LET'S SEW...... even though I don't only do this on Sundays. It's just the day I post about it.
Last week we worked on getting the rows sewn together ready for borders. I forgot to take photos, until I'd added the borders. That was because I had a problem finding fabric to do 2 borders, so we've ended up with one in fabric that sort of goes, though not what I had in mind. Photos following are of both the quilts I've done to show how I work with borders.
1. MEASURING.
Now that all the rows are sewn, I measure through the centre of the quilt both ways & each side & hopefully as this quilt is square, they are all the same. Very close with 35" in length from the 2.5" strips, to be cut for the 4 borders, and we have cornerstones to add on 2 of them.
2. PINNING.
I folded both the border piece & quilt in half & placed a pin, then pinned together to each end & sewed to top & bottom.
3. SEWING.
Then I sewed a cornerstone to each end of the other 2 borders & used the same method to pin and sew those to each side.
Ready to go.
4. DONE.
Here are the two quilts waiting to be quilted. Notice they have both only one border & that was such a pa-lava finding something that suited as I can't go anywhere to purchase fabric. As they are both for fairly new babies, they don't need to be extra large. I do suppose I'm lucky to have a "BIG" stash.😉
Sorry if I'm a bit out of whack today & the top photo is not good with a bright light in the corner when I was trying to take photos yesterday & didn't realise how bad it was.
OTHER BITS OF SEWING.
Over the last week I've quilted 2 quilts from the tub of shame. One is bound & the other having it's binding hand stitched now.
Today, apart from a bit of housework, filling my slowcooker with tonight's dinner and generally faffing around, I put some time into starting the QAL, I'm participating in with Sandra from MMMquilts.
My first four blocks are shown below.
It's called Centered & I've decided to go a bit wacky with my fabric choice, again raiding the stash. We get our next instalment on Friday, 1st May. I'm enjoying & as it's not huge, it will come together quickly.
OK, that's my funny old lot from today & I'll try and get my next UK trip post done either Monday or Tuesday. No walkies today as the weather has been quite foul, but the next two days look promising before we are hit with a severe cold front that will possibly bring snow to our alpine areas. BRRR!!
Take care all, stay safe & huggles from Susan.
Sorry if I'm a bit out of whack today & the top photo is not good with a bright light in the corner when I was trying to take photos yesterday & didn't realise how bad it was.
OTHER BITS OF SEWING.
Over the last week I've quilted 2 quilts from the tub of shame. One is bound & the other having it's binding hand stitched now.
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| Made in 1996 in a workshop at the local quilt shop in Nowra, N.S.W. |
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| And what I used for the back, which is partly a spare block from leftover bits or maybe I'd made it wrong. The other pieces are leftover backing & pieces from the stash. |
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| Made in 2001 from a book, but I can't remember which one. |
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| The back, again leftover from other quilt backs. |
My first four blocks are shown below.
OK, that's my funny old lot from today & I'll try and get my next UK trip post done either Monday or Tuesday. No walkies today as the weather has been quite foul, but the next two days look promising before we are hit with a severe cold front that will possibly bring snow to our alpine areas. BRRR!!
Take care all, stay safe & huggles from Susan.
I'm suffering the same anxieties as you Susan and surely this can't be the new normal, not seeing our children or ever having a hug, it doesn't bear thinking about. We have to hope there will be a vaccine available soon to guard us against this dreadful virus. Shame your weather is turning nasty and spoiling your walks. It was a bit cooler here yesterday but still nice for Spring so can't complain.
ReplyDeleteYour quilts are lovely and I'm glad you have a good stash to fall back on.
Take care and keep your spirits up x
Thanks Eileen, glad someone else misses some of the things I think of as normal, like family & having a chin wag with a friend.
DeleteI think now's the time that we realise how valuable our stashes are. It's good to know that we have a good supply of materials in order to continue with our hobbies during the lockdown. I look forward to seeing how the quilt Along progresses.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo. Yes, having a stash, our hobbies & books and also a garden is probably our saving grace. I do feel sorry for people whose only enjoyment in life is socialising & shopping.
DeleteUnfortunately Susan, life as we knew it prior to 2020 is unlikely to return in either your or my lifetime, if ever, and I do hope you can get your head around things in a way which might help deal with your anxiety.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a vaccine will arrive soon, but when the WHO started vaccinating against smallpox it took 13 years to get around the entire world. I’m not trying to be depressing - but realistic.
My concern is that people are pinning their hopes on a vaccine which may not work - the “annual flu” which we are all used to is a type of coronavirus, and we know that changes each year therefore your annual flu jab may, or may not, be effective. CV-19 has already mutated, there are definitely two and possibly three strains.
Your quilt is very pretty, no sewing here - am making the most of good weather to work in the garden.
Actually I do have my head around a lot of it, but it also hurts if I couldn't see my children ever again & it might be what we are talking about here in Victoria with closed borders for the foreseeable future. As for vaccines & the like, they are clutching at straws. Not much gardening happening here due to both weather & not being able to pop to a hardware, unless you know "exactly" what you want or are under 70 years old or are a tradie. Definitely no browsing allowed. We may only buy FOOD.
DeleteI honestly believe that we will not ever return to the 'normal' we'd been subjected to previously. I know the present situation is not sustainable but then nor was the last. We need to find and adapt to a new and sympathetic way of life as rapidly as possible. Vaccinations although will go some way to alleviate the threat, it unfortunately is not the panacea the politicians will have us believe x
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I want to return to some of the old normal, but we've always tried to live to our means, be kind to nature & tread lightly, though I suppose we've all succumbed to modern day living. I've still got all my old books on sustainability & such, and wonder if our lives would have been different if we'd pursued our original dreams......it didn't happen but at least we are comfortable.
DeleteSusan, your 1996 quilt is a gem. Hardly a shame quilt. When you list all of the life events you are missing, it seems like a very difficult time. Things will improve; it's just taking longer than expected. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joanna. Nice to hear from you & hope is all OK in your part of the world.
DeleteNew normal seems strange doesn't it? I wonder how it will be? It's the small things I miss, walks around the lake, morning coffee out, meetings with friends, the knowledge that you can go somewhere if you want to. We will get there in time and in the meantime keep sewing, your quilts are wonderful. Take care and stay safe:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rosie, & yes it's the little things, family & friends I think are important to our well being. I'll keep sewing for sure & gardening.
DeleteThese two quilts are very nice! Simple and colorful. I like the second one the best because of the green. I know that too much thinking about our future can be stressful. I think it's best to not think too much! God is in control and He has a plan. 💖
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan. I realise all will be well one day, though different, it's just the anticipation of waiting & wondering.
DeleteI wonder how people who don't have hobbies are fairing at this time. For me, a little reading, knitting, sewing and like you I am grateful for my stash and able to dip into things to keep the mind occupied. A new and different normal and a better one will hopefully come along and we'll be able to move forward and get our lives back on track.
ReplyDeleteTake care Susan,
Thanks Julie. My thoughts exactly on what on earth do you do if you don't have a hobby or two. Of course a lot of younger people haven't much time in the midst of home schooling, which is a tough one from what I'm hearing. I've often wondered what normal is anyway, different people, countries, ways, ethics etc. Hmmm?
DeleteOh goodness, I am so glad I have quite a substantial stash of all things creating/sewing/arting!!! I just knew there was a reason to all my hoarding ;)
ReplyDeleteI too wonder what people are doing if they don't have some sort of hobby - or worse still, no garden!! I can't imagine being cooped up indoors without even the option of wandering out to some private green space.
Thanks Evi. I'm with you on all those points too.
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