Nearly...

How typical is that? My best guestimate was close, but not quite close enough. But then I won't complain, because on the other 2 quilts I have bound recently, I guessed correctly.

It feels so good to be finishing up some stuff. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with the 2 Bricks and Stepping Stones quilts - all I need to do now is the hand sewing, and as it is Daniel's birthday this week, I might just get it finished. I have been very good and haven't started the ZigZag quilt, and I have finished the knitting on Mum's scarf (her birthday is the same day as Daniel's). I just have to do something with the ends, and I don't really think it needs blocking, which is good.

I have been meaning to ask for some time about thread for piecing and general sewing. I see the ads for Essential Thread all the time, and wanted to get the opinion of American quilters. Do any of you use it, or do you have any opinions about it? I have been tempted to order it when I order fabric as they sell it in packs of useful colours, but haven't been game. Is it a good quality thread? Any other recommendations? Thanks.

Addit: the joke's on me, as I have just been to Connecting Threads for a closer look and they don't ship Internationally. Any other suggestions for thread?

The Postman Delivers

Adrian the postman has delivered my fabric today. Poor Adrian always gets disappointed when I get a parcel from America as he is usually waiting for something himself, and then realises it isn't for him. He is a penknife collector he tells me, and buys a lot of stuff on ebay. Anyway, Hancocks didn't do too badly this time - it did go via France again, but made it here fairly quickly.

Now I have the green and yellow to start the 30s Zig Zag quilt. I have taken a photo from the magazine (Fons and Porter May/June 2007) but it isn't the best. Here is a link to the magazine's kit page which has a better photo.



I had a bit of trouble deciding on the green and yellow - I thought I might change the green to mauve - but decided to go with the original. The reason for this reluctance with the colour scheme can be traced back to my old house, which had the most hideous green and yellow paint job in the kitchen, laundry and toilet. In fact, the colours were identical to those in the fabric. The walls were green and the ceilings were a bright gloss yellow. The kitchen cupboard doors were also green, and the benchtops were a 1950s green laminex as well. One might think (as I did originally), that it's just a paintjob, easily fixed, but I was stuck with that paint for about 6 years. There was always something else to spend the money on, like a new roof (!), and it was one thing to paint, but really some of the cupboards on the wall needed to come off, and it was a bigger job than it first looked.

Eventually it was changed, but to this day I see those colours and shudder. But now I have decided to faced my fears and get on with it! I have already cut all the 30s prints, all of which came from stash except for 1 black print that I bought a Fat Eighth of, and I'm ready to go. Despite having a substantial 1930s stash (eyes averted again), I have never made a big 1930s quilt, so I'm looking forward to it.

The other 2 photos here are of a rare meteorological phenonemon around here which is called rain. Swampy is looking quite perplexed by the wet stuff on the deck. I do get a bit more rain here than on the Mainland, but if usually falls at night. So lovely to see the rain. Only 30 mins drive inland at my Mum's place, their garden is dead, so I am very lucky here to get any rain at all. It comes in from the sea, hits the island you can see in the distance in the photo, drops on me, and runs out of steam before it hits the mainland.

A Finish

First though - Lily I would email you but you don't have it enabled - the Japanese book is actually Australian so is easy to source and affordable. I bought it at Angus and Robertson and it was only $35. Definately worth the buy if you are interested in Japanese patchwork as there is plenty of inspiration in it, it isn't just one of those books that you look through and think "oh yeah, nothing new". For anyone else who is interested the author is Susan Briscoe and the ISBN 0 7318 1312 X.

I am excited about another finish - the long overdue String Quilt is finally on the bed (ie 'finished' and on the bed, as we all know that unfinished quilts have been known to make it to the bed here!) I really like the pieced back on the String Quilt, but learnt my lesson about it being perfectly flat. I did have a few small issues with it when I got to the edges, so next time I will take more care as I sew the back, as I am quite incapable of taking the time to fix it when I can smell a finish. But as it is for me to use, it is good enough - how's that for progress for a control freek? Normally everything has to be perfect, but I'm happy with it, and I think once it has a wash it will be great.

While I am on a roll I should pin poor Daniel's quilt and get into it as well - maybe he cold use it this winter LOL - and then the decks will be sort of clear. What a great feeling.The Girl Guide quilt has its quilting finished and binding sewn on, so all that is required now is the hand sewing.

I can feel the fabric from the US for my next quilt getting closer and closer, so hopefully some more stuff will be finished before it arrives.

Japanese Book

I really wanted to show this book for Pam as she and I share a bit of a problem with Japanese fabric and quilts. I bought it on Friday, and am really impressed with it. It has all the blocks (125 of them) set out individually, sort of like Dear Jane or the Civil War Diary Quilt book that I'm working from at the moment. There are blocks in indigo and white, sashiko blocks, Japanese Crests, kimono blocks and all sorts of patchwork and applique blocks. The author also gives you ideas about mixing and matching blocks to make quilts. Lots to look at and plenty of ideas.

There is also the occasional reference to Japanese textile history and trends, which makes you start to think. I love the history of the fabrics and quilts in America, and why I never thought about Japanese textile history I'll never know. The history goes back to the 10th century and beyond, so there is a lot to learn there about different styles of kimono and fabrics.

I have in the back of my mind to make a pinetree quilt for my mother, but it is in the One Day basket. Mum also really loves all things Japanese and has brought me back some lovely fabric from Japan. Looking at this book has given me the idea that maybe I could make a quilt from Japanese fabric, with different pinetree blocks, and some other blocks from the book. I don't know if you can see, but in one of the photos there is a little quilt in blue and white which has a few Japanese house blocks, and there are a couple of blocks in the book of Mt Fuji. The house blocks are made to look like there is snow in the picture, and I could make pinetree blocks with snow too. I can see a sort of sampler depicting a scene with a few Japanese houses and pinetrees with snow, with Mt Fuji in the background. Also there are pinecone designs in sashiko which could be used as well....

Just thinking at this stage, but enough to give me an idea of what sort of fabric to look out for. I do have a 'considerable' Japanese fabric stash (not making eye contact here), but would need to look for more greens for trees, browns and creams for snow etc. It's always good to have a plan, isn't it (grin)?

Otherwise, I'm working on about 5 projects at once, which doesn't make me feel like I'm getting very far, but hopefully there will be a big flurry of finishes which will let me clear the decks mentally for some new projects. I get a vague feeling of guilt when I have too many things happening at once, as I don't feel like I'm making much progress on anything. I'm really keen to start the 30s Zig Zag quilt, but luckily the fabric hasn't arrived yet. I'm still handsewing the binding on the String quilt, I have the Girl Guide quilt half quilted, Daniel's quilt hasn't been quilted, the Airy Scarf for Mum's birthday (time is running out) is still ongoing, the Chevron Scarf is nearly finished, I'm nearly finished the back of a jumper for Daniel, and the hexagons haven't finished themselves either. Then there is the Civil War quilt that I'd like to get on with, and so it goes on. Never a dull moment is there?

I'm a bit behind on my blog reading, and i have been having a bit of trouble with bloglines too, so that is my excuse, and I'm sticking to it. It is so easy to spend hours looking at blogs and not get anyhting done myself, but I do enjoy reading blogs as much as I enjoy making things, so what do you do?

It's Getting Scary

What's scary? The fact that I look to be actually finishing some stuff. I have started to hand sew down the binding on the String Quilt, and have sewn in most of the threads - I actually put it on the bed last night even though it isn't finished. How sad is that? It feels good though, so I'm going to try and roll with it. I really can't stand the machine quilting part, and I sit at the machine with my back screaming, thinking about the quilting frame I saw at the quilt show recently. I have pretty well decided that I'm not going to be quilting any more big quilts. Then I think about the cost (and inconvenience) of getting them done profesionally - well how many quilt tops would I get done for the cost of the frame? But then reality hits and I really don't have the funds to do it either way at the moment. Unless I stop buying fabric and magazines and yarn, and get the internet cut off, and we all know THAT wouldn't be any fun!

Then there is hand quilting you say? Hmmm I seriously doubt my level of commitment to be thinking about going there. But then I'm the person who said I wouldn't sew by hand who has nearly finished a hexagon quilt top. Who'd have thought? Never say never...

Here is the poor Girl Guide raffle quilt that has been hanging on the wall. Suddenly, 1 week away from the official start of winter some cold weather is predicted, which hopefully will get us out of shorts and tshirts, so I thought I'd better crack on with it so they can raffle the thing. The start of the cooler weather will be the best time. It is pinned and I have started to do some basic quilting. I will do Daniel's quilt also (same pattern), then that's it. Plus the Guide lady I promised it to has asked me to lunch on Wed, so that has given me the guilts. I found some old photos of me in my Girl Guide uniform, beret and all, and thought how it would be fun to put a photo on the label with the Care Instructions, but then I'd have to buy special sheets, I don't have a scanner, and my printer is laser, not ink jet. There, talked myself out of that one!

The postman has been today, and my fabric has not arrived from Hancocks yet. Hopefully it will not do a world tour like it did once before, as I'm keen to start the 30s zig Zag quilt.

It is overcast today, which is very rare these days, being in the middle of a drought. It is one of those days where you feel like making pumpkin soup, reading in bed with the light on, sewing or knitting, or sitting at the computer poking the Checkout Buttons of an online fabric store. I will try and resist the latter and get on with the blasted quilting. Til later...

Making Progress

I started Mum's Airy Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It is going ok now that I have the right needles (slippery ones), and have figured out what a yarn over is (Praise Be for Internet Tutorials). The yarn is so fine that it is like knitting with hair, but now that I have done a bit I'm getting used to it. I tend to be a tight-ish knitter, so I have had to really loosen up for this scarf. I always have to concentrate on my tension, especially casting on.
It is a very easy pattern which is good, but I still think Mum will like it. It is very light.

Speaking of needles, has anyone any experience yet with the sets of interchangeable circular knitting needles? I am about to buy my first circular needle, but wonder if it would be better to buy a set? I wonder if they are smooth at the joins etc? Any comments appreciated, as it would be much more cost effective and convenient to have a full set right from the start. As there are a few cables in the sets, you can leave the knitting on the cable instead of a stitch holder, and you can change needle sizes easily apparently.


I have also progressed on the Chevron Scarf - did you know there is a Flickr Group? It seems to be a very popular pattern. Most of the knitters there are using beautiful yarns like Koigu and Socks That Rock, all things that are a bit scarce down here. The colours and textures of the yarn are so beautiful - I can see another stash starting, but luckily cost will hold me back a bit. Everything is buyable on line, but with the postage and the exchange rate, it has to be a pretty special garment ...

I am still working on the String Quilt. I have probably half the scrappy binding sewn on, so I will try and finish that now and do some hand sewing tonight in front of the TV.


I was telling Ruth that I bought the Interweave Crochet magazine the other day, really only for this pattern. I have always been able to crochet, but IMHO there hasn't been a lot to make unless you are into doilies and rugs. But isn't this a great pattern? The plain top is knitted and the rest is crochet. I hope to make it one day, but until then it is nice to browse through magazines.

There is so much to do isn't there? How people get bored amazes me - no imagination maybe. Or no computer.

All Over the Shop

Is that an International saying, or only an Australian one? It is a local way of saying that you are all over the place. This is true at the moment I'm afraid. After my last post Elaine very carefully said she thought I sounded "a little unfocused", and McIrish Annie also kindly complimented me on my "multi-tasking" abilities, and the rest of you obviously thought that this is something best left alone! See, blogger friends are real friends, not imaginary ones - tell your husband Bettsy. Hardly a word has been said, but 'I hear ya!'

Yes I do feel a bit off the rails (on the inside), but the good news is that I'm home on annual leave, and keeping it all to myself . Well, except for you my blogging friends. Never-the-less, I'm actually getting some stuff done, so that's a good thing. Just shows I needed a holiday.

The knitting thing has taken hold of me at the moment. See above my half finished Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, which is turning out to be the most expensive scarf in history, as I have taken delivery of 2 more balls of Noro Silk Garden today to finish it off. As it doesn't get too cold here, I am telling myself that it is the only scarf I will need, and the silk will make it 'not too hot', and that it has been fun learning something new. It is really a Feather and Fan pattern (I know what that is now) and I have become quite the master at knitting into the front and back of stitches, and even more importantly, have improved my skills at fixing up mistakes. Plus it is fairly mindless work, which is a good thing! The colours look a bit washed out in the photo - they are richer in real life.

It's interesting how the camera will not pick up a colour, isn't it? I took many photos of this ball of yarn to try and get the colour to show. It is a deeper grape than it looks, even in the first photo here.
It is 70% mohair and 30% silk, and I am going to make the Airy Scarf for my Mum for her birthday, which is only about 2 weeks away. The pattern is from the same book, and it looks fairly easy (hopefully it will not fall into the "How Hard Can it Be?" Files), and it will be my first attempt at lace knitting. I am inspired by all the lovely shawls and wraps I see people knitting, and my mind is sneaking off in that general direction.

I bought my yarn from YarnsOnline, and found Meaghan to be most helpful. She phoned me yesterday when the Visa wouldn't work, and held on while I looked up my balance on the computer - enough said about what the problem was. She got it into a smaller envelope than originally quoted, dropping the postage cost, and it arrived today. Highly recommended. Speaking of Australian yarn stores - for the Aussie girls - have a look at The Wool Shack in the Sale items for some greatly reduced sock yarn.


I have also been quilting very unexciting straight lines on my string quilt. I just want it finished, and haven't the patience to be fiddling around with it. It isn't too bad though, as the lines echo the straight lines down the sides of the long panels, while accentuating the crooked horizontal lines.

I can't find any more purple for the binding, so I will do a scrappy one of what ever i can find in bright colours, then straight on the bed.

Off to the postbox to send something to Ireland - my first ever swap. Very exciting.

The Bits I Like the Least

I had the urge to start something new this afternoon, again. How many projects can I have on the go at once? Why doesn't starting something new ever satisfy the urge for any great period of time? I had a bit of a think about it while waiting for The Sound of the Environment Being Destroyed (think chainsaw happy local in combination with a beautiful old gum tree) to stop this afternoon. I can't concentrate when the chainsaw is going.

I came to the conclusion that what I really want is a new quilt on my bed, or to lie under while watching TV with a handsome beagle by my side ie. something finished.

So I did a quick inventory of possible UFOs, thinking that the string quilt would be the best to tackle. The back was already pieced, I had the batting which I think is a wool one, plus it is a scrap quilt that would allow a basic quilt job done by me, the inexperienced and reluctant machine quilter. I really don't like the finishing off part. Until it's actually finished of course!

Everyone has their problems - borders for Nancy (I would just make quilts without borders LOL), other people who will remain nameless who have a couple of hundred Flimsys in the corner (ducking), and I know there are people who aren't too keen on cutting. Actually that was me until recently. I shocked myself by cutting a fair percentage of the pieces for the 30s Zig Zag quilt that I like in the latest Fons and Porter magazine, without looking up.

Now that I think about it, even the sewing is a bit of a drag sometimes... what does that leave? The best part (my favourite) - looking in magazines and books, looking at online fabric stores with my credit card between my teeth, opening the parcel when the postman arrives, and last but not least, lovingly finding a space for it in the stash. There I've said it - that's what I love most about patchwork and quilting. Oh and reading blogs of course.

Anyway, so I cleared the kitchen table ( a job in itself), started to defrost the fridge while I was at it, put some washing on, made some pumpkin soup in the hope that 'if I cook it, winter will come', cut half of Simon's toenails - enough's enough says poor Simon - then actually got the quilt on the table. I have to keep talking to myself, making bargains all the time.

Bad Side of BRAIN: I think I'll just pin the centre bit. It's going to take me ages to get to the outside bits anyway - I can pin them another time.

Other Side of Brain: don't be so stupid. Just get it over with. It will sit in the corner for another 2 years otherwise.

Bad Side: Yes but the gardening show is on soon and I don't have time to finish it.

Other Side: It isn't on for another 2 hours - just get on with it.

and on it goes... I pinned it and have spent 30 mins deciding what colour thread to use. First I wound 2 bobbins of this avocado green thinking how good it would look. It looked like shit. Then I started to wind a bobbin of purple, then thought why am I wasting the purple on the back? So then I got out the variagated green I bought once that I don't like, and wound that for the back, and put the purple on the front.
I have started to do the quilting, one row, and then had to go and attack the ice in the fridge, have dinner, watch Crocodile Dundee and part of Men In Black, do some knitting...

But I have started, which is progress, so hopefully I can finish it. As I typed that a thought flashed through my brain - I can just do the basic quilting, bind it, then finish it off some other day! There is no hope.

PS the computer still won't start, so today I thought I'll resort to putting the Windows disc in even though I'll probably lose the lot, and guess what? The CD drive drawer is broken! How could I have forgotten?

Totally Lost the Plot

I have to tell you that I have totally lost the plot. I am so SICK of computers, and sewing machines, and cameras and gas bottles and everything else that has decided not to work today!

I am in a bit of a panic as the desktop computer will not start. Whenever Microsoft makes you install updates by scaring you into thinking that if you don't, the whole thing will crash, my computer has a great difficulty restarting (not much different to crashing really). The Blue Screen of Death is visible with some writing on it for about half a nanosecond, then comes the apology - We apologise for the inconvenience but Windows won't start, probably because of the software YOU just installed (yes it's my fault), even though they made me do it.

I went out for about 4 hours last night and left it trying to restart itself every 29 seconds - I came home and it was still trying. It has tried for another few hours today with no result, so now I'm stuffed. Fortunately there is the Laptop, but it is only set up in a Network with the Desktop, so although it will connect to the internet via the router, I can't view any of the stuff on the big computer because it won't turn on.

I just spent 30 mins trying to get the Drivers etc for the camera, then downloading Picasa and going through all that again... whinge whinge whinge. And the dreaded download that stuffed everything up has changed the whole look of my browser and I can't find any of the buttons. So off to the computer shop maybe - at least I can get the CD drive drawer fixed!

I had a friend over for lunch - the gas bottle on the BBQ ran out half way through cooking. The sewing machine keeps chewing the start of all the seams, so frankly I have decided not to do anymore of anything tonight, and go to bed. The big worry is that I really need to do some washing - I don't think I could bear it if the washing mahine blew up, as trust me, there is no Laundromat on Lamb Island!

So, enough of all that. Here is my latest Civil War block. I think I have done 7 or 8 now. Hope you are all having a better day!

Exciting Find at the Craft Show

I ended up going to

the Craft Show yesterday after all. The place was practically deserted, so I had a quick tour around the stalls. My main find was these 3 books, all in the Bargain Bin! I couldn't believe my eyes! All 3 I have been thinking about buying, and have had the Jo Morton book out from the library for 2 months. The small photo below shows the prices which are beyond belief. I snatched them up while looking over my shoulder.

Then the 3 Civil War fabrics for a very reduced price, 2 other blue FQs and a Eighth of the black and white 1930s fabric for the quilt in Fons and Porter this month that I am going to make.

Then I bought 2 balls of Noro with the silk in it to make me a scarf for winter, and a roll of freezer paper for my Civil War blocks.

I had a good trip, the only thing I wanted that I couldn't get were some 1 1/2 inch Thangles. So all in all I was pretty pleased.

I still can't get over the books, but I'm sure I will soon LOL! To think that they couldn't sell them? Amazing. Reproductions aren't as popular here as in the US, but there is still quite a following.

I would like to start my scarf, but I am determined to finish the 2nd sock first. I tried to buy some soft mohair, maybe with a bit of silk in it, to make a scarf for my Mother, but couldn't find anything. There were really only 3 nice yarn stores there, one being the LYS, which was disappointing. I overheard one store owner saying that it had been much quieter this year, and felt she probably wouldn't make the trip next year. I suppose people are tightening their belts a bit here, with an election coming, industrial relations laws in upheaval, and interest rates always threatening to, or actually rising. The other thing that is really noticeable here is the increasing cost of food, no doubt as a result of the 1 in 100 year drought we are experiencing.

I'm fairly lucky here, being right on the edge of the coast, but half an hour's drive west to my Parent's place, their garden is nearly dead, and their tank nearly empty. Dad was telling me that it has been 500+ days since there has been more than a sprinkle of rain. Our dam is below 30% capacity, and the latest initiative is to recycle sewerage. Great!

Civil War Diary Quilt

I have started the Civil War Diary Quilt at last (see previous post). I have been waiting for the CD for EQ to arrive from the States, so in the meantime I have made a few of the easy blocks that can be rotary cut. I have made 5 so far, and have started an album in Picasa, which of it's own accord has popped up on my blog. How do these things happen? I certainly didn't ask it to go there, but I suppose it is OK. Here are 2 of the blocks, and if you are interested, the album is there on the right.

I have been worrying that I might not get into it, but I have to say that I'm really enjoying it. Each block is done fairly quickly (so far), and you only have to do it once, which cuts down on boredom factor. Also choosing the fabrics requires you to sort through your stash wasting time fondling all the lovely fabrics. No time-wasting guilt involved. Perfect! I feel quite at one with my 1800s Reproduction stash already - I know we are just at the beginning of a new phase in our relationship, and are going to become very close.

Being Australian, I admit to knowing very little about the Civil War, so it is all very interesting. I must admit that the fabric of the era interests me more than the war itself. I wish we had such a rich quilting history. Those of you that live in the States are very lucky, and I really love seeing old quilts on quilter's blogs.

Anyway, yesterday my CD arrived from Rosemary Youngs, the author of the book, happily on the first day of my holidays from work. Plenty of time to sew. I opened the case, took out the CD, leant down and pressed the little button for the tray to come out to put the disc in the computer... and... it won't open. Why does this happen?

Now I had been at work all night, and it was about lunch time. I was sleep deprived, but I WAS NOT imagining it. It wouldn't open. I have to tell you that thoughts of going downstairs to get the carving knife flashed through my brain, and lingered there if truth be told, with the ill-advised plan of sticking it in the front of the computer and 'forcing' that thing out, but commonsense prevailed. I just couldn't believe it! It still won't open, and I don't know why.

Then I had a cunning plan (that I thought probably wouldn't work knowing how much I know about networking), and put it into my laptop, thinking that I could save it to a shared folder, then I could see it on the desktop. After a fair bit of fiddling around IT WORKED. So now I have it in the correct folder in EQ5. Which of course I have never really understood. It doesn't seem logical to me. Anyway after much effort, I actually got one of the blocks printed out as a line drawing. Then I took the advice of Cathi who suggested I iron the leading edge of a piece of freezer paper to the A4, and run it back through the printer.

Now Pam will understand, also being a night nurse, and probably those sleep deprived Mothers with small children, but do you think I could figure out which way to put the paper through to reproduce the printing already on the paper? I got it on the 4th go, and of course there are only 4 options...

Now, why was I doing this when I was obviously in need of 14 hours of uninterrupted sleep? Well there is some weird thing about sleep deprivation that makes you believe that you are NOT acting in any way that is not normal. You are totally in command of your wits, even though you found yourself looking closely at the birds flying beside the road on the way home from work that morning, rather than the road. Instead of going to the shops to get some food, you suddenly found yourself boarding the ferry. Then on the way home stopped to discuss with the neighbours how irritated we all are by the Idiot that Rides the Trail Bike around and drives us all crazy. Then find yourself picking up the phone to call the police to complain, even though you have no idea of the address of the Idiot With the Trail Bike. Fortunately I had a flash of sanity before I dialled - no doubt due to my inbuilt fear of the police even though I've never done anything wrong.

In other words it seemed like a perfectly good time to deal with all these technological challenges. All's well that ends well, I suppose, but boy I do some stupid things. Shiftwork can't be good for you.

The Craft Fair is on today. Bettsy was going to go yesterday, and I am thinking about going today. I am a bit worried as I don't have a lot of spare money at them moment, and would rather spend it on the fabric for the background and border of the 1930s quilt that I love in the latest Fons and Porter magazine... but that's for another day. I could probably go and not spend much. I do need some Thangles and freezer paper and stuff, and there will be beautiful knitting yarns from the colder states...