Saturday, March 24, 2018

Pat left the house before me this morning – he was headed to Texada and I was heading to a Guild class for the day. The class was billed as a Magic 9-Patch technique and it certainly was that. I started out with a plan that involved a lot more blocks than most people – that was due to my math skills that thought 10 blocks wouldn’t make a very big quilt. So I cut out enough fabric to use up 36 of the squares that came in my layer cake. Of course I didn’t realize that from those 36 squares I would end up with 72 blocks. With sashing between the blocks and the rows I won’t have to work very hard to end up with a King-sized quilt. It’s a good thing I know someone with a King-sized bed!

There is still more work to do but I hope to finish all my blocks on Tuesday. The next class with the Guild is learning how to free-motion quilt this particular pattern; that class is a week after the Spring Retreat so hopefully the sashing can be done at the retreat and I’ll be ready to go.

Although I’m tired tonight I’m going to do a bit of work to prep some appliqué. Once that is done I may sit and knit for the rest of the evening. I’ll be back to quilting tomorrow.

Friday, March 23, 2018

We had a good trip to the Island, although we came home earlier than planned. All our shopping was done yesterday and the weather wasn’t great this morning so we headed home on the ten o’clock ferry rather than waiting for the afternoon.

We did a big Costco shop – a destination in itself – but I also shopped at a couple of wool shops and one of the fabric stores. It seemed rude to just look so, just to be polite, I managed to buy a few things in each shop! I knew there was a yarn shop in Courtenay but one of the quilters said there was a better one in Comox. So our first stop was the Comox store. Although I didn’t need anything I had already decided I would bring home one new knitting project.

Pat was a very bad influence at the quilt shop – I knew he would be and that’s why I asked him to come in with me! My thought for all of these patterns is that I can use either fabric yardage that I already have or scraps. I was pleased that I had a “full card” and received $20 off my purchases. My card has probably been on the go for a couple of years; it was a nice surprise and now I’ve got a start on my new card.

We still had time to waste before getting into our B&B; Pat dropped me at the second wool shop and headed to the music store. We agreed to meet at the Thrift Store just a short walk from the wool shop. Just to be polite, I picked up a few more balls of yarn!

While I waited for Pat at the Thrift Shop I found three books – one that I’ve had on my list for a long time (The Pearl that Broke It’s Shell); it was too expensive for my Kindle and our library didn’t have it. I picked up a Guy Vanderhaeghe (Homesick) because it is set in Saskatchewan and Abide with Me because I was drawn to the cover picture and the story looked good when I read the back cover. They were only $3 each so I thought I did well.

While Pat was at his concert I managed to finish all of the stitching and colouring projects that I had taken with me!

I have a free afternoon so I’ll get back to work on some cards.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

As I was out and about this morning I was thinking that March/April is a little like Christmas. Lots of family birthdays (that require a card) and lots of presents to be bought. After the bee yesterday I purchased two of those presents online, and this morning I went out shopping for a third one. All of the March cards are in the mail, as well as one March present.

Part of my shopping this morning was at the fabric store. I know I said I wasn’t buying more fabric, but I have a class on Saturday and decided that even though I had my Layer Cake I needed a neutral shade for my 9-patches. It took me about a minute to find the fabric I wanted – sometimes it just works out that way. We’re off to the Island tomorrow and I could have shopped at one of the two fabric stores there but I decided if I could find what I wanted locally I would buy it locally. Not having to shop at the fabric stores will give me more time to shop at the yarn shop in Comox!

I’m still busy with cards for the beginning of April and I finished a top this afternoon. I have my crafting bags all set for the Island; my evening will be on my own as Pat has a concert he is attending. With the rest of the afternoon I’ll work on another card (which probably means another Splendid Sampler block for myself). I’m off to the movie tonight.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

It was a bit of a lighter load this morning when I headed out the door. Nothing I had planned for the day involved my sewing machine so I was able to leave it behind.

I finished my Tuesday project on the weekend and although I have the next project picked out I didn’t feel like digging it out. As planned, I finished the binding on my cards, pressed and trimmed my half-square triangles, and did a few stitches on my March appliqué project.

My load coming home was slightly heavier. Someone was selling Girl Guide cookies and I brought home a box. We have had a few patterns and books donated to the library and every week it seems I bring home a couple more; today three more of them came home with me!

I have some Oriental fabrics and I thought perhaps the Kimono might be a good use for them; I love the fabrics but, other than panels, I haven’t seen many patterns. In our Boro class last week the instructor talked about using old shirts for fabric; I have a bag of cotton shirts I’ve collected and I thought the Calico Craze pattern might work for them. The one in the centre is just nice!