Dear Jane B-10 Jud's Trophy

After Water Lily and Tinker Toy it was nice to get back to simple paper-piecing.  I did lots of fussy cutting on this one to showcase the rich yellow instead of the batik design.  I may have overdone it on the fussy cutting, because to me, it looks like there is a dirty smudge in the the center section, but it is really the design of the batik.

B-10  Jud's Trophy

I keep telling myself I am going to get these small simple shapes perfectly paper-pieced, but, as usual, one of the teeny bits is a little wonky.  I think it happens because my ironing gets crooked past the seam (since I do not sew in the seam allowance) and it draws the section slightly out of true.  I will have to watch that.  Overall, though, I am very pleased with this block.  I am finally starting to get my squares fairly square, and I think I may have started to figure out how to sew next to the line at the points so they do not get lost in the seam.

Two things stand out about Jud's Trophy.  1.) Because the block is mostly constructed around a single center section, I used LOTS of leaders and enders.  I had a pile of half square triangles to iron after Jud was complete.  2.) Removing the paper was a special challenge on this one, especially from the center section.  I had to use a Tweezerman to get all the bits out, and I had to hold the block up to the light to verify I had actually gotten all the paper.

I think I have worn out my trusty Clover craft iron.  Sometimes it does not heat up, and other times it is like molten lava, and I have to be very careful not to scorch the fabric.  I use the Clover all the time for all my Dear Jane blocks; it is indispensable.

Dear Jane B-8 Water Lily - More Progress

This was a fun block to do, and I am really loving my brown batiks.  They look so mysterious.  I paper-pieced the center, then machine sewed two of the inset seams, then hand-sewed the final two.  I honestly do not remember why I did it that way, it must have been easier (and this was only last week - sigh.)  I then appliqued the four little melons.

I did my usual prepared applique, though this time I started with freezer paper to complete the ironing process.  I basted down the edges of the melons, then basted the melons in place.  I really worked to fussy cut all the pieces; I tried to keep the batik design flowing. 

I went to the trouble of creating a template for applique placement, instead of just eyeballing it.  I could not cut out too much paper or the template would have fallen apart.

It all fit together very nicely, and I thought I had placed the melons very carefully with the template before I basted them to the muslin.  I should have checked the placement before I started sewing though.  I also should have started sewing each melon at a point near the center star.  Sadly, I did not follow my own advice (or maybe it is only advice in hindsight; I am not sure), because one of my melons is way off kilter.  How the heck did that happen anyway?  They sure all look fine here.

Once again, it is finished, and finished is better than perfect.  If I still think it needs "fixing" when I have completed all the blocks, I will fix it then.  Somehow, I do not believe that will ever happen in a million years!

Happy quilting.

Tatting - First Commission

While Susan and I were enjoying Christmas vacation in Green Bay, Wisconsin, her sister, Cindi, asked if we could help with a family treasure.  Her mother-in-law, Ida Mae, had a picture of her mother, Marcella, holding Cindi's children Kate (front) and Maggie (back) when they were very young.  The picture was framed with a tatted or crocheted border, which was now brittle and totally falling apart.  Could one of us make a new frame for this heirloom?

When we got a chance to look at the picture, the frame was indeed tatted, so I got to try my new skills to make a replacement.  The pattern did not appear to be very complex; it was a variation on the rings and chains I had used in for the Christmas tree in my first project, with the appropriate picots and joins to make it in the round instead of straight across.  When I had a big enough circle to frame the picture, I then made another circle joined to the first one, skipping the ring-to-ring joins so that it would make a bigger circle.

Tatting Project #2 - Picture Frame, Great Grandmother Marcella and little Katie

When the new border was finished and stiffened, it was time to remove the old border from the photos.  This took some careful work, as it was very well glued directly to the photos, and I didn't want to damage them any more than I had to.  Finally, the old border was put away in honored retirement, and the newly re-framed photos could be hung where they could be enjoyed again.

I did very little that was new on this project, but I did have a very definite deadline.  The project needed to be completed before we left Green Bay!  I tried to put on a few more rings and chains whenever I had some time to do so, then finally glued it all together.  On our last day in Green Bay, we presented the finished project to Ida Mae, and she loved it!

Larry

Dear Jane B-9 Tinker Toy - Conquering Inset Seams

Completing Tinker Toy gave me confidence that I could conquer inset seams.  I had actually considered applique for this block because I found inset seams so intimidating.  I watched videos on inset seams, by hand with Jinny Beyer, and by machine with Edyta Sitar, then finally set out to complete this block by machine.  

I paper-pieced the half square triangles, then completed the block in three strips.  I drilled through the paper to place dots on the wrong sides of the fabric where the seams need to start and stop, then I removed the paper because it just got in the way.  I pinned at two dots, then sewed the strips together, starting with the central square seam.  I repeated the process for each of the five separate inset seams, moving out from the center, stopping and starting for each seam.  It seemed to take forever, but the process went very smoothly, and I am very pleased with the results.

I have always had a problem with using the paper for units that only have one piece because there is nothing holding the paper to the fabric.  I do not like to use pins because they always deform the paper a bit.  I came up with the idea to machine baste the paper to the fabric in the seam allowance.  It worked great, and made trimming the units a breeze.  I am going to use this method from now on.  I always add an extra quarter inch seam allowance to the outside edges of the block in case of shrinkage, so that is where I basted.

You can see the basting stitches in the four sections of the completed block.  For Tinker Toy, these basting stitches just got trimmed away.

When I considered how to iron this block, it seemed to lay much flatter when I kept the muslin perfectly flat.  To do this, I had to press open the short inset seams between the muslin.  This was tricky, but aside from being a little shaggy, I think the back looks pretty good.  In any event, I am no longer intimidated (too much) by inset seams.

Happy quilting!

Singer Restoration Saturday - Model 127 Airbrush Painting

Now that the sewing machine has been disassembled (as much as practical) and the paint stripped, it's time to start putting some paint back on.

This was a big learning step for me, because I had never worked with automotive paints before, nor had I ever used an airbrush.  So the first thing to do was, get an airbrush!

The New Airbrush

The Old Reliable

This is a Badger Patriot 105 fine tip airbrush.  Research on the web pointed to this model as a good choice for basic, all-purpose painting.  We already had an air compressor, a venerable Power Pal that has proved indispensable over the years.

Next step was acquiring the paint, starting with the primer.  Refurbishing websites and videos suggested automotive paint was best for this, with an etching primer to provide good cohesion to the metal of the sewing machine chassis. This primer proved hard to find at the local hardware store.  Finally, I was able to special order it in a quart size from a NAPA auto parts store.  It was an unfortunate olive green, but it was going to be thoroughly painted over before I was done.

Bad Primer Coat

Here is one of my first attempts.  Because I was mixing the primer and extender improperly, it did not spray on properly.  The primer dried in mid-air, and deposited as a fine dust that rubbed off, instead of a liquid that bonded to the metal.  You can see the paint flaking off along the bottom lip.  I had to take this coat off, get the mix right, and put on a new, solid primer coat.

By this time, we had discovered The Coating Store, which has all kinds of automotive paint in more colors that you could imagine.  They also have convenient "motorcycle kits", which bundle all the necessary paints and additives into one kit, in sizes appropriate for about one motorcycle's worth of automotive paint.  Since I figured that one motorcycle's worth equaled several sewing machines, that looked better that buying paint by the gallon.

So we picked a base coat color (Tahitian Black Pearl) and a clear coat, and I was ready to paint again! I applied three or four coats of the base coat, sanding smoother each time.

Tahitian Black Pearl

Before the clear coat, the decals had to be placed.  We had chosen the Celtic pattern, relatively inexpensive and simple.  Decals were placed around the edges and the center of the bed, up the throat and  along the arm.  (This was the worst decal of them all; it's why my DW now hates decals and wants to stencil everything else!)

Golden Decals

Next, several coats of clear coat were added, sanding between each to smooth the finish and remove the rise due to the added decals.  A final polish and the painting is done!

Clearcoat applied

Or at least, it would be if (1) I had been painting the balance wheel and bobbin winder along with the rest of the sewing machine, and (2) I hadn't marred the finish near the slide plates and needle plate when re-assembling the machine.  Now I am working to repair the damage done to to the paint, and catch up painting the remaining pieces.

Next time, reassembly and making it work.

Larry

Leaders and Enders - Many Many Half Square Triangles

Vintage sewing machine users quickly learn the importance of starting with fabric under the needle.  Nothing will instill this habit better than having a leader and ender project going.  I really love leaders and enders!  When I find myself sewing on a thread bunny because I do not have a leader and ender project prepared, I feel as if I am wasting valuable time.

I am in the process of making 1024 half square triangles out of three inch squares.  I have not done a counting lately, but I think I am nearing the halfway point. There is no rush on this project, I do not even have the design finalized, so leaders and enders is really the only way to go.  It all started a number of years ago when I inherited lots of old smokey black prints.  Lots of them!  When I ran them through the scrap users system, most came out at 3" square.  I also had a gracious plenty of 3" brights; this, I decided, was a match made in heaven.

I think they look terrific together.  I have used up the original black scraps, but I have found that bargain bins of scraps, and on-sale fat quarters nearly always contain black fabrics.  You can get forty-two 3" black squares out of a $1.00 fat quarter.  And you get two 2-5/8" squares (yes, these are that tiny) out of each pair of 3" squares (2-1/8" finished).  I really enjoy working with them; it is always fun to pull back the black for the big reveal. 

Sometimes there is not quite enough black showing; those go into the scrap basket for the next project.  The only thing I do not enjoy is ironing them.  I am mostly caught up now, and I am trying to stay that way.  I keep ironing the ones I just finished, along with whatever else needs ironing.  1024 seems like a huge number of units; I could never do this without using leaders and enders.

Happy quilting!

Johnny Blocks Completed for Harlequin-Johnny Quilt

I got the sixteen Johnny blocks done for the Harlequin-Johnny quilt I designed last year.  I had been working the sixty-four "siggy" corner blocks as leaders and enders seemingly forever.  Here are the six completed Johnnies I have already ironed:

I'm working on so many projects at once!  Lately I have been rotating through four of the projects regularly:  Harlequin-Johnnie, Dear Jane, Grand Illusion and my leader and ender project, which I'll blog about tomorrow.  Progress is being made, but all four are big, long-term projects, so none of them is getting completed any time soon.  That being said, I'm hopeful that Harlequin-Johnny will be the first flimsy to get completed.  I have already made a good start on the twenty-five Harlequin blocks.  I have paper-pieced all one hundred of the corner pieces.

I have not decided what to do for the setting triangles, since H-J is set on point.  I am out of the Moda Grunge Peacock fabric, so that plan is out, unless I send off for more.  I am going to try to keep the triangles fairly simple; I would like to finish this quilt and put it in the master bedroom.  These colors are perfect for our bedroom since Larry repainted the master suite in Sherwin Williams "Lakeshore".  Larry replaced the previous owner's hideous wallpaper throughout the master bedroom/bathroom suite.  He did an awesome job, and I just love it!

Bonnie Hunter Grand Illusion Clue 1 and Clue 2 Finally Complete

I really love Bonnie Hunter; her scrap users system is awesome, and her leaders and enders concept has totally changed the way I quilt.  I love watching quilt cam and I even visited the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in the 1960s, so I could not resist jumping into her 2014 Grand Illusion mystery quilt.  It has been so much more work than I expected!  You know it is bad when the hand piecers finish a clue before you, but I am glad to say I finally got clues one and two done.  It only took me about three months longer than most everyone else, but I will get there eventually.

Clue 1

I had not gotten around to blogging about getting clue one done yet because I had not finished ironing all <<insert VERY large number>> of the pieces.  At least they are all complete.  The first two clues were SO much work.  As I recall, the next two clues are fairly time consuming, but the final two are not so bad.  

Clue 2

I got caught up in the hype.  I will definitely finish this quilt, but I don't think I'll ever do another mystery again.  I really fell in love with last year's Celtic Solstice, though sadly, not until long after the pattern was removed from Bonnie's website prior to being published.  

I had high hopes for this year's quilt and I really, really liked the colors, but I am just not in love with the final design.  I guess I am not alone, because probably one in four or five quilters in Quiltville on Facebook has drastically changed the design, either with sashing or some other significant alteration.  In comparison, I cannot ever remember seeing a single Celtic Solstice that was altered in any way but color.  Do not get me wrong, Grand Illusion is an interesting, unique pattern, with what I think is a more sophisticated modern spirit than any of Bonnie's other designs.  I just find myself yearning for something more like Celtic Solstice. Oh well, live and learn.  I am sure my Grand Illusion will be beautiful when it is done, just like all the ones I am seeing on Quiltville, and Bonnie is still my hero!

Happy quilting

Tatting Tuesday - First project

Tatting Tuesday starts today, direct from my husband, Larry.

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For the first Tatting Tuesday post, here is my first completed tatting project.  Before this, I made a bunch of practice rings.  And knots.  Lots and lots of knots.

First Tatting Project - Christmas Tree

The pattern came from one of the books (Tatting, by TATSY/ Carol Winandy) that I got from my grandmother, who (at the age of 103!) got me started with tatting.  Each level of the tree is worked as a separate piece, joined as you work to the previous piece. Then a chain is made around the edge of the tree, up one side and down the other, and the trunk is made as another separate chain.  Finally, the sequin-and-bead ornaments are sewn on at the end.

As you can imagine, all these pieces with their starts and stops makes for a lot of threads to finish off at the end of the project (or you could do each one as you finish each piece, but who wants to do that? lol).  Seems like there should be a better way to work it as one piece, going back and forth as you work up the tree, but I haven't worked that out yet.

I finished this project last year before Christmas, and gave it to my grandmother as a present for getting me started.  It now resides in a place of honor on her wall, pinned where she can see it easily from her favorite chair.  She shows it off to anyone who will listen.  It gave me good experience with basic rings and chains, which came in handy on my next project.  More on that next week.

Larry

More Siggies - All Caught Up Now, and the IDIC Ideal

I looked in the one remaining siggy hiding place and there they were, the four last stragglers.  At least, these siggies are not quite so old as the previous batch.  Three of them are from 2014 and one is from 2013.  Two of them are from Germany, including this adorable little owl seamstress from Manuela Ehrke.  Isn't it sweet?  It appears a bit flummoxed by the idea of sewing on a button.  I can relate as I am currently a bit flummoxed by the idea of sewing an inset seam.  I just don't have the knack for them yet.

I love the tiny little hand stamp on this second german siggy.  The little hands are just darling!  I wonder if it is a generic stamp or if Kathleen Peckmonn had a stamp made from the hand print of someone one of her children?  She didn't say.  The newsprint fabric is very distinctive.  I believe, despite the siggy being from Germany, the language of the newsprint is French.  Mais oui!

Mirjam Beeldmann of the Netherlands, loves "too many kinds of hand and needlework, some as shown in my siggy."  I think those in the siggy are bobbin lace spindles (is that the right word?)  The fabric is really interesting too.  I see cross stitch, floss, spools of thread, a scissors, and embroidery all represented.  I have to laugh, if you look closely, the card of floss is labeled "blanc" but it is actually dark brown.  I love sewing related fabric; it seems very popular.  I guess the marketers understand their market better than their colors.  

This pretty little siggy is also from the Netherlands.  In a way, it reminds me of my own siggy:  horses for Texas and tulips for Holland.  Neither Elly or I looked too far afield for our siggy theme.  I love the rich butterscotch yellows of the center tulip and vase, they marry well with the blood red tulips and the siggy fabric.  Luscious!

I believe I am now completely caught up with all the siggies I have received.  I'm still on Annelies' siggy swap list, even though Annelies is not running it anymore.  I haven't initiated a swap in years; however, I am always willing to swap with anyone who wants one.  Just send me an email.  I even have a few siggies made up, so the wait should be shorter than usual.

It was a very poignant weekend with the death of Leonard Nimoy.  My husband and I are huge Trekkies and the loss of Spock is deeply felt by both of us.  If I thought I could do it justice, I would design an IDIC quilt out of my siggies.  I think siggies are reflective of both the Star Trek ideal of infinite diversity in infinite combinations, and of reaching out to make friends and build bridges across cultures.