Christopher's Stocking

My friend Debbie has made Shepherd's Bush stockings for the two oldest of her children.  She had them hanging in by the fireplace at her house last Christmas, and I noticed that her youngest child, Christopher didn't have one.  Debbie said she had started one for him when he was a baby, but  hadn't finished it.  As Christopher is now 16, and she hadn't worked on it in years,  it looked like she wasn't going to get to it.   I volunteered to finish the cross stitching on it.

 My goal is not to go back and redo the whole thing, just to finish the cross stitching.  There are a few counting errors that I'm going to leave in,  Most of the Santa figure is done, so it shouldn't take that long to complete.  I told her I didn't guarantee to have it done by this Christmas.  I probably could have it done by then, but if I do, it will be a pleasant surprise, not an expectation.

ICQC 105: Ribbon Embroidery

I have signed up for Kathy Shaw's silk ribbon embroidery class.  Kathy offers a bunch of free online classes of crazy quilting techniques.  My crazy quilting blocks stalled out in February of 2016, and I really haven't touched them since.  This class has me interested again in working on them.

Our first task was the basic stitches.

Then we moved on to the flowers.

I love the look of ribbon flowers, but my technique could use a lot of work!  I have a hard time pulling the ribbon through the fabric, even when I make a hole with a large needle before hand.  I also waste a lot of ribbon even though I am using the recommended 18" lengths of ribbon.  The ribbon wears with every pass through the fabric and gets limp so that the stitches don't hold their shapes well.  I spend a lot of time fluffing and straightening the ribbon.  I am trying to be patient with myself because I know it will get easier as I get more practice.


Linking up: http://www.supermomnocape.com/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-121/

https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2017/08/lets-bee-social-188.html

PoD3, Stash Report

I got my third Project of Doom quilt bound this morning, thanks to a little push from Jennifer and her chose your own UFO project.

Vicki Johnson of Threads that Bind Us did the longarming.  I asked for the same pantograph that I've used on my other PoDs.  It is a swirly pattern with a few stars here and there.

The back is a Northcott fabric that was 1/2 off at an LQS.  It isn't a color I'd normally chose, but it was great for the back of this quilt and cost me less than $25.  

Linking Up:http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2017/07/pincushions-and-dishtowels.html

http://www.fandominstitches.com/2017/07/ufoqal2017-choose-your-ufo-your-choice_19.html                                      

Used this week: 5.125 yards (PoD3, backing and binding)
Used year to date: 77.25 yards
Added this week:  11.25 yards (blueberry park white and gray, charm pack, fairy frost, FQ for Claire's quilt)
Added year to date: 126.5 yard
Net Added yards:  49.25 yards

Tomte Quilt Finished, Stash Report

I got the Tomte quilt for the shop sample done today.  For the most part, I did it the way the pattern said to.  My gnome ended up being a little smaller than he should have been because my 1/4" seam allowance was not exact ( I was missing my 1/4" piecing foot).  I added a strips that were a little wider than they should have been to compensate.  Right now it is obvious if you are looking for it.  After it is quilted, it will be less obvious.  I thought it was better to increase the size of the gnome block rather than cut down my tree blocks.  I also added a little wider borders on the bottom of the quilt since I suspect this quilt will hang in the shop unquilted.  I thought the wider border would be less likely to curl.

I am very happy with the way it turned out!  If I were to make it again, I would make the gnome in a different color ( straw colored hat, gray beard, blue body, and the trees would be green and a variety of sizes, like a forest).Since my time is limited now, I will just have to dream about Tomte II.

Used this week: 8.5 (Rolling Waves, Tomte)
Used year to date: 72.125
Added this week:  11.125 (White Fairy Frost, 3 FQ for Tomte, 3.375 free)
Added year to date: 115.25 yards
Net Added yards:  43.125 yards

Linking up:  https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2017/07/lets-bee-social-186.html

Rolling Waves Top Complete

I finally got Rolling Waves sewn together today.  This is a great pattern!  It was not hard, and I did a lot of chain piecing.  I generally like to press to the side and nest the seams, and that was very easy to do with this pattern. I love the optical illusion and would like to play around with this design some more, but there are other UFOs I need to get to first.

 I would have liked to make the borders a little wider to show off the batik print, but I bought all that was left on the bolt, and could only make the borders 4" wide. I don't even have enough left of it to use it for binding.   This quilt is 84" x 84", and it will probably go to one of my sisters when it is quilted.

It makes me happy to have some yards used to report as I have bought A LOT of fabric lately!

Linking up:http://www.conniekresin.com/2017/07/linky-tuesday-july-17th.html

Tomte

I have been working part time at a quilt shop since March.  Since then, my actual quilting time has decreased a lot, but I'm around beautiful fabric a lot more, and since I have a good employee discount and more disposable income, my fabric acquisition has increased.

This week I have been working on a shop sample, Tomte by Sherri Noel.  So far I have the little gnome made.

The Christmas trees are next, but they will be easy next to him.  He took a lot of piecing!  He is not perfect, but he is good enough, I think.  I get a little paranoid knowing he will be hanging in the shop, and everyone will be able to see his faults!

My 'New' Sewing Machine, Stash Report

We spent 8 days in Vancouver, and had the best weather ever: temperatures between 55-75, no rain, no humidity.  Vancouver has to be one of the most beautiful places in North America.  We did as many touristy things as we could:  Stanley Park, Butchart Gardens, Gastown, Victoria, Mundy Park, Capalino Suspension Bridge, Wreck Beach (clothing optional), UBC botanical gardens.    Before we went on vacation, I took my sewing machine in for service.  I wanted to get it cleaned and oiled while we were away, so I wouldn't miss any sewing time.

 I decided to try a different Bernina technician than the one we have in this town because this guy is super slow.  The last time I brought my machine in for a small repair and cleaning, he repaired it, but he didn't clean it.  And it took 3 weeks!  That's a long time for me to go without sewing.  The first technician I called was an hour away.  He could not guarantee he would have the work done by the time I got home from vacation.  The second technician I called was an hour and 15 minutes away, but he said he would have my machine done by the time I got home, so I decided to go there.

When I got to the store, I mentioned to to technician that I wanted my machine ( a twenty year old Bernina 1260) to last forever.  There were a couple of things I wish it had, but I've been very happy with it.  He mentioned that he had just gotten in 2 Berninas in trade that were the same vintage as mine.  One of them was a lower end model and did not have the knee lifter for the presser foot.  The other one was a step up from my machine.  You can probably tell what's coming:  I bought a used Bernina, a 1630.

I have never had a back up sewing machine before, and this one may become my primary machine if I can get used to having a computer screen.  My sew steady table, walking foot and other feet will fit this new machine.  The bobbins are different, but this machine has an empty bobbin warning, which will be nice to have.  I am thrilled that I won't have to plan my cleanings around vacations anymore, and I won't be at the mercy of a slow repairman.

Used this week:  0.5  (Dogs In Sweaters binding)
Used year to date: 63.625 yards
Added this week:  8 yards (white for Joe's quilt)
Added year to date: 104.125 yard
Net Added yards: 40.5 yards