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...

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.