Friday, March 18, 2022

One of my decluttering tasks today was to clear off my cutting table. It was several layers deep in fabrics and patterns so instead of tackling that I decided to do some prep work for Texada projects.

I wanted to take the Guild’s blocks of the month; the first one was appliqué and once I had all the pieces cut out and attached to the background I decided to go ahead and do the appliqué stitching. I’ve grown used to (and don’t hate) doing appliqué on my small machine here but I wasn’t sure what the appliqué was like on the machine I have on Texada. It took very little time and the block is done and ready to hand in. The other two blocks had a lot of pieces but I have them cut, packaged and packed in my bin to take with me.

One of the other projects I wanted to take was That Fairy Tale Quilt. I knew one block was a real mess but I wasn’t sure how far I had managed to get in rebuilding it. I hadn’t gone far and it’s a good thing because two of the sides had to be taken off. Once that was repaired I moved on. I was careful to cut according to the directions but the pieces didn’t all fit together properly. When I looked at the block I had discarded I think I tried to make it work and that is probably the reason it didn’t.

I went online to see if I could find corrections for the quilt but I didn’t have any luck. What I did find was a second edition of the pattern “with correction errors on first edition”. I’ve sent a message to the designer (in Australia) to see if I can get the corrections without purchasing another pattern. Even if the response is negative I won’t buy another pattern; I’ll cross my fingers and hope I can make it work. This first error I ran into was an easy correction to the size of the piece that I needed to cut.

Once I had enough finished that I knew where I’d be starting from next time I packaged the fabric and pattern up and it is ready to go to Texada. I also threw in my scrappy project for the month although I don’t suppose I’ll have time to do much with it. That Fairy Tale Quilt is my focus.

I was lucky that it was an easy cleaning day and now I’m ready to start some paper piecing for a card.

Thursday, March 17, 2022

I started my morning by sorting through more scraps. I don’t think that 1.5” bin is getting any smaller. I hadn’t unpacked my sewing machine from Tuesday’s sewing and I didn’t want to dig it out only to have to pack it up for today’s session so I decided I’d get the cutting done for a couple of gifts I want to make. By the time I dug everything out Pat was up and about so I left it thinking I’d be back to it right away.

When I got back upstairs there was a message from the Guild which reminded me I should take the blocks of the month to Texada with me. I’m three behind so it seemed like a good time to catch up. I downloaded one of the patterns. Then I remembered I had finished a book last night (Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers) and that I should update my Goodreads list. Before updating my website I thought I should add my tablecloth, runner and calendar block so I stopped and took photos.

I realized I had to get the tablecloth package in the mail before we went to Texada if I wanted it to arrive in time. I got it wrapped and to the Post Office before sewing. I had a couple of other stops to make – the thrift store and the liquor store (not the day to be out of Jameson).

I thought I might get my Guild mystery top put together today but I’ll still have another week before it is done. It won’t be done-done but it will be together and ready for borders. I’ve already decided on my next “Thursday” project – putting together those scraps that I got from Jessie.

I’m back to my knitting tonight.

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Today should have been a relaxing day. I got my computer work done before lunch as well as some work for the Hall and my cleaning tasks.

Next up was my hand stitching. I got a good start on the first one before deciding I should bake a cake so I could use up the leftover cream cheese icing from the last cake I made. While it baked I finished my Peppermint Purple stitching for the week.

While the cake cooled I started on my Botanical Garden project. I thought I was off to a good start but the second line of stitching was running into the first line and it shouldn’t have. So I took out all the second line and started again. I was almost to the end of the second line for the second time when I could see I was “off” again.

Before ripping out the second line again I found the mistake in the first line of stitching. I’ve taken that all out and will start that row again. Just like the weeds, you keep pulling them out only to have to do it all over again.

I needed a break so I’ve played a few games of Candy Crush, got the Wordle done for the day and the cake is iced and ready for supper.

Now I’ll get back to that stitching.

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Before heading off to quilting today I located a couple of pairs of knitting needles for new projects I hope to start tonight. I think they will both be shawls because the yarn requires some special care and I’m not sure a new mum would have the time for that. We’ll see how they knit up but I’ll use my basic triangular shawl pattern; I start at the narrow end and end when I run out of yarn.

I took both of my binding projects as well as my scrappy project to the Guild today. When I was ready to start attaching the binding to the calendar block I realized I still needed to knot and bury the ends. I got that done and had the binding on my second project before lunch. Rather than dig out my scrappy project I went ahead and did the hand stitching on both projects so that is two more items done.

Shortly after I got home there was a knock at the door. Jessie, from Thursday sewing, brought me a container of fabric for making half-square triangles. She had even put together a couple of samples in case I wanted to use her idea – and I do. One of the samples finished smaller than the other so I might have to use them in two different quilts. I’m going to have so much fun.

After sewing I made a couple of stops and now that I’m home I’ll get the Guild blog written and do the Wordle for the day. Pat and I debated about what I’d make for supper tonight and then we realized that it is Spring Break and his lesson is cancelled.

I won’t be back to Tuesday sewing for a few week. I think I’ll be on Texada next week and the week after I’ll be sewing with Stacia and Deloise. Then I’m off to Calgary and will miss at least one session.