Good morning, my friends. It's January's last gasp today. Tomorrow is the reveal for the challenge quilt I've teased you with. Are you ready?
My post is written and I'm ready to go. Yesterday saw me sidetracked by the Bernie's Mittens project. I was supposed to work on the Purrfectly Pieced quilt, but you know...the best laid plans, and all that.
Mike and Erik are getting together this week to work on a project, and I really wanted to finish it off. When I saw it lying on Eliza's table, I decided to go ahead and finish it on the "big machine." Big Bertha hasn't come back yet, and I don't like quilting on Pfelicity. Pfelicity has a very strange free motion foot that I have to figure out every time I use it. It seemed easier to wait for Big Bertha to come home...except she's still not home. Maybe today. In any case, the show must go on, and so I went to work on Bernie.
He was already sandwiched for quilting. Originally, I had in mind to stitch all around the edges of the embroidery. Since I don't have as much control and accuracy with Eliza, I decided instead to do a hooking meander all around. Then, I quilted one straight line just outside the lavender border. It's a small piece at 15 x 12 inches, and so that was enough quilting to hold it.
From there, I squared it up for binding.
Sadie was sorry she showed up late to the show. She was going to help hold my ruler. Next time, Baby.
I had some long strips of backing fabric left over from the Wind in the Whiskers quilt, and those made a good binding for Bernie.
Since Erik has spoken for this one, I wanted to add a label to it. I had some "I love you" labels that I've used before. I used one on the Dream Big quilt that Matthew requested.
It must have been my last one, because I couldn't find any more. In my searching, I found a box of different iron-on labels, and this one happened to be just perfect. Being iron-on was a nice bonus.
Then, I went to work hand-stitching. By day's end, it was finished.
Bernie's Mittens is my seventh finish in January. Admittedly, six out of the seven quilts finished in January have been small wall-hangings. With apologies to Dr. Seuss, a quilt's a quilt no matter how small.
The only other sewing I did yesterday was to spend quite a bit of time on the Sewing Day stitchery.
I really want to finish this off today since the "Stitched Inchies" start tomorrow. There is still quite a bit to do, but I think I can get 'er done. I'll get started on that right after breakfast.
Also today, I'm really, really, really, really going to get started on the final section for the Purrfectly Pieced quilt. I think I've procrastinated long enough that Big Bertha should be home when I'm ready to do the top-stitching. Don't you just hate this waiting and not knowing about something like that? And I'm especially perturbed at how long it's taking. It's been nearly three weeks, and she was promised in two. Sigh. Patience, Grasshopper. This too shall pass.
10 comments:
Yes, we become stronger when men and women, young and old, gay and straight, native-born and immigrant fight together to create the kind of country we all know we can become. ~ Bernie Sanders
Your work is just beautiful Barbara. I also use the phrase "patience Grasshopper". I think Dr. Suess would agree, a quilt is a quilt no matter how small.
Very nice quilt!
Loving how Bernie turned out--what a great piece!! I like the hook meander quilting...I just cannot get the hang of free motion so the most I can do is wavey lines...Love the label--great that they are iron on...Looking forward to your big reveal;))) hugs, Julierose
I never want to be without my sewing machine, so I try to take it in when I know I am going to be traveling. However, this last time I took it in the Tuesday before Christmas, and it was ready a week later! And yes, seven finished quilts are seven finished quilts, doesn't matter what the size! Way to go!
You are starting off 2023 with a bang, seven finishes!
Bernie looks really good, a great finish. I have only one finish this month but that's really good for me so I'm celebrating. OK so it was only the stitching and not the completed quilt but it's a finish. I am in awe of what you have achieved this month and the size is irrelevant.
Great Bernie finish. The quilting makes it look like cold wind swirling around him.
I have a stack of those PS I love you labels-- I need to remember to stitch them into the binding of their quilts ( which are only in my head at the moment!!) I started sewing them in the back of their dresses when their daddy would put them on backwards! Apparently all dresses are supposed to button down the back!!
Bernie turned out great - bet he'd be pleased with it too.
Love the little labels and I must see if I can get some. I'd love to add them to some of my projects.
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