so I think I'm a little more understanding than Hubby. Shingles are (or is that shingles is) miserable. If you are over 60 and haven't gotten your shingles vaccine, go get it as soon as the flu epidemic is over.

Speaking of flu, our little town is in the middle of the outbreak. Schools have been closed, and now there is a sign on the library asking people who have a cold, cough, or any flu symptoms to please just drop off their books in the overnight box. At the grocery store, when I handed my cloth bags to the cashier, she picked up the corner of one bag with her fingertips like it was crawling with germs. I told her I wash them but it didn't seem to make any difference to her. Of course, the first thing I did when I got to the car was to slather my hands with sanitizer. I don't remember the flu ever being this bad.

I've been spinning my wheels in the sewing room. I did get the backing made for the Double Irish Chain quilt, but most of my time has been on scrappy blocks. I should be finishing a UFO, but instead, I have been piddling with blocks for the RSC Challenge. Originally, I was going to continue working on Twinkle Star blocks since I didn't get very far on them before. But I can't find the blocks I made before, or the pattern I used on them. Since I need to make them the same size, I decided not to do those after all and make some blocks that are quick and easy. I decided to make Puakenikeni Flower Blocks except make the flowers in the color of the month. I made the blocks like Lisa suggested, but the more I looked at the blocks, the more I thought they didn't look right.

Yeah, I didn't put all the white pieces on the corners, I was in a hurry to see what it would look like. I think the yellow in the center needs to be larger, and I wanted it to have more of a scrappy look. Plus, I don't have enough scraps to make any more blocks this size. So I changed the white squares on the corners from 1-1/2 inch to 2 inches, and made each of the four blocks in a different fabric and I think I like it better. I just turned down the outside corners to see what it will look like, and I like it. Now I have to rip apart all the blocks I have made so far. I also had to buy some fabric because I don't have any purple or lavender, which is the February color, and I didn't have much medium blue either. I don't think I have any aqua or turquoise either, but I'll worry about that next month.

That's it for me. Tomorrow I'm leveling dirt if the wind is under 20mph.

Linking to:
My Quilt Infatuation
Can I get a Whoop Whoop

Weekly Reports for the Fifth Week of 2018

As I mentioned yesterday, I have been making string blocks with leaders and enders. I thought I'd make them half square and make pinwheels. I love pinwheels. Only doing half the block in strings makes the block go fast, which is good for making a lot of blocks, but it is also a little more work too. Once I get them put in pinwheels, I'm going to do the quilt as you go method on them. I haven't picked a sash color yet, but I'm thinking red or blue.

I looked at the picture and thought "Oh no, I cut some too small!" Then it dawned on me that I joined the four on the left yesterday. Maybe I need a nap already.

I had a great week in the sewing room this week. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I really got some things accomplished. Maybe it was the sinus infection and not feeling like I should leave the house for days, or maybe I'm finally getting a little organized. In any case, I sewed every day, worked on my cabinet one day, and found a box of scraps so I could start making leader and ender string blocks again. I think I like making string blocks as leaders and enders because they don't require any thought and I can keep my attention on the piecing of the main project.

I know this chart looks odd, but I wanted to keep January and February separate. I ended January with 25 out of 31 days spent sewing. That's an 81% average, so not too bad. So far in February, mind you it's only 3 days, I'm at 100%.

I also finally have some usage to report on the stash, although since I found a box of fabric, my overall number has gone up. But the main thing is that I didn't buy any new fabric. I managed to finish the wallhanging with fabric already bought.

Although the chart below doesn't show this specifically, I have bought 3-1/2 yards in 2018, and used 2-1/2 yards.  One more yard used and I will have my stash showing no real gain, although I am adding stash numbers as I unpack fabric.  After I am unpacked, I may go back and change my reports from the beginning to show actual gain just from purchases.

I mentioned that I also worked on my cabinet. I finished putting in shelves last night and couldn't wait to put fabric in it. I was pleased that all my quilting cotton (except for planned projects) fit in it. Now my other bookshelf can be used for flannels, batting, and projects. It really is beginning to come together.

I hope you have had a good sewing week too, and if not, best wishes for the week ahead. Check the links below to see how other quilters are doing, and join in if you can.

Linking to:
15 Minutes to Stitch at Life in Pieces
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than housework

Still Busting UFOs

I've been working on the wallhanging. Finished the flimsy Friday afternoon, and spent Friday evening unpacking boxes looking for my pins. I finally found a small, travel box with some pins and had almost enough. I'll have to work on a section and then finish pinning the rest. Hubby likes it and says it looks like a stained glass window. Of course, I was standing in front of a window while I was holding the flimsy up for him to see, so I guess it did.

I'm itching to quilt it using my new Westalee ruler foot. I just got it last week and haven't tried it out yet. I was going to practice on the wallhanging, but since Hubby likes that, I'll practice on some half-square string blocks I've been making as leaders and enders.

I like it!  At least the top.

The back isn't that great.  For one thing, I forgot to lower my feeddogs.  But that really wasn't the problem.  I had to adjust my needle tension by a couple of numbers.  Then it looked better.  I do want to find my magic gloves before quilting the wallhanging.  Free motion with oversized dishwashing gloves is cumbersome.

Eventually, I plan on making a pinwheel quilt-as-you-go with these blocks.

Linking over to Tish's Adventures in Wonderland who is keeping me focused on finishing UFOs. Thanks Tish!

P.S.  Hubby wasn't able to rent a hydraulic lift this weekend and that turned out to be a very good thing.  This morning it was very windy and this afternoon, it rained with a few thunderclaps thrown in for good measure.  Not a good time to be putting up an antenna.  But we still had someone fall off a ladder today.  It was Buddy.  I don't know why he likes to climb ladders; he is not good at coming down them.  Hubby had propped the big extension ladder against the shelves in the garage, and Buddy climbed up to one of the shelves.  When I called him, I heard something fall up there, and then he started down.  He made it about three steps rather quickly, and then the momentum must have been too much as he kind of slid down the rest of the steps and landed with a thud at the bottom.