Come Together

So how is everyone doing? I knew the day would come when I'd just want to stuff this thing into the trash and set fire to it. Well, that day was today. I've retreated out to the screened porch to write this, accompanied by my Isabella. She is happy to be sniffing the fresh air, and maybe it'll do me some good to be outside listening to the birds squawk and twitter as well.

So...deep breath...Care's post about assembling the rows scared the daylights out of me. Flip this, push this there, watch out for that... aaaaiiiiiiieeeeeeeee! I'm saying that about EVERY step, I know, but it's been true for every step! However, when I sat down with Care's instructions and just followed them step by step, it all worked out beautifully. The best part about this step? There are no corners to line up! At one point I did find myself questioning whether I'd been flipping blocks over when I shouldn't have, but a quick look at the picture of the layout assured me that I was okay. Then, of course, the whole thing had to be laid out for admiration once again! :-)

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Here's where the trouble started. Today was the day for sewing the rows together. Everything was ironed and ready, and I sat down to begin. Following Care's "fudging" directions, I tried my best to get those corners to match. And you know what? IT WORKED! When I opened the first two rows to see how I'd done, every single corner was either right on or very close!

And that's when I realized I'd sewn the wrong edges together.

I wish I'd taken a picture, just to drive home the point that you need to DOUBLE CHECK which edges you're sewing. Instead:
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DOUBLE CHECK WHICH EDGES YOU'RE SEWING!
DOUBLE CHECK WHICH EDGES YOU'RE SEWING!
DOUBLE CHECK!
DOUBLE CHECK!
D.O.U.B.L.E C.H.E.C.K!

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Now, you know how we didn't backstitch at all when we were sewing all those blocks together? That becomes a bit of problem when you are a nitwit and sew the wrong rows together and have to tear it all out. Uh huh. I wanted to cry. Instead, I took a bath and stayed in until I shriveled and then I started again.


And there it is! There's my quilt top (so far)! The corners even match up pretty well. But...

...what the HECK is going on here? When I sewed rows 1-2-3-4 onto rows 5-6-7, I ended up with this discrepancy. It's like this quilt has it out for me! The minute I start to feel good about how it's going, it throws something like this in my face! UGH!

Quilty Cat

There's a Flickr group for 1st Quilt Ever now! Check it out to see how other people are doing!

So, after hours of choosing fabrics and cutting squares and then sewing them all into blocks, it's time to slice them up. Eeek! Although Care tried to downplay the possibility of irreparable damage, I knew that this was one place I REALLY didn't want to screw up. What if I mis-measured or let the ruler slip when cutting one of these babies?

I'm not sure this actually helped at all, but I used sticky notes to mark some strategic spots on my cutting mat. Even so, I double triple quadruple quintuple checked before I made a cut.

Um, but one thing. Care, oh quilting mentor of mine? My squares? They weren't all that square. --frown-- I hope I did the right thing by trying as best I could to split the difference. I am getting a D in accuracy, I know!

As predicted, Isabella enjoyed the next part of the process. I was just starting to groove on laying out the squares when she sauntered in, flopped down, and farted--FARTED--on my quilt blocks! I left the room for a bit to let the air clear. Besides, once she's flopped, there's no moving her.

This is my final layout. The one thing that sort of bugs me is the proximity of those two acid green blocks. It will probably always nag at me, but I couldn't seem to find a better solution.

When it came time to stack up the rows of blocks, you-know-who showed up again to supervise. I worked around her as much as I could, then gently eased her off the two blocks on which she'd perched.

Ready to start sewing rows! Wave goodbye, Isabella!

Building Blocks

Let's see what I learned from Block Assembly, Part 2.

I learned why my sewing machine came with that table attachment thingy.

I learned that the world won't end if the corners don't match up exactly.

I learned that it's pretty exhilarating when the corners do match up exactly!

And I learned that I cannot resist setting all the blocks out to see how they look at each step of the process!

I Fall To Pieces

My quilting lessons with Care of Obsessively Stitching continue with a lesson in in block assembly. Do I sound nervous? Because I sure was! Previously, this is as far as I'd ever gotten with a quilt. I'd start to sew the pieces together, nothing would match up, and I'd get discouraged/throw a tantrum/take a break and never pick it up again. Take your pick.

First, a question before I even began. What color thread are you supposed to use when the blocks are all different colors? The predominant color? White? Doesn't matter? I thought of my mom, who uses a beige thread with many different colors when she's making doll clothes. There's one particular shade she likes, because it blends in well. I figured I'd be safe using a neutral, but a cool neutral to go with my purples and pinks, so I used a light grey. I already had a nice, fat bobbin wound, too, which might have influenced my decision a tiny bit.

The first "ah ha" moment in the piecing tutorial came when I read these words: "Begin sewing again with your fabric right in front of your presser foot. The feed dogs will draw your squares under the presser foot and you can continue sewing." I don't have to raise and lower the foot every time? Revolutionary! Why didn't anyone ever tell me that before?

Oh, the shame. Despite my best efforts, a few of my blocks were just not coming out perfectly. I emailed Care to ask if this was going to be a problem. Thank GOODNESS she said no, I would be able to fudge it. I was blaming myself, figuring I screwed up when I was cutting, but she said, no, this sometimes happens due to...well, it's a long explanation. Maybe she'll chime in with the explanation or maybe not. I was just happy to hear that I am not as inept as I'd feared, and I wouldn't have to do it over!

Party time! This makes me want to sew one of those buntings you see EVERYWHERE on the blogs.

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Boy howdy, did I feel a ridiculous sense of excitement when I started to see the fabrics and patterns coming together. I'm not always so good at doing things randomly, but sewing these strips and then making the blocks of nine wasn't a problem. I think the key here is, as Care said, loving all the fabrics you choose. I kept catching myself thinking things like, "Oh, yeah, that neat blue!" or "This zebra will really look punchy!" Seeing them start to combine and play off against each other was just so much fun!

And there's my pile, waiting for Block Assembly, Part Two. Will my luck hold out? What will happen when I have so many corners to line up? Will I crumble under the pressure? Come back soon for the next installment of First! Quilt! Ever!

Fully Interlocking

Just a little interlude from the 1QE (First Quilt Ever if you aren't following along!).

If there was any question of my being a nerd, this should remove all doubt! Yes, in addition to loving to read and sew my own clothes, I enjoy jigsaw puzzles. Jigsaws were out of the question for a few years, because Isabella would jump on the table and methodically push each and every piece off the edge, but now that she isn't jumping, I can indulge in this dorky past-time once again.

During my first puzzle heyday, I had a special affinity for Charles Wysocki designs, but now I'm drawn to the unnatural colors and hokey scenes of vintage puzzles.

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Anyone else like jigsaw puzzles? It's not something I've seen on a blog yet. Maybe we can give them some blog cred!

The First Cut is the Deepest

I am compelled to clean the house by very few things. Impending guests is one of them. Apparently, fear of cutting my quilt blocks is another. Yesterday, after many loads of laundry, dusting, vacuuming, and rearranging my husband's sock drawer (really!) I could avoid it no longer. It was time to cut.

As Care suggested, I set myself up at a table where I had access to three sides of the cutting mat. The only table in the house big enough to hold this gargantuan mat is my sewing table. Piles of fabric and bags of trim seem to grow up around the table like barnacles, so I didn't clear the space so much as I excavated it. But here's the thing: Care is right. You do want to be able to get to three sides of the mat. Some cuts are more comfortable from the front; others are easier to do from the sides. Oh, and the huge mat? Lovely.

Things proceeded rather smoothly. I set up the laptop with Care's tutorial and followed along. I felt reassured having here there on top of my washing machine!

Questions for Care: You say not to iron the fold. Why is that? On some of the pieces, the fold was sort of "loose" (for lack of a better word) which made lining it up on the mat sort of difficult. Will terrible things befall me if I iron the fold?

Also, is it okay that I ended up with a little of the selvedge on one of my blocks? Will it be hidden in a seam anyway?

Here's another surprise I found: Ugly marker marking scrawled on the reverse side of one of my fabrics. Will we be using every single block we cut? Because this shows through on the other side. If I can't get it out, I will have to buy a little more fabric.

I'd give the girl who cut my fabrics at Jo-Ann's a B-. For the most part, I was able to squeeze the cuts I needed out of the pieces, but a few were VERY close, and the zebra print was short.

I made a bad cut myself. Towards the end, I got cocky and ignored Care's instructions. I wasn't cutting away from my body, and I didn't have the ruler pinned down with my forearm, and I made a bad cut. Lesson learned: LISTEN TO CARE!

Eeee! Look how cute! You may notice I didn't not get hung up on making sure the pattern of my muse fabric was straight. Will I regret that? Should I redo it, or will it all blend in once we have it sewn together and chopped up and sewn back together?

And finally...these were the last two fabrics picked! I can't believe how many of you guessed! Why did you pick these? OMG, they don't go, do they? Do I need to pick different ones? I'm just kidding, I'm happy with them. :) I did a random drawing of the names who guessed correctly, and the winner is...2WeeMonsters! Send me your address, 2Wee, and I'll ship a little something off soon. :)

Quilt Angst and a Giveaway!

The array of fabrics above represents almost two hours of choosing, so if you don't like them, please refrain from commenting or I may become violent. Thank you. :)

I'm sure we have a fabric shop around here somewhere, with lovely fabric collections for quilting, but I'm impatient and cheap, so I went to Jo-Ann's, where the cottons were all 40% off. What I saved in money, I spent in time. In spades.

Oh, but have I mentioned that my new work location is about two minutes away from Jo-Ann's? I can drive from the front of the building to the parking lot of Jo-Ann's without even making a turn. Handy, that.
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So, my grand plan was to find one fabric I really liked, and then play off of it to pick the others. I went marching in there with Care's words playing in my head: "You really can't go wrong here--just pick fabrics you love!" Oh, I was so confident! And then...oh boy...trouble.

First I found a floral with a retro flavor in hot pink, yellow, black, and grey. I pulled out some polka dots in pink, an abstract print in grey...and then I started to struggle. None of the yellows seemed right except for another dotty design, and it was starting to look like too much. Then, suddenly, the whole thing just started screaming EIGHTIES FLASHBACK at me, so I walked away.
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My next attempt was a Cath Kidston inspired palette of red and sky blue. I was up to about six fabrics before I realized it was looking more patriotic than Kidston-esque. Scrap that.

Well, okay, I love red. What if I keep the red and ditch the blue and see where that goes. After much pulling and discarding, the pile ended up being red, white, grey, and black. It was the closest to complete, but then I got nervous about it looking like a quilt for a Chicago Bulls fan. Sigh.

I so wish I had taken my camera along for this! That place looked like a hotel room after Guns 'n Roses got done with it!

Finally, FINALLY, due to divine intervention (or an untied shoe), I spied this almost Liberty-like print tossed on one of the bottom shelves. --cue the chorus of angels-- I had found my muse! The next five fabrics practically flew off the shelves to join the pile. The next two? A little more difficult. And then, inevitably, I got stuck. Anyone want to guess which were the last two fabrics to get picked? If you do, I'll send you a little prize.

In other news, after a frustrating search on the internet for either a local Bernina dealer or a website selling attachments for my particular machine, I decided to email one of the internet parts stores for some answers. As I was composing my email, I started to type "Activa 230, Patchwork Edition" when it hit me: I have a machine that's for making quilts. I took another look at the attachments that came with it and look at what I found! Boy, do I feel like a numbskull.

So I guess I'm ready to start cutting. I feel faint. Be sure to skip on over to Care's to see how easy she make it all look. She needs her own show.

Meet Care! (And my new mat!)

My turn! Care at Obsessively Stitching did a little Q&A with me, now let's find out some more about her!

Susan: When did you start sewing?

Care: I must have been about five years old. My mom sews. Her mom sewed. HER mom sewed...and so on. I guess I come from a pretty long line of sewists! Anyway, my mom sewed every chance she got (still does!), and I was very quick to catch the bug!

[This seems to be a theme, no? I guess when you grow up digging through bins of fabric and button tins, it's bound to rub off!]

S: What kind of machine do you use?

C: I sew on a Bernina Activa 135S. Before that I had a 30+ year old blue Canadian something-or-other --all metal-- and it weighed a TON! The poor thing's metal foot pedal would get smokin' hot the way I cranked things out on it! On our first wedding anniversary, my husband's grandfather offered to give us some money to purchase a piece of furniture. My sweet husband wanted to get me a new sewing machine instead, so he talked it over with grandpa (and got grandma to put in a good word), and grandpa finally agreed. I tell you, my sewing machine has been far, FAR more valuable than any piece of furniture ever could have been!

S: Do you have any other hobbies or interests?

C: What IS there besides sewing? :o) Sewing is my love and my obsession. Between sewing and my family, there is little time for anything else!

S: How do you feel about Elvis Costello?
C: If I were born Declan Patrick MacManus, I would probably change my name, too.

[But what would you change it TO, Care?]

S: What do you do with all the quilts you make?
C: I keep many of them, but I'd have to say I give more away than I keep. I like to make a quilt for each baby born in the family (on both sides), and for anyone I know who needs one -- whether for cheering them up, wishing them get well, or whatever. Sometimes you just know when somebody needs a quilt!

S: Where do you find the time to do everything?
C: Sewing is a priority, so it happens. Sometimes I sew late into the night. If I don't have a lot of time, I make quick little things to get my fix. I do what I can with whatever time I have -- and sometimes it is very little time!

S: Are quilts your favorite thing to make?

C: Hmm...I'd have to say yes! It's certainly the thing I make the most of. What can I say? There is just something about cutting fabric into little pieces and sewing it all back together!

[Are you really good at jigsaw puzzles?]

S: Have you ever sewn any clothing for yourself?

C: Yes, but not much at all -- partly because it's not at the top of the priority list, and partly because I am just not that confident in my clothing-sewing skills. It's something I strive to work on, but currently time is at a premium. I hope to sew more clothing for me in the future!

[I can help if you have any questions about skirts!]

And now, how do you like that new self-healing mat? (No Q&A with the mat, sorry!)

I took everyone's advice and went for the 24 by 36 inch mat. WOW is that thing BIG! I took one look at it and decided I was not going to carry that thing around the store, so I shopped and shopped and then almost forgot to buy it in the end. The cashier told me my total and I shrieked, "Wait! I forgot something!" and dashed off to grab the mat. Can I just tell you...it isn't easy to run while carrying a SAIL! I decided to go with the Fiskars mat because it's two-sided. Don't love the color, but it'll do.

Now about that cat....

The Gathering Begins

Care is not one to procrastinate! My first quilting lesson is already up at her blog, and the topic is basic supplies.

Buying supplies is something I can do. I have a whole roomful of crafty things to prove it!



Going over the list, some are things I already have, some I won't need until later, and some I should probably pick up soon. Especially since the current Jo-Ann's ad looks like this:

That's right, folks! If you need any of this stuff, now's the time to buy it. Is our timing excellent or what? I do have a cutting mat and 6 x 24 inch ruler, but I think I should upgrade. My mat is pretty small, and the ruler, well, my husband thinks I'm saying this to absolve myself of inaccuracy, but I think my ruler is not as straight as it could be. Do these things wear out? Because I've had it for about 18 years. In any event, it's all scuffy and sometimes the mark I need is so faint as to almost be invisible, so I don't think I'm being too extravagant if I buy myself a new ruler.

But about that cutting mat...Care recommends a 24 by 36 inch mat. That is going to run about $22.50 after the discount. The next size down, 18 by 24 is about $11. Now, if I am using a 24 inch ruler, that would mean I'm going to be making 24 inch cuts, max, right? Can I get by with the smaller mat, or does the larger one really REALLY make life easier for an additional eleven dollars? Anyone? Also, is any one brand better than the others? I know they carry mats made by Olfa, Fiskars, and Gingher (and maybe more). My oldie is an Olfa, but it was a garage sale find, so I took what I could get.

Rotary cutter (with new blade), check! Iron, check! Ironing board, check!

I have to look into these feetsies for my machine. Perhaps I should start by locating my instruction booklet? I see there are a few questions about presser feet in Care's comments already. How DO you know if a particular foot will work with your machine? Where's the best place to buy these? Is it any wonder I've never made a quilt before? :)

Jo-Ann's, here I come!

Hold Me To It

If you don't already follow Care at Obsessively Stitching, you are missing out! Oh, where to begin? There are the dollar store crafts (my favorite is what she did with pool noodles), adorable finger puppets (the 3 little pigs are too cute), refashions for both people and dolls (and cats!), and, last but not least, QUILTS!

But I don't make quilts. And during her latest I-Spy Swap I started to feel left out. All those cute fabrics! All those fun quilts waiting to be made! And here I am, planning to sew another...skirt. I got in touch with Care, and asked if maybe, just maybe, she would be willing to help me make my first quilt ever. She makes it look so easy, and I know she writes awesome tutorials--if anyone can talk me through this, she can.

And guess what? She said YES! She even made a logo! (And she has kids. Where does she find the time? I might hate her.)

I am so excited! My First! Quilt! EVAH! And I get to do it with Care! No excuses, no turning back. If I screw up, I can't just wad it up and shove it in a closet. I am going to come out of this with a quilt. My first quilt. My first quilt!

Now I'll be honest: this could be sort of a mess. I'm guessing there is a certain degree of precision required in quilt making, and I generally belong to the "close enough" school of thought.

This skirt is the biggest patchwork project I've ever done, and I was having some major issues with lining up corners. Not such a big problem when you're chopping up the patchwork anyway, but that could be an issue when I'm trying to make something rectangular!

Oh, Care, you can still back out. I'll understand. If not, sleeves up! I'm ready to go!

Big Red Bowl

Okay, the read-a-thon is at its mid-point. I have to admit, I'm doing terribly. This wasn't the best of days, so I spent a few hours crying on my husband's shoulder instead of reading. But I'm not giving up! I got out all my frustrations at the gym, and I am now armed with the big red bowl of popcorn (for dinner!).

This is the midway meme from the book-a-thon site:

1. What are you reading right now? STILL the same book! I am very close to finishing, though.

2. How many books have you read so far? Um...see above.

3. What book are you looking forward to for the second half of the read-a-thon? I think I need something light and fluffy, so I'm going to go for Sweater Quest next.


4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? It wasn't possible. I had to work.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Not interruptions, exactly. It was a very emotional day at work, though, and it gave me a headache. It went away at the gym.


6. What suprises you most about the read-a-thon so far? The complexity of some of the mini-challenges!


7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the read-a-thon next year? Not yet.


8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Hope it falls on a day I don't have to work and try harder not to get sucked into visiting other blogs.


9. Are you getting tired yet? I'm just starting!



10. Do you have any tips for other Readers of Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Nothing that I can think of...I think a lot of us are used to reading for hours and hours!

Reading Yet?

It's starting! Hour One of the read-a-thon has arrived! To get us started, there is a little meme.

Where are you reading from today? Bucks County, PA.

3 facts about me:

1. I work at the library.

2. I am a lifelong vegetarian.

3. I have licked my cat.

(Random enough?)

How many books do you have in your to-be-read pile for the next 24 hours? There are five in the pile, but I doubt I'll read more than three. And there are probably more books waiting for me at the library!

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon? I'd like to see my endeavor raise some money for this classroom so the kids will have fun, comfortable beanbags to lounge in while they read. On a personal level, I hope this will help cheer me up, as this is my last day working at the library where I've been for the past six years.

Countdown to Read-a-Thon

Here's what I have lined up for tomorrow's read-a-thon! I've already started Music in the Hills, so that will be my companion in the morning hours. Then I can't wait to start The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag. It's been tempting me all week, but I've been saving it!

Book Pile

The 24 Hour Read-a-Thon is TOMORROW! Looking for something to read?

The Body in the Belfry by Katherine Hall Page: I'm still searching for a series to take up when I've finished all the Rhys Bowen mysteries, and someone suggested I try the Faith Fairchild series. It was okay, but very dated.

Do Not Disturb by Kate Kingsbury: A library patron suggested I try the Pennyfoot Hotel series. (Go here for a cute story about how the series was named.) The books get mixed reviews at Amazon, but I liked it. I don't know if it was historically accurate or not, but I'm not using it for dissertation research, so I don't really care!

Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian: I am a fan of Chris Bohjalian, and I did like the book, but it seemed a little lazy to me. If you're a fan of Jodi Picoult, it is very much in that vein.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout: Okay, how embarrassing is this: A patron comes to my desk at the library and asks for this book. I look it up and find it's checked out everywhere. "Oh," I muse, "is this a book discussion title or something?" Dummy me didn't know it had won the Pulitzer Price for fiction.

I found it a little complicated and had to reread a few parts to fit it all together, but it's worth it. Something about it reminded me of The Hours.

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf: I have to admit, it held my interest despite being very contrived. If you're good at suspending disbelief, you might like it.

Pink Slip Party by Cara Lockwood: This was definitely the biggest question mark on my pile of books. It looked so pink and bubblegummy and romancey. Why did I bring it home? Surprise! It turned out to be one of my favorites! Yes, it's screwy and over the top and very chick-litious, but Lockwood is funny. But what's with these new demon books, Cara? I've been steering clear of all the vampire/paranormal books. Am I going to have to revise my policy?

Live a Little: Breaking the Rules Won't Break Your Health by Susan M. Love and Alice D. Domar: "Eat a Brownie! Blow off your run!" The basic message of this book is that you can be "Pretty Healthy" without being fanatical. It's a good message, but it loses its punch after the first few repetitions.

Vittoria Cottage by D.E. Stevenson: Ah, my monthly dose of Stevenson. Have I piqued anyone's interest in these old fashioned books yet?

Tainted by Brooke Morgan: Man, I certainly went heavy on the suspense this time around! I almost abandoned this one after the first fifty pages. It starts out very syrupy with a too-good-to-be-true romance, but it gets better when it turns dark.

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Breaking the Silence by Diane Chamberlain: I should have known better than to read another book about a selectively mute child so soon after The Weight of Silence. Of the two, this one was less satisfying. Read like a plumped up romance novel.

Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti: Loved loved loved it. A librarian and a cow farmer meet at a graveyard and fall into a relationship. Admit it: You know you're curious!

Finished Five

I have fulfilled my pledge! Five skirts have been snatched from the jaws of the refashioning pile to start new lives as valued members of my wardrobe! I finished the hem of the pink of the grey skirt yesterday while visiting with my mom. I should invite her down whenever I have skirts to hem, because having her here to talk to made it a little less tedious. (I should confess--I wouldn't have objected if she had offered to sew the hem.)

The fifth skirt I worked on this week was this embellished khaki skirt from Target. When I bought it at the thrift shop, it was a wrinkled mess, just like the picture. I figured it just needed a good ironing, and it would be good to go. Wrong. The front pleat defied ironing. I think I wore it one time, then decided it wasn't worth the trouble. Since then, I've noticed this same skirt on the rack of many a thrift shop, so my theory is that everyone had the same experience. It's just a pain in the tush, this skirt!

My solution was to sew that front pleat closed. I lined up those stripes, zipped in a seam, and fixed the hem back up. If I turn the whole thing around and wear the seam in the back, it looks like it was meant to be!

Reading Is Cool

Hey, book lovers, have you ever heard of this?

An excuse to do nothing but read for 24 hours? And share about books with others? Sign me up!
(Full disclosure: I have to work for a few hours that day, but reading for less than 24 hours is allowed.)

You can read about the project at this site.

It isn't required, but I decided to try to raise some money while I'm at it. I found a worthy, reading-related project at donorschoose.org and started it off with a small donation.

Here is a page about the project I am supporting. It's a teacher who would like to raise about $250 to buy beanbag chairs for her students to lounge in while they read. We all know that reading is best done while lounging! I chose this project because the school is located near where I grew up, and because I remember how much I loved the squishy chairs in our school library. There was also a giant chair shaped like a baseball mitt at the public library, and no visit was complete without visiting that chair!

If you'd like to join me in supporting this project, just visit the project page to make a donation. You can choose any amount--every little helps!