Threading the Way

This morning it was time to get a new stitchery ready to go. I'm still working on Frederick's block for the Live, Love, Teach quilt, but I should have it finished by tomorrow. That meant I was ready to start a new embroidery project: the "Written in Thread" wall hanging by Bareroots Designs. (I've linked to the designer's website there, but weirdly, it isn't "clickable". If you like this pattern, just do a search for it. It is for sale on many websites on the internet.) I saw this for the first time when I visited the Pendleton Quiltworks quilt shop in Pendleton, Oregon. I took a picture of the completed quilt they had on display.

Sadly, they didn't have it in stock. Nevertheless, they offered to take my name and number, order it, and then ship it to me when it came in. I did just that, but had no expectation of ever hearing from them again. The skeptic in me was won over when they actually did call just a couple of days later, and the pattern was mine, Mine, MINE! Not that I get excited about stuff like that, you understand. Ahem.

So it's finally made it to the top of my to-do list, and I drew out the first two little stitcheries this morning:

There are 11 stitcheries in this little quilt, and I'll do them in groups, depending on how large they are. 

After that, I was ready to get to work on my next quilting project, the Dream Machines quilt. This poor little much-maligned (by me) quilt just might get a second wind if I can do some decent quilting on it. 

It was my quilt for the 2014 Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I liked making the blocks, but I'm not happy with the fabrics I chose to finish it. Still, it deserves to be quilted, and a dear friend has spoken up for it. It will definitely go to a good home when it's all finished. Every quilt deserves to be loved, right? And if you like this pattern, it is the brain child of Barbara Weiland Talbert and available free on the internet right here.

So each machine has two buttons on the side, and I wanted to first quilt a little "control panel" where I'll sew them on when the quilting is all finished. I used my circle template to choose the right size circle. In this case, it happens to be the 7/8-inch circle.

Then, I used my Bohin marker (which happens to be my favorite marker) to draw in the lines where I hoped my stitches would go.

First, I stippled in the center,

And then quilted some lines on the sewing machine. I might decide to add some "scroll work" to those large rectangles at the top and bottom. For now, this is all I have.

Also, I outlined around the sewing machine to help define it on the back. I won't sew the buttons on until after it's quilted, but here's how it will look. There are different color buttons for each machine.

Then, I used some metallic silver thread to stitch a needle onto the sewing machine.

As long as I had the machine threaded with the metallic thread, I went ahead and stitched the needles on all 12 blocks. Now, I'm done with the metallic thread, and not a stitch too soon.

Next, I quilted some thread onto the spool of thread. It curls and whirls all the way across the machine, down through the needle and across the bottom. Each block has a different color of thread and so I'll be changing colors for that part as I go. 

If the thread on your spool looks like this, don't sew with it! (Important safety tip.)

It's a rainy day, and so I'm protected on both sides of the machine by my furry sentinels.

Not looking very lively, are they? Still, I feel so much safer knowing I have two attack cats by my side.

I've been doing some cooking in all of this. We're having a dinner of appetizers tonight. So far, I've made some baba ghanoush from the eggplant out of this week's CSA share, and I'm going to blister some yummy peppers...also a part of this week's share. I've baked some potatoes to make some potato skins, and I've roasted some mushrooms for some little Roasted Mushroom and Kale Pizzettes. (Yes, kale.) I made those on Super Bowl Sunday and Mike liked them.

It's one of the few ways I've found that he'll eat the kale without complaint. They're pretty good. You can find the recipe right here.

So, I have my work cut out for me. It's raining, and I can't think of a better way to spend a rainy day. What's cooking at your end?