Tinking ~

I learned a new word as I was knitting or un-knitting as the case was this past weekend.

Tinking, it is the taking knitting stitches out when you make a mistake. I made a big mistake, tried to correct it and made a hole and a knot. I didn't realize how big the mistake was till I was a few rows down. I was going to leave it because I can put in stitches but correcting them requires a friend to help me. So I went on the handy dandy internet and searched for knitting mistakes. I did not get it at first but then realized or read that to 'tink' is knit backwards and that was exactly what I was doing. It takes longer to take stitches out then put them in. Lesson for me was that I am much happier having spent the time to fix the knot/hole in my project than I would be if I had left it.

looks like a long sock...it is a scarf pattern from Churchmouse using self-patterning yarn

 Now to fix the last quilt square I made from the 163 Patchwork Favorites. Did you notice that the lower right square in the clown block was cut incorrectly? I did and I am sorry if it stands out. I realized it after I had cut it but had reached the end of that particular fabric. It was the result in chatting with all the ladies at the guild meeting. I am not blaming them it is entirely my fault for not paying attention. I promptly went into he fabric store portion of where we meet to see if I could find the same fabric. I could not so I made do with what I had. Which is a good principle in and of itself.

Now a new project...

I am taking my '163 Patchwork Favorite' squares and going to participate in the Bee in my Bonnet Barn Along. They are the perfect size.

Here is the first barn ~

And the silo barn ~

I really like how they turned out. Once all the pieces are cut they come together quickly. And I haven't purchased any new fabric. That makes this kinda free...right?

Happy Monday

what I learned this weekend ~

During our meeting I finished another block from the 163 Patchwork Favorites. I might a have long pause here, only because the next quilt block looks rather complicated. I could make it with more seams but I will attempt it the way it is shown. 

Keep the seam ripper close...

clown block pg 17 from 163 Patchwork Favorites

While at the SDMQG meeting this weekend a member gave a very informative talk and lesson in regards to binding quilts, including types of binding, cutting fabric for binding, applying binding and hand stitching. Who knew? I learned there was more to binding that I ever thought and certainly more to consider. There are probably a few things I could change for the better for future quilts. Thank you Julie!

binding on one of the quilts for the twins

coiled around the extension table foot

love my juki

Another member brought in her Juki and we started to chat about all things we love about this machine. I typically sew the binding on after I have free-motion quilted using my Juki because it is on my sewing table. It is a heavy machine to take up and down. I found winding the binding up and placing it under the foot of the extension table to be a rather clever way to keep it off the floor and to keep it from get all tangled up. 

Have a great week and happy sewing

under the liquid amber tree ~

Cabbage Patch quilt top finished

under the tree

The Cabbage Patch quilt was giving me grief! I  made a commitment. The skies have parted and I made a decision and I am sticking with it. I don't know how many quilt shops I went to, dragging my quilt in tow, trying to find the perfect fabric. Well too many and now my stash is even bigger. (Don't tell my husband.) I did have a choice to finish it the way it was, without the two end borders or to keep looking. I was having the same trouble in finding the fabric for the centers of the cornerstones and did the very same thing, kept purchasing the requisite amount of fabric only to decide, once home, that it would not do. One of those fabrics will now be the ends of my quilt. Yea! No more fabrics stores....for now. It is a sweet fabric from Lakehouse called Penelope.

Now to decide the back of the quilt!

Now the other 'squirrel' project ~

Using the scraps of leftover fabric from the Cabbage Patch quilt

 

clockwise starting from the upper left:

4 ~ Richmond 

6 ~ Road of Friendship

8 ~ Greek Cross

5 ~ Streets of London

And I think I have found a little project that they will be just perfect for. I will have to play around before I commit. I think my brain puts things together before I even have a chance to realize it. It is a project I have seen in 'blog land' and have been wanting to join along. I measured my finished blocks and they happen to be all the same which just happens to be the very size they need to be.

So now I don't have to feel guilty that I am making quilt squares for nothing.

 Everything came together quite nicely. I love it when that happens!

3 ~ Sawtooth

163 Patchwork Favorites

block #3 - Sawtooth

This is what I have realized - It is fun to cut and reassemble, or figure out how things work. This is why I love this book. It is a different way of looking at quilting. I haven't quite figured out what exactly I am going to do with these blocks but something will come to mind. The other advantage to this style of quilting is that it is forcing me to find tutorials, explore new blogs and learn new methods. A whole new world is opening up and I am finding creative energy too. 

My darling husband bought an app to translate the names of the blocks when my daughters friend isn't available. Lucky me, again!

On a different tangent~

 I made two loaves of delicious Japanese milk bread/toast. Recipe found on the 'Lady and Pups' blog entitled The Dreamiest of Dreamy Milk Toast. I used sweetened condensed milk and reduced the sugar from 7 TBSP to 5 TBSP. Mine is not as fluffy as her pictures show but it is delightfully sweet and moist. Perfect for french toast or simply with butter & jam. It is like a brioche but sweeter.

Happy Monday!

2 ~ bow

block #2 - Bow

 It looks like a bow.

My daughters are celebrating their 18th birthday today. Lucky me for having a family, husband, sons & daughters and happy times. In between making birthday cakes, food for their party and general set-up, I slipped away to make this cute little block. Don't ask me the measurements, it was all guess work. It looks almost like the one in the book!

One of their friends came over today, who happens to speak Japanese ( I was so excited) and was able to translate a few of the names of the blocks for me. She laughed each time I turned the page. She thought they were funny names for quilt blocks. Of course my daughters are embarrassed that I would ask their friend for help. 

Happy weekend and sew on!

clever bunny ~

163 Patchwork Favorites 

Well at least I thought so ~ for a few moments

After having a up then down couple of weeks, I realized I hadn't created anything. I had almost finished the Strawberry Fields aka 'Cabbage Patch' quilt, with the exception of the end borders, because even that was causing me to be stressed. I have set that aside for now. I have leftovers from that quilt and decided what would be better than to start at the beginning of 163 Patchwork Favorites quilting book and make a couple of blocks. The book is written in Japanese with accompanying diagrams and pictures. Where better to begin that at the beginning.

I had it all planned out and thought that my math/algebra was precise and then had to reach for the seam ripper. It may seem like a 1/4" seam isn't all that much but it is everything in a quilt block. 

I love how they turned out. Pinwheel? It is a bit of a challenge to make a square without so much as a measurement of any of the pieces. Hopefully the quilts I have made in the past will help me figure out the rest of the blocks. What is great about the book, once you have gotten over the whole math thing, is that any of the blocks can be made to any size.

Whew! I feel so much better now.

Update: The translation from Japanese to English is 'Mississippi' ~ just in case you were wondering

in the mail ~ postes Canada

 

don't know when I am going to find time... but did find a support group on Flickr.

For making the squares silly!