Spider Web Finished

I finished the binding and threw it in the washer and dryer. All the excess dye washed away and the back looks good.  Yea!  It now measures 52 x 64".

I cut about a hundred strips and started this Scrappy Trip Around the World.  I know I will have to cut many, many more strips. I made 16 blocks and I like that they can be arranged in log cabin designs. 

  This afternoon I started quilting this quilt that I made in May 2011. I got 4 blocks done.  I am starting out by following the quilting ideas shown in the pattern.  There are lots of straight lines in the sashing and borders so we'll see how it goes.  I'm using a variegated purple/green thread that I had on hand.

Probably all the time I'll have for sewing for a couple of days.  Tomorrow I am hostess for Woman's Club.  So I will be providing the lunch and setting up for the meeting.  I'm going to make Connie's Baked Spaghetti, Strawberry Spinach Salad, Rosemary Foccacia and Lemon Bars.  Then I take Em to the Orthodontist and Disciple Class in the evening.  Thursday is my day to work at Food Pantry, a visit with an old friend and then Capitol Quilters Guild in the evening.

 

Quilting Mojo

"Mojo means "finding the magic in what we do". To have "lost your mojo", refers to a loss of inspiration or creative genius; a loss of that special spark.

I'm trying to get my quilting mojo going again.

Monday evening I decided I needed and wanted to quilt the two quilts that I had layered back in June maybe? One is large at least 90 x 90, if I remember right, so I started with the smaller one 58 x 70.  One good decision at least. 

Why would I choose to start quilting a quilt at 9PM?  ..................... I wanted to.

• I set up my machine, adjusted the tension
• Did some practice to see if it was right etc.
• I put a new needle in and put in a full bobbin and for good measure threaded the bobbin  through the extra tension guide. 
• A friend had given me some spray (Quilt Glide)to slick up the top of the machine and cabinet so I used it too.  I was off and running. 

 About an hour later, 11PM, my thread broke.  It was time for a break anyway so I took out the quilt to admire it before going to bed.  Problems # 1 and 2.



Wrinkle on front = tuck on back

After taking out the block and a half that I had quilted.  See below.

Poor tension on back = needle marks on front

Tuesday, I decided to use a circle in the center of the block instead of the original plan.  Problem # 3.

Very uneven circle

It is very difficult to get an even circle in a 12 in block on a DSM.  Luckily I only did one and part of another before I abandoned this.  More unsewing.  I finished the center Tuesday and Wednesday I did the borders. I used a sliver of soap to trace around a  cable pattern. After I finished the first side before John's appointment so I decided I would remove the remaining soap traces with a wet wash cloth. Problem# 4.

Border fabric bled through to back

The dark blue batik bled through to the backing.  I'm hoping when I get it bound and washed that it will not be permanent.  I have had time to do the binding but as usual other things were calling me first.


Quilting finished



Well that was good practice and most of my problems were of my own making so I surely know how to correct them.  Here's to more practice soon!

Thursday was a fun day of sewing at my house with Connie, Sally and Cathy.  We all got several blocks made in addition to seeing and admiring each others show and tell.  I had my Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt center completed to show them and they were all impressed.  I'm still looking for my fabric for the inner border.  I pieced my other borders so I'm ready to go with it when I find just the right one.  I made a chicken casserole, spinach salad and lemon bars for lunch. 

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John and I met with his Pulmonary Doctor Wednesday to discuss the results of his biopsy on Dec. 28th.  We the news is that there really is no news.  They failed to get enough tissue for anything conclusive.  The Dr.suggested a possibility of another procedure (surgery) to remove the lymph node for biopsy.  We said no - but that we would agree to another scan next month and then proceed from there.  

Spiderweb II

I really like the sashing and inner border fabric that I picked out for the Spiderweb II Saturday (Stonehenge- Norcott).  I also bought a beautiful, silver gilded, multicolored dragonfly fabric with a dark blue background that I was planning to use for the outer border.  However, once I had sewn on the sashing it just looked out of place even though the colors were okay.  It made the quilt look overdressed- kinda like wearing a prom dress to a baseball game!
I did find 2 nice batiks at home that I can use - it is a scrap quilt after all - we'll see.