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...

Things I've Learnt About Thangles (or Mistakes I've Made Again Today)

I have started the Civil War Diary Quilt today by making some of the blocks that can be rotary cut, while I wait for my CD to arrive from across the high seas. Most of these blocks have had Half Square Triangles (HSTs) in them, and my fave method to make them is by using triangle papers. I will use Triangles on a Roll if I want to make heaps of the same colour, but if I only want a few, I use Thangles.


Every time I use them after a certain period of time, I forget all the tricks, and make the same mistakes over and over. I often remember that there is a "trick to this" or "trick to that", but forget what that trick is. So, after today's little HST session, I have decided to record what I know to ensure instant success in the future. Most of you will be smarter than me and know what to do, but for those dummys like me, or for those that haven't used them - perhaps I can save you a little of the pain!

Step 1 is to get your fabric strips in the right order (see above). If you put the lightest strip up against the back of the paper, when you iron them all the seam allowances will be pointing to the dark side (see below). The 2 on the paper means that your HST will be 2 inches FINISHED, therefore you cut your fabric strips 2 1/2 inches wide, which is the width of the paper.

Step 2
Pin between each diagonal line, and sew up one dotted line, then skip across and sew down the other side. I have to take my 1/4 inch foot off as it has one of those irritating little guides on it that goes below the edge of the fabric. Use a fairly small stitch.


Step 3
Then cut them apart along the solid line. You don't have to be too accurate between the stitching lines as this is in the seam allowance, but it is good to cut the horizontal line with care. I sometimes use the rotary cutter or a pair of sharp scissors.

Step 4
Then to the ironing board. Put the little triangle paper-side down, then pick up the top piece of fabric, which will be the dark side, and flip it over and press. This is when the magic with the seam allowance happens.

Step 5
This part makes a big difference to the finished HST.

When you take the paper off it is very easy to start pulling the stitches out. I find that after the paper is off, the top stitches are slightly looser than the bobbin stitches, as there is a little gap where the paper was. If you start pulling the paper off willy-nilly, the seam often starts to come undone.



This is the best way I have found to do it. Don't pull from the pointy ends - the seam comes with it. Grab the paper at it's widest point and rip it gently to the seam, slightly towards you, then along the seam.

Then rip the remaining paper in the opposite direction, also along the seam.

Then get your fingernail under the paper in the seam allowance, and it should just pull out.

Cut off the little pointy bit sticking out, then you end up with your little HSTs all done with no tricky 7/8th measurements and no stretchy bias edges. Can you tell I just love 'em?

One last word of warning... sometimes it is easy to get distracted. I often find myself wondering which is the dark and which is the light side. Of course if you can't decide between the two, it doesn't really matter which one you put where. I do dwell on this, however, having had The Rules beaten into me.

(BTW, are you aware that there is an "Iron Your Seams Open" revolution building up momentum?)

Anyway, please notice the results below of not paying enough attention. I did notice while cutting them apart that the red was very vibrant, and had ironed two open before I realised my mistake.

Step 6 Right sides together.

ANZAC Day

It is ANZAC Day today, and I have the guilts as I couldn't drag my carcass out of bed for the Dawn Service. I try to go each year if I'm not at work. We have a little service here on the island - there are about 6 men that march. I can walk from here and one of the things I love is seeing people materialise out of the dark from all directions.

This photo was taken in 2005 (90 yr anniversary) at Caloundra which is on the coast north of here. The cenotaph is up on a cliff and what you can see below the horizon is the sea. There were huge numbers of people there, and it was very moving. Off the coast at this spot is what is believed to be the wartime shipwreck of the Centaur, a hospital ship, which made it all seem more real.

All the WW1 Diggers have died now I think, and the WW2 boys are thinning out as well, but it is good to see that a lot of children and young people are developing an interest in the ANZAC history and spirit, and I don't think that it will all be forgotten.

Plans for May

It isn't long now til my month off work - I'm trying not to count down too much in case I go nuts, but quietly, I only have 4 shifts to work.

Now that I think about it, a lot of my projects are at Flimsy stage, except for the hexagon quilt (which isn't far off now), and the 4 patch, of which all the 4 patches are done - I just don't have the fabric for the alternate squares yet.

So I plan to start on the Civil War Diary Quilt. I have the book, and have just ordered the CD from the author, which goes into EQ5 and enables you to print out the blocks. I think I will try to do them by the freezer paper template method that Tazzie is using for her Dear Jane (see Dec 2 & 3). I suppose I could put the freezer paper through the printer somehow? Ironed onto a sheet of A4 perhaps? In the meantime there are a few blocks that are easy to do with rotary cutting, so I can get started.

Of course the thought of starting this quilt has made me think about fabric choice. I thought I could use Civil War Era fabrics, and some from the years before, but now that I go through my stash of Reproduction fabric, it is harder than I thought to decide which to use. I have done some internet research on time periods for various ranges of fabric - some of the information is contradictory, and some of the ranges are hard to put into time periods. I have looked in my Barbara Brackman books which has been a little bit of a help, but I am a bit unsure what to do. I wonder if I should approach it from a different perspective and try and rule out anything post 1860s, and before say the 1840s.

OTOH, maybe I shouldn't be so picky, and just try to avoid the really obvious early prints like chintz, and the really late ones. But then I read that some prints like the rainbow prints make a comeback in the late 1800s. Any thoughts anyone?

I am also cursing myself because around the time I was making my last fabric purchase I saw the Civil War Anthem range at a very discounted price "somewhere", and do you think I can find it now? The perils of having about 60 online fabric stores in my Favourites! I need more fabric like a hole in the head, but I do love those purples and creams and blues with the red accent...

The socks continue - I have turned the heel on sock 2, and am just at the stage of picking up the stitches. I keep making mistakes with this sock, whereas the first one was perfect! But I sort of figure that it will be a much different sock to my first one, as I am doing a much tighter and more even job on this one. I will no doubt be wearing them around the house, so I am not worrying about pulling any of the knitting out. I am just fixing up the mistakes as best I can and keep on knitting. I'm not sure that I will be making too many more socks - I am pleased to know that I can do it, and have mastered the double point needles, but I think I would like to try something different for my next knitting project.

I thought I would put up a photo of my poor String quilt Flimsy that I made a few years ago (yikes!) considering the interest in string quilts lately. I made it after I bought Gwen Marstons Liberated String Quilts book. It is pieced from stash and 2 rolls of long plain offcuts that I bought el cheapo. They were the sides cut off the plain backings by a longarm quilter. I pieced the back last year, and really need to get it quilted. This photo was taken at my old house, and I have nearly lived here for 2 years!

Doonas

I have been working working working, and not really had much time to sew. I have started the 2nd sock, done a few hexagons, but that's it. I have the day off today so hoepfully I might get something done.

I was pleased to finish that sock - I'm not sure that I'll be making many more... Thanks for all the encouraging comments and assistance.

I was asked what a doona is. I think in the US you would call it a duvet? It is a feather and down quilt that you sleep under. Autumn is sort of here, which is a great relief. It is cool at night, but still 29 - 30 deg C during the day, but the dreadful humidity has gone. It's lovely really. Winters are quite mild here really, certainly no snow. Not even frost where I live.

No photos to share so I won't write reams and reams. Just checking in really. I am very behind on my blog reading, so I think I will be half the day at the computer catching up.

1st Sock Finished

Here you see my finished 1st sock. It is too big really, and the heel drops down lower than I think it should. Maybe this is because I have made it too long, or the needles are too big. Whatever - I now know that I can do it, so hopefully the 2nd one will be a bit tighter too, as I have a better grasp on the pointy needles. It looks a bit funny at the toe in the photo on the left, but is ok when on. I had 8 stitches on each of 2 needles at the end, and I did the 3 needle cast off. The stripes are groovy, so I will wear them with my slippers or something.

The weather has finally turned a bit cool which is such a relief. It is about 17 deg C - 27 deg C, which is very pleasant. I slept under the doona last night for the first time, and today I have dug some holes for trees without expiring from the heat. I would be very happy if the weather was like this all the time. It is quite windy though, and all the people on boats on the Bay for Easter probably had a miserable time.


I have been working on my hexagons a bit, the 4 patches and bits and pieces. The 2nd sock is next.

Tsunami Warning

We had a Tsunami Warning yesterday. Well I found out about it last night on the news, so luckily it came to nothing. A 10cm rise in sea levels apparently. I would have been washed away in my bed, fast asleep, with the beagle on the end! My land is 11 metres above sea level, but as I live in Moreton Bay, which is protected by islands, I'm sure I'm pretty safe.

Anyway, I've been awake since the Crack of Dawn - in fact before the COD - too much night duty. So I got up and sewed some 4 patches out of some of my new fabric, which I couldn't really afford. I have also reassessed my dodgy mathematics, and the size of the quilt, and have decided that I need 248 x 4 patch blocks. This may not be the case, but it is my latest estimate. I have them pinned in groups of 10, and find that I have 206. Pretty exciting stuff! I find it very hard to calculate how many blocks I need, as it is an on-point setting, but if I make 248, then I can always make some more later if I've stuffed it up. The blocks are very scrappy, so I wonder how it will turn out?

As for the other projects - the sock is up to the toe decreases, so I'll have to get onto it before I scare myself silly thinking about it. The current dilemma is when to start the decreases, but I sort of put it on the other day, and figure that my toes were sticking out about 2 inches, so I'll just have a go and hope it fits.

I have the knitting bug for sure - I made a cotton dishcloth yesterday. I have never used a cotton dishcloth, so I will test it out. I made it out of an abandoned crocheted UFO, so there is nothing to lose.

I tried to go all the way around the Q4P Ring this morning too, but after 2 1/2 hours I stopped before the end. I had a look at the list and there are over 70 members now, so sorry if I didn't get to you.

Otherwise all is quiet here. The weather is teasing us by 'marginally' cooling down, so hopefully it will not be long before you can do things without immediately breaking into a sweat. I have some trees to plant, but between the heat and the mossies, I have just been watering them every morning in their pots, and hoping they survive. Soon, soon...

Fabric Costs

It's interesting to hear that Australia isn't the only country that must have lots of taxes on fabric. I buy from a few online stores. I have bought from Fabric Shack many times, also Quilter's Quarter. Hancocks too, but sometimes things don't arrive, or you get 2 of something and not something else, and it seems to take a lot longer to arrive. There are others, and I certainly look at a lot of different sites, but I find that Fabric Shack and Quilter's Quarter are my favourites.

To get value for money with postage you need to order a few yards (terrible shame), so you need a store that has a wide range of the stuff you like. I love the Repros, and many of them go on sale in the US, which never happens here. There is 1 store in my city that stocks Repros, so sometimes I go there and look at the fabric, but usually I've already seen it online or in a magazine. Occasionally I will go and look at a particular fabric to see the colour, but generally I find I am pretty good at choosing what I like online now. The hard part is saving up and not buying little bits here and there, so that you can get a heap all at once (for the postage you understand LOL!). I also occasionally buy a magazine, as they can be up to A$20 here, when they are about A$8 on the cover.

I buy half yard pieces when I am stash building, which seems to work well for me. I will put a few of the new ones in the nearly completed hexagon quilt, then in the NOT nearly completed 4 patch, then dream about what to do next. I would like to start the Civil War Diary quilt too.

How to Save $383 in Just a Few Clicks

Yes it's true. If I had bought this fabric at my LQS it would have cost me an extra A$383. Isn't that a scandal?

Any Aussies out there - if you're not buying from the States you're missing out on a lot of fabric. I know this is a favourite rant of mine, but how come everything here is so expensive? I'm all for the concept of supporting your LQS, but how can you compare? A$157 (including postage) to my door in 5 DAYS, or A$540 from the LQS? What would you do?

They are all lovely 1800s reproductions from The Fabric Shack who I can highly recommend. 5 days to Australia?? I'm supposed to be tidying up and cooking dinner for guests tonight, but there will need to be a bit of fabric fondling first...

Sock Tantrum

Does this look right all of you sock gurus? I'm not 100% sure about it. I hope I've not stuffed it up, as I could very easily get discouraged right about now. I have finished (I think) decreasing for the instep, and now have to keep going til I think it will be long enough to do the toe part.

How far that will be I don't really know. How long is the toe part? I think I read somewhere about 2 inches?

It all looks fairly big - I really think I could have used 0.5mm smaller needles, but too late now. The other thing is that I have HUGE feet, so I probably need the room. I had a tantrum the other night after picking up the stitches for the - well I don't really know - how are you supposed to do all that with these fiddly little needles? Crochet hook for the next one I think. Anyway I had 9 stitches on needles 1 & 3, 32 on needle 2. I had to pick up 18 along each side adding them to the 9, which gave me 27 x2 and 32. I counted and counted and counted. I had it right I swear! Then around the whole lot with one row of knit to pull it all together - 1 stitch too many. I tell ya! I had Speed on the TV, things were getting pretty full-on on the bus, I had a bit of a headache that was rapidly increasing, I was hot and sweaty and hadn't had a proper night's sleep the night before. It was also the day of the lizard 'surprise' (see previous post), and frankly, it all got a bit much. I looked and looked to see where I had picked up this 'extra' stitch which I swear wasn't there before - no go. So, as I thought to myself "bad habits are starting early, aren't they my Girl?", I knit 2 together, finished the row, put it down and went to bed.

It was that or out the window to be ravaged by a cane toad in the night.

But on I went the next day, and here we are. I'm just going to keep going, and if it isn't right I will do a better job on the next one. One of the Doctors at work was talking about her knitting last night, so I showed her my sock and she was very impressed. So that made me feel better LOL. She has never done socks though, so anyone who has not wrestled the 4 satay sticks before is always impressed in my experience!

I continue to chant my mantra of Progress not Perfection.

It's Pink Alright

Finally the Girl Guide Flimsy is done. I found the dark pink inner border in the stash which was a bonus - it has pink bubbles on it. I went back to the shop to get more of the plain mauve that is in the quilt to make the outer border... well you can guess can't you? None left. So I bought the next darkest, which is a funny sort of purple colour, but no one will probably know but me. And you if anyone's reading. 'We' all know that this is the nature of quilts like this, but not all people do. There are a couple of Quilt Police types around, but they won't know I made it.

Now for my least favourite part. I really don't like the pinning and getting it all straight. I'll have to clear the kitchen table which is a constant FlyLady disaster area, find the pins (which are always in some other UFO, so I never have enough and I'm always robbing pins from said UFO, and then from the centre of this quilt to try and pin the border), try and iron the thing without getting it covered in dog hair, try not to scratch the table with the pins, and so it goes on. There is a little voice inside my head going "what about the basting spray? No one will ever know", then I think the timber floor will be covered in sticky stuff which will then attract the tumbleweeds of dog hair that are floating by, and I've got people coming for dinner on Wednesday night and the place is dirty enough without THAT. Oh and did I mention that I haven't finished the curtains? Yes they're still hanging there 'resting' with the hems not done. Plus I have to work Sun night which cancels out Monday? Oh God...

Well, I don't have a deadline for the quilt, but I really do need to get it done so that I can finish Daniel's. I keep looking at blogs all over the place and am fighting the urge to start new things all the time. If you go back up and read the byline for this blog, you would have to agree that never a truer word was spoken.

Today I went to Neilsen's Native Nursery with my friend from the other end of the island, to buy some plants. I embarrassed myself by screeching loudly when a 40cm lizard sprung out of the plant I was looking at, and dropped to the ground touching me as it went (shudder shudder). I don't mind the dry native looking lizard when I see it at a distance and have tabs on it, but the surprise attack is not welcome.

It is still very hot here, but our first cool change for autumn is forecast for tomorrow afternoon. With it are Strong Wind Warnings for the Bay, so the trip to work on the ferry tomorrow night will be another fine example of getting back to nature. But I don't mind it - in fact I love the ferry trip, especially coming home in the morning when you can sit out the back (if you're not knitting) in what is affectionately called The Beer Garden, and get a bit of wind in your hair. It will be especially nice when it starts to cool down, and you sometimes see some dolphins or a turtle.

I'm really just stalling now. I might go downstairs and have a look at the table, and think it over.

Between Me and Insanity

lies the humble mosquito coil. I have never in my life seen so many mosquitoes. I took the dogs for a walk late this afternoon, covered in insect spray, and in the end I couldn't bear it - I had swarms of them buzzing around my head, and biting me all over. Despite having fly screens, the house seems full of them. They come in with you, and I'm sure a few sneak in through the dog flap. Then you get into bed, turn out the light.... and bbzzzzz. Bbbzzzzz. Bbbzzzz-zzzz-zzZZZ-zzzz. All around your head. Aarrgghhh, the agony! So the old Earth Tiger coil is going non stop. Do you like Ms Redhead in a snow globe with Australia-shaped hair?

Anyway, back to the socks! I got a bit of knitting done at work last night as I had to sit with one patient a lot of the night. I am up to the heel turning bit, so it's all happening. I just love the magic stripes in the sockyarn. My rib is not very good - a bit loose, but I was struggling with the live hedgehog that lives in the double point needles (see previous post). However I am confident that I am improving. Progress not perfection. Thanks for all your suggestions and help. The Come to Silver sock tutorial that Quilting Fitzy suggested was very helpful, and Anne and Diana thanks for the loop switching advice. My ladder is less noticeable now, and it is getting tighter. Tazzie has been very helpful too, and speaking of knitting have you read about Ruth's announcement yet?


All this talk of finished UFOs around the blogs has me feeling a little guilty about neglecting the hexagons. So I got them out tonight to reassure myself how close I am to finishing (this is what I tell myself). They look a bit crumpled as I have started folding the whole thing up in a tablecloth so that the parts stay fairly close to where they need to go. The dark border probably would have been finished by now, except that I have gone around and added another row of hexagons as I have decided to slice the tops off the outermost row and bind the quilt with a straight binding. So time consuming, and I am a bit sick of the dark colours.

So I haven't forgotten it, just having some time out. Also it has become too big and unwieldy (is that a word?) to take along as a mobile project, hence the knitting. They must call me the crazy crafty lady on the ferry. Or as someone said to me last night "That's interesting. Knittting with Satay Sticks now. What's next?" Hmmm.

Progress

I know this is supposed to be a quilting blog (being in the Q4P ring), but I hope you will allow me this little knitting interlude. I think I've figured out the needles now - see my little tube there on the left. I'm still getting the 'needle change ladder' effect, but only in the ribbing, not in the stocking stitch. Don't know why.

I've decided to start a sample piece as per the sock pattern to try to master the techniques, but not putting the length required for a normal sock into it. Make sense? I have just looked at the heel instructions, and it makes no sense at all, so I will look at some tutorials before going on.

Doubt there will be much quilting done today, as there is plenty to be done in the yard and the house. Maybe tomorrow I'll get onto that Girl Guide quilt. I have to put the borders on and quilt it. I hope the Irish among you didn't overdo it yesterday, and are suffering now...

Double Points

I've just found this quote on Knitty while looking for a tutorial on how to use those infernal double pointed needles. I can really identify...

"Until you become accustomed to knitting with double points,
it may feel like you've got an unruly hedgehog in your
hands."

Touche!

Comments

Thanks heaps for all the helpful comments regarding my first applique attempt. I don't feel so bad about it now.

I always try something new (applique, setting up stuff on computer etc) with the thought "How hard can it be?", only to find that it is quite hard after all. I think I should be able to get it on the first go. Not so, obviously. I suppose I thought that I wouldn't need to do too much preparation, but now I see that I do. That's cool, as long as I know. When you see other people's work you don't often get to see what goes on behind the scenes. "The one I prepared earlier" gets whipped out, and it just seems so easy! Joke's on me I guess!

While thinking about the applique I thought I'd try the sock knitting. The real reason was that I was in the vicinity of the very nice wool and thread shop Threads and More last week, so I went in and asked for the basic sock pattern. The lady also sold me a set of double ended needles that were so small they looked like the skewers you thread meat on to make satay sticks (they were bamboo). Anyway, I got home and opened the pattern, expecting to see a couple of sizes, which I thought was indicated on the back of the packet. Wrong. Then I measured my (HUGE) foot, to find it is 2cm longer than the larger of 3 foot sizes for the One Size Fits All pattern.

At this point a bizarre and evil thought came over me.... "Perhaps I should knit the tension square?" Now I have to tell you that this concept goes totally against my philosophy in life ie. "Work smart, not hard". I mean to say - does anyone ever knit the tension square?? That's just extra work as far as I can see it, for not much pay off. But I did it. Well I started to. Just enough to establish that it wasn't going to be big enough. Blast. I found some old needles of my Nana's that were a 3.5 not 2.25, and started again. I did that bit you see in the photo, and think that they are probably the more appropriate size. So tomorrow I will be near the shop again, so I will buy some more pointy skewer sticks. Then I will start asking for help! I think I'll be able to get to the heel if I can get my 4 needles working. After that I will be needing help. Keeps me off the streets.

Adventures in Applique

This picture is as close as you're going to get to my first ever needle turn applique attempt. Talk about fingers and thumbs - I nearly 'sewed' my finger to my thumb. I did sew my finger to the back of the fabric 8 times though...

As you can see when I ran out of thread down the bottom I used this as the perfect excuse to stop. I had troubles with my bends. I got this great book out of the library which has really clear instructions for all types of applique, so first I tried the Freezer Paper on Top method. This was going well til I got to the right hand bend at the top of the heart. I had enough to contend with without an extra bit of paper on top. So I took that off and sketched the line on the red fabric. The pointy inside bit in the middle at the top I clipped, but the fabric went all frayed, so I gave up on that bit and kept going. I was doing ok with the stitching; it is the turning under part that was hard. I tried to pin it, but hmmmm... not so good.

I have looked back in the book - there is a Freezer Paper on the Bottom technique where you pre turn the seam allowance to the back and baste it, which looks easier, but then it would be a lot more work. There is another interesting one where they make a proper template out of Templar, put it on the wrong side of the fabric, then 'paint' the seam allowance with spray starch squirted into a little cup, using a cotton bud. The seam allowance is then ironed over the template. Again, more work. Perhaps I had better keep practising, but maybe using an easier shape. Any suggestions gratefully received.

The Sniff of Approval

Man, I'm on Fire! Well not literally. That's a football saying we have here - I wonder if it is everywhere? What I mean to say is that I've achieved a lot (for me) over the last 2 days. Not only have I changed my cutter blade (grin), but I have finished the Flimsy of the Girl Guide quilt, minus borders.

And it has received the official Sniff of Approval from Simon. He is probably really just freezing, as I have the temperature set so cold in the sewing room that it is almost Antarctic.

As for the borders I will have to buy more fabric tomorrow. I thought the solid mauve for the outer border, and ? for the inner. Depends on what they've got I suppose. I used all sorts of fabric, and am pleased that I am getting a bit more adventurous with my choices. I tend to 'hang on too tight', but this quilt has a Japanese fabric, 2 different stripes, 2 solid colours, a spot, a squiggle, cat paws, retro floral and more. Oh and I put the pink with bikinis in too.

Plus I didn't obsess about what goes next to what. I just made an effort to put the 2 darkest fabrics next to a light and went for it. Very liberating, and it turned out fine (IMHO).

As for credits, this is Bonnie's Bricks and Stepping Stones from Quiltville, which as many of you know I also made recently in brights for my nephew.

How Quickly We Forget..

..the simple pleasure of a new rotary cutting blade. I finally changed it today, and wonder why it didn't occur to me to do it before now? See the old blade? That brown ring is RUST. I do live by the sea where everything rusts, but I think I let this go a bit far.

In retrospect I could've done a better job on the fabric with a steak knife!

I have been sewing all afternoon in the airconditioned comfort of the sewing room. I set the temp to 22 deg C, the dogs got on the spare bed, and I have shocked myself by finishing 99% of the blocks for the Girl Guide raffle quilt. I ended up doing the Bricks and Stepping Stones as per Daniel's quilt, as I really just wanted something easy that I could do pretty quickly. Having just finished the last one I knew exactly how many blocks I needed to make it the size I wanted etc, so I just went for it.

I have used a bit of the lime green, but the rest are pink and purple with a touch of lime and aqua. I even cut into one of my Amy Butler fabrics (not my favourite ones, mind). I will try and finish it tomorrow when I will post a photo of the progress. Then I will have to quilt both of them... It's the pinning and carrying on that I don't like.

Double Pink

When I think of a double pink I think of something like the fabric on the left in this photo. It is fairly bright, but still pink. I wouldn't even mind something like the fabric on the right for the setting squares of my 4 patch, but I can't seem to see anything I like that I can afford. I think the pinks must be very popular and rarely make it to the sales.

Is the one on the left what would be called a double pink? I suppose too that the old quilts we see in books (like the one that inspired me to start the 4 patch) are faded, and we get a feeling for the paler look, even though the quilt probably didn't start out that way.

Anyway, it isn't going anywhere - I'll just keep looking and one day I'll see something.

Pink Fabric

What about this one for the squares?

Addit: sorry that wasn't very clear. I am looking for a pink 1800s fabric for the setting squares of my Repro 4 patch.

I have been out to dinner tonight at the home of another nurse that I have met going to night duty on the boat. Another nurse who lives near me also went with her husband, the hostess' neighbour and SIL were also there. It was nice to get out (she lives on the next island), and nice to meet new people. It isn't too easy to meet people when you are a 42 yo single shiftworker, who really prefers to stay home with her dog and her computer!

It was very nice, but I tell you - when I get home I'm so glad to be home. I really am a solitary person, but I'm constantly forcing myself to connect with other 'real live' people (well ones that are actually in the same town) because I know it's good for me, but really I feel much more comfortable with people's dogs and cats. But I will soldier on and invite them here soon. I'd better start cleaning up the house and sewing room now. Well, in the morning maybe... off to bed.

Stash Enhancement

Well, didn't that last post bring the Brownies, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts out of the closet? I believe it was Lord Baden-Powell in England that started the Boy Scouts, and then Lady B- P started the Girl version, but correct me if I'm wrong...

I have had a heap of coins lying around the house for many months, that I always mean to take to the bank. Some of them made it into individual plastic bags, others were just lying around. Last week I finally got them all together and counted it up - $60! You beauty!

Today I took it to the bank, then promptly went and spent $60 on some stash, or as Karen would say "Collection" Enhancement. It felt so good, as I have been trying very hard not to spend any money lately (mainly cos I haven't had any to spare). I went to about the only shop around here that I buy from any more. They get in a limited assortment of fabrics that are often 2nds, at approx 1/3 the normal price here. Sometimes the white of the selvedge is a bit wider than it should be, or occasionally there is a repeated spot where the pattern is a bit lighter, but many of them have no visible fault.

I found some Michael Millers, some black and whites, a few odd ones, and this pink one (separate photo) which is a Judie Rothermel Art Deco range. I have been looking hard for a reasonably priced Repro pink or double pink for the big squares in my Repro 4 patch, but have had no luck. I was even thinking of just using shirtings, but then I saw this today. I suppose if it's called Art Deco it is 1920's, but then it looks like an 1800s design to me. Try and click on it and see if it will give you a closer look.

I only bought 0.5m so will try it out with some of the 4 patches and see if it looks any good. Thoughts please from the Repro fabric Fans. Off to fondle my fabric...

Finished Flimsy

I'm very happy as I have just finished the Flimsy of Daniel's Quilt. It is pinned up sideways in the photo - it is about 50" x 74". I'm very pleased as I haven't been able to get motivated to do any real sewing for ages - just the hexagons.

I'm planning to put the remainder of the lime green homespun on the back. I just hope he likes it, and doesn't think it is too young for him. He is 7. If he isn't too keen on it I have another plan for it, so we will see.

I was talking to one of the other nurses on the boat going to work the other night, who is also the Girl Guide Leader on Russell Island. Do you have Guides in the US? I think you have something similar but with a different name. Anyway we were talking about it as I was a Guide back in the Dark Ages. It seems they are always short of money and have to do fund-raising to keep afloat, so I thought I'd make a quilt they could raffle. If Daniel isn't too keen I'll give her this one, or else I was thinking of a String Quilt like the String-X on Quiltville, as I have a lot of pink fabric that I can't see me using in the near future. I don't think this Bricks and Stepping Stones would work, as they are mainly light toned fabrics, not mediums. I do have 2 x 1/2 yard pieces of cute pale pink fabric; one with bikinis, and the other with fashion-type motifs on it which I could use for the triangles. I'll think about it. Apparently the girls in the group are mainly 9 or 10 yo, so I suppose it would be better to do something a bit girly.

Otherwise not much happening. "Don't mention the cricket" is the motto around here. It is amazing how many South Africa fans have popped up this week - one that doesn't even live there, and one that is really an Aussie. Gail and Ruth you know who you are!

Australia : CLOSED

I'm sorry to report that all followers of the Cricket have declared Australia CLOSED to the Rest of the World for a suitable period of Grieving, and for some Squirming in Shame and Horror.

Australia will reopen eventually...

Scary Photo

I can't imagine that you are all too excited to see my right foot, but you may have noticed the lump on the ankle. Yes this is my foot pedal foot, and it is rather sore. I twisted it on a bit of uneven road this morning, and at the time it felt ok, but a few hours later it was very swollen and sore. So after elevation, ice and drugs it is feeling better, but I'm going to baby it as I am due back at work in under 48 hrs.

Now the good news is that this gives me a really great excuse to sit on the couch tomorrow with it up watching the cricket, doing more bloody hexagons. I know I don't sound too in love with the project at the moment - I even had an evil thought about starting some in 1930's colours tomorrow... But I think I want smaller ones for that.

The Aussies MUST WIN tomorrow, or we will have to close off Australia to the Rest of the World while we squirm in shame for being beaten by the Poms. So if you don't hear from me or Tracey for a while, you will know that the worst has happened...

Speaking of which, there is a message on Clare's blog saying that Jen (Hedgehog) is fine, just hibernating as apparently Hedgehogs do in the winter.

I've Turned a Corner

Too corny for words, I know, but...
I haven't been doing too much quilting so I'm excited when 'something' happens. I'm still plodding along with the hexagons, but I have to admit I'm not as keen as I was. But I can't stop, or start a new hand sewing project til I'm finished.

I've had a cold, so have been laying low, but I have been reading other people's blogs - there are so many to look at now that it is a real effort to keep up with them all. I know I keep saying it, but I think some small quilts are next on the agenda. I'm a bit fed up with myself starting all these great big ones, then struggling to finish.

I'm inspired by all the lovely quilts on Karen's blog Sewprimitive, and want to try something similar. I also love the customer's quilt Patti has on Quilting is My Passion. I'd like to try some applique too, but that is hand sewing which totally goes against my promise above . I also saw a little string quilt on someone's blog (can't remember who - Dawn's Quilts and Pieces), which would be a perfect way to use up the scraps from the hexagon quilt. So much to do, so little gets done...

But boring things beckon - I'm going to hang out the washing, iron my uniform for work, have some lunch, then go to bed in preparation for work tonight. What a drag, huh?

Adit: in response to questions - I have 'heaps' of projects on the go, but I'm afraid with the hand sewing project, because it is so time consuming, that if I stop I'll never start again. I'm trying to have some discipline (dirty word for me) and keep going with it til the bitter end. I have about 5 other quilts in various stages, not to mention the flimsies that need quilting!

Curtains

First, thanks to Tazzie for some help getting my Q4P link back - we had a talk on the phone and figured it out by nicking someone else's code and changing the number. First time I've talked to Tazzie; I have met Heavens to Bettsy.

It is hot as hell and humid here today. You must get sick of me going on about it, but it really is almost unbearable some days. I was woken at 3.30am by a storm, and now there is another one coming, so had better post and get off the computer.

I have been hiding in the aircon all day fiddling around, and finally starting the curtains this afternoon. I have lived here for 18 months with no curtains or blinds downstairs, but I've finally given in. I'm not too keen on curtains, but I had to do something. These 2 doors that you see are each 3m wide. The one on the left is my "front door", and the one on the right leads out onto the deck at the front of the house. As you can see I have grey glass, which is great for the glare. During the day no-one can see in, but at night 'everyone' can see in. All they see is me cooking or sitting in front of the TV, so I haven't worried too much about it.

However, the neighbours told me recently that the rather 'unsavoury' fellow that was renting across the road had been looking into everyone's houses at night with binoculars. That sealed it. I was looking at a great sliding panel system at Ikea, but because of the bulkhead above the front door which is covering a steel beam, it wouldn't work. So I have been to the dreaded Spotlight to buy curtain fabric - what a disappointment. In the end I bought 14m of dark blue cotton denim from the dress material section, and have started today.

They are nice and dark, and I think they will be fine. I just want something that will sit quietly in the corner during the day, but will block out the neighbours at night, and the morning sun that comes in. I have just made them up as I go along with some curtain ring tape along the top which I might gather just a little to stop the rings dipping down and showing. I will wash them tomorrow and hang them by the rings to dry so I don't get peg marks on them. Then I will hem them after a few days. They are going to run, so the excess dye will dye the white tape blue, which will be good.

Probably not the way the Curtain Police would do it, but too bad! I'll try and get the other two finished tomorrow, then back to Daniel's Quilt. The sewing machine needs a service badly - it is doing something tricky down in the bobbin housing which looks ominous...

Sunflowers

First thing - my Q4P link isn't working. My fault. Kim sent me the new code, I deleted the old code then realised that I didn't know my Ring number. Woops. I have emailed her but it is probably the middle of the night where she lives, or she is having a Sunday sleep-in.

Next, for those of you on the wrong side of the world who are not seeing much sunlight, here is a photo of some sunflowers I picked up at a farm stall yesterday. Aren't they beautiful?

Then a photo of a painting I bought today. It looks better in real life - the light is shining on it in the photo. There has been an art show here this weekend (Australia Day) and I bought it there. It was quite inexpensive, but I like it. Now I have to decide where to put it.

The cricket is on - I can just hear that someone got out.

Better get back to it. Australia is going pretty well against New Zealand (3nd favourite enemy after England and South Africa). The game is in Perth today and the temperature on the cricket ground is 41 deg C. Imagine that?

Daniel's Quilt

As you can see Daniel's Quilt is suddenly well under way. This afternoon I shut myself in the sewing/computer room, put on the aircon, and got into it. The 1st photo shows the top still in 3 parts. I just have to sew them together, put on a border and then put it together. All the fabric so far is from the stash.

I had a bit of stash anxiety this afternoon, as I suddenly realised that I didn't have anything for the border. I like the idea of a thin red inner border, then a wider outer border in the plain blue, which is a bit darker than how it has photographed with the flash. I was hoping to get it finished this week, so tomorrow when I am on the mainland I will try and get the fabric.

I'm going over with 2 of the other nurses that live over here to a big book sale that is held by the Salvos I think. Hoping for some sewing books, otherwise a few novels maybe. As I have 3/4 cleaned out my bookshelves downstairs lately, and culled a lot of books, this is probably pretty silly. I suppose I am mainly going for social reasons, as we will have lunch too. The only thing is I will be in someone else's car, so hopefully they will be OK with me stopping quickly at the fabric shop.

I have been a bit worried about the outcome of this quilt, as I thought the black and white 4 patches have got 'lost' a bit due to the bright colours. As Bonnie wrote on her website this quilt is all about contrast, and I think the bright colours are too bright. But then when I looked at the photo it seems a bit better.

Simon has been helping - well actually he has been snoring in the cool of the aircon, waking briefly to have his photo taken. Swampy is in the dog bed.

Short Post

It is so hot and humid here that I can hardly do anything! The temp was only 31 deg C today, but it is 21 overnight. It's the humidity that kills you. I woke up sweating this morning, and couldn't make a decision what to do. The dentist's receptionist made the decision for me by asking if I could fill a cancellation today instead of my appt on Wed.

I had a filling in a tooth that has been troubling me on and off for a while, and 7 hours later the Local is just about gone. I tried to have a drink of water about 2 hours ago and half of it ran off my chin! I have come in the house at 21.45, opened all the windows then brought the dogs and the laptop up to my room and turned the aircon on. What a relief - hang the expense.

Bought the batting for Daniel's quilt today, and I am going to Craft Group tomorrow, so must get on with the top.

Mum's visit wasn't too bad - small doses are more manageable. Someone asked if she does any craft. She does lots of different things, embroidery, garment sewing, crochet, goldwork, a few quilts and Ikebana.

No photos sorry. I'm enjoying all the snow and ice photos.

I just looked at the weather link and it is 80 deg F with 82% humidity and it is 10.30 pm

Flylady, Where are You?

My Mother is coming over tomorrow - oh why haven't I been a better FlyBaby? And what am I doing sitting on the computer reading blogs? Paper everywhere!!

The really bad news? Mum has had her cataract fixed...

Adit: all the better to see the dirt with

Can't Get Moving

I'm in some kind-of Post Christmas Slump, or something like that. I can't seem to get my act together. One minute I think I'm coming down with something, the next I think that I just need to get out more. Or work more. Or 'something'! Feeling unsettled and restless, can't sleep at night (only all day), and can't even seem to get any sewing done, except for (you guessed it) the blasted hexagons.

Here is a shot of the border I've decided to do - doesn't show up too well on the dark floor but I can't be bothered to redo it. Sorry. Now I need to decide about the outside edge. Do I do as someone suggested and applique it on to something, or put another row of hexagons around and slice off the edge to make it straight?

Going back to bed. Happy New Year!