October 2021

 

This is a very busy photo but what you see is a culmination of my summer: 13 quilts ready to quilt. I've said before that I have a sit-down quilting machine. Because of that, I have to baste the quilts with pins. After basting all these quilts I only have 14 free basting pins! 

So #14 of the quilts is folded up and awaiting basting. When I get a couple of these quilted I'll use the pins for that quilt. The #14 quilt is a Christmas gift so it is important to get it done.

A Unconventional Tip for Pin Basting a Quilt

I pin baste my quilts mainly because my lungs can't handle the fumes from the spray basting stuff. I don't know about you, but when I pin baste a large quilt like I have for the last two days, my middle finger almost, but not quite, gets a blister from pushing the pin through all those layers. The finger gets so tender that I have to stop.

Enter my solution!

I was recently given a thimble made from the softest deer hide imaginable! It is supple and allows me to grip the pin without causing a blister on that one finger. I was able to finish pin basting Clara's quilt today. Next up is the quilting.

I need a manicure, don't I?

Here I Am!

I am still here, but haven't had the time or desire to blog. Has that happened to you? I have been keeping occupied, thought, with knitting and quilting and gardening and, of course, work.

DH and I are doing a garden redesign, and knowing him like I do, I realized that it probably wouldn't be finished this year. So I planted my garden in containers. The yard is dotted with blue containers: the bell peppers are over there, and the tomatoes are here. Oh and let's not forget the squash and pumpkins. Lettuce and basil are hiding under the row covers over in the corner. The plants don't mind as long as they get water and food.

Today was designated quilt basting day. My feet are telling me that I basted two baby quilts and four table runners. Next step is to quilt them.

At any given time there are two different projects on the knitting needles. There are the ever present socks that I carry in my bag for those waiting moments. I save the bits of sock yarn and then knit up some squares when I get four or five in the basket. The squares measure 7.5" and will eventually be combined into a blanket. It is a visual record of all the socks I have knitted. So currently, it is just a pair of socks and the squares. My Sister's Sweater is still waiting to be blocked.

I recently finished this ripple baby afghan. No, it isn't knitted but crocheted. I love the ripple pattern and believe it is my go-to pattern for crocheted afghans.

Basting a Quilt or Four

I have a lot of this YLI Wash-A-Way Water Soluble Basting thread. A lot. About 6 or 10 spools. I also have four quilt tops waiting to be basted. Last evening, I loaded the first one onto the hand quilting frame and sometime in the near future I'll baste it up using this thread. Then I'll do the other three. The beauty of basting with this thread is that you can quilt right over it and not have to worry about removing it because it just melts away when you wash the quilt. Just remember not to lick the thread when you are threading the needle.