Don't Date Your Quilt

There are a number of queues we quilters take to identify the time period a quilt was 'born'. I won't get into all of them, but a few obvious clues are the fabrics used within the top, and, yep, how the quilt was quilted. 

I can pick out a pre-1980's quilt, a 1980-2000 quilt and something beyond 2000 usually just based on the quilting. And, the quilting can date your 2020's quilt into something more like 1980. Stippling is one of those motifs that, when used as a large all over motif by itself, can date your quilt back to the 80's.

Conversely, if stippling is used on a smaller scale in combination with other motifs, it pushes up the date of the quilt considerably. That was today's lesson.

I bet Ila is dying to know whether her quilt is done. Nope. Too many dumb distractions yesterday. That's the bad news. BUT, all the blocks are done and all that's left to work on Monday are seven sashing strips and the side/bottom border.

More good news is that I did get The Produce Section hung. 

The Produce Section pattern by Elizabeth Hartman

I worked well past quitting time to try to get done, but I knew, after finishing the last block, it was going to be another couple of hours so I made the decision to take some time for me.

I did a fireworks block (which was actually five blocks as it was the center section) and then I fired up DW to get the machine oiled, needle changed, bobbin wound, thread set up, basting in, and ditching. I'm ditched as far as I can go in the current space and today I'm hoping to be able to start the 99 strips in 99 days quilt-along. 

But first we head to the store in very cold temps. The neighbor down the road said there were people in the ditch and rollovers all along M30 and M61 yesterday. Hopefully the roads are a little better this morning. 

Why Do I Keep Losing Days?

I figured with Jim home every day I'd have an easier time keeping track of what day it was. I thought Wednesday was Tuesday and Thursday was Wednesday. Today is Friday already? UGH!

Blocks 11-15 are complete on Ila's quilt. No pics though. I'll be tackling 16-20 today but I have a few interruptions to deal with so that may be a pretty high goal. I have two customers coming to pick up (if they decide to venture out post impromptu winter storm from yesterday/last night), and we have the Spectrum guy coming to switch us over. All, first thing this morning. 

After working yesterday the weekly state block came through. Arizona.

It was supposed to be done in soft pinks and olives but this is what I had in the fat quarter bundle. I may need to pick up another one because I'm afraid I'm going to run out of these fabrics at this rate.

I pieced a Fireworks block and then I moved over to Mike to work on the binding on the Produce Section. It's done! I really want to hang it today, but that remains to be seen whether I have to deal with customers or the Spectrum guy (who is here now btw). 

Looks Simple Enough

This is the sashing I'm putting into Ila's quilt per her request...

The sashing

It seems simple enough, right? This is all the markings and leg work that need to occur to get that 'simple' sashing motif into the quilt...

Getting the sashing in

The center point needed to be found. Then a measurement between blocks divided by the number of curves required for each curve has to be calculated. And they aren't always the same. Most of them are measuring at 2 7/8". Then, while quilting them, I have to be sure to hit that exact point where they intersect otherwise it throws off the whole motif. 

And, that's part of my job. Math. Speaking of math. Jim was babysitting DW again while he was stitching out this motif on the princess quilt for Sharon...

I like to overstitch motifs on E2E's so there isn't any negative space on the sides or the top/bottom. More math involved to ensure the motif isn't distorted or skewed. Once that princess quilt was finished, Jim started loading DW with the backing for my quilt-along that started on February 1st. Obviously I'm late getting to the party. 

I have never (ever, ever, ever) had two duplicate backs on the three frames, and here we are, loading a duplicate back to the one being frame ironed on Bernie for a customer...

I have pics of the blocks I worked yesterday in Ila's quilt, but won't post them today since I've already spent enough time blogging this morning. I worked late again getting blocks 11-15 completed before shutting down; around 6:15. 

I did get a fireworks blocks done last night and got the two tops on Bernie and DW set and ready to start basting in. I'll be working Ila's quilt today (blocks 12-16) and one customer is scheduled to come and pick up. I don't know if she'll actually make it since it's snowing pretty good out there and we are expecting an all day event so we'll see about that. 

Thank Goodness Goals Are Written in Sand

Every morning, while blogging, I set goals for myself for the day. After blogging and starting the day, I adjust the goals to conform to how the morning is starting out shifting my previous mornings' goals. 

Thank goodness. I had every intention of getting the first row done in Ila's quilt, but at 6:15 last night, my eyes were becoming very blurry, I was feeling fatigued, and it my body was telling me it was time to shut Marty off.  

Here's what occurred yesterday in her quilt...

Border and Block 3

Block 2

Block 1

Sashing

I was also sidetracked with frame ironing the next quilt being loaded onto Bernie, getting Jim set up to start the Pro Stitcher today on Sharon's second quilt for her granddaughters, and answering phone calls. 

Here's what Jim will be working on today...

Sharon's Princess Quilt

Hopefully he'll have very little trouble with this and we can have a calm and incident-free day to work. I did get one Fireworks block done before shutting down completely for the evening, but that was a struggle. Wow, was I tired! 

Three, Three, Three Quilts in One

I worked on three customer quilts yesterday. First, Sharon's quilt had to be set up on DW for E2E work with the Pro Stitcher. 

Babysitting the computer

Here's the motif going into Sharon's I Spy quilt...

Flutterbys

Once I got everything all set for Jim to sit and babysit, I moved over to Judy's quilt on Marty. I didn't think I would be spending all day on her quilt since I only had borders, sashing and ditching to do. But, quilting life throws curve balls and that's exactly what happened. All. Day. Long I was working on that quilt!

My goal was to get Ila's quilt moved over to Marty before shutting down for the day, so working 'overtime' was in the cards last night. 

At around 6:00 her quilt was moved, loaded, basted in, and threads are selected ready for me to start right in this morning. 

Next up on Marty

And why I'm working on Marty, I'll be frame ironing the back for Sharon's next Princess quilt on DW and whatever is up next on Bernie. The one on DW has been started, but then this happened with the last roll last night...

Can you see it?

The center of this backing is dipping down while the insides are fine. The back is as tight as possible on all four sides. Jim is still learning and he's the one that loaded this back with the selvedges on the side rather than the top and bottom. I'm going to have to remove it and turn it 90 degrees. From there it will have to be back and front rolled to try to get this to even itself out. 

An inexperienced long armer would have no idea how to remedy this, and I've only ever seen it one other time, but I know, from watching and learning from other long armers how to deal with this situation.

Meanwhile, Jim is running into town this morning for more tax stuff and other miscellaneous errands so will work on his E2E quilt later this afternoon AFTER I get the backing situation taken care of. Maybe. 

UGH...Technology. Geesh!

For some reason blogger is defaulting to their menu of selecting other bloggers to follow. And, despite my deleting old blog accounts, keeps defaulting to a deleted account I've already gotten rid of. 

I hope this isn't a precursor of what's to come in technology because I have to fire up the Pro Stitcher today to get those two E2E's done. Sometimes the long arm computer (PS) can be a finicky thing as well. 

We are on the last frame iron section and then we can get those loaded and queued up for Jim to babysit. 

I, on the other hand, once the PS is starting to do its thing, will be over on Marty trying to finish the quilt for Judy. We are going to move Ila's quilt over to Marty after I get Judy's off. It's too big to handle on Bernie. It's amazing what a two foot frame difference makes.

I did one Fireworks block yesterday. 

I did get the Produce Section off DW (clearly) and trimmed. We searched everywhere for the binding I know I've already made for it but could not find meaning more had to be made. Maybe tonight I'll tackle that? 

Ready for sewing on

I was summoned to jury duty all this month, but when I called this morning I had been excused so that was dodging a bullet. I don't have time for that. Weather report today says mostly cloudy with no precipitation. It's been snowing since I got up. 

Blogger is Being Difficult Lately

It's having trouble importing my pics, it wants me to follow other blogs (like I have time to read any more than my own), or it wants me to change my profile information. WTH? 

Checking on other blog platforms has been done in the past and finding nothing as easy to use as Blogger seems to be the result. But lately, with all the advances in AI and technology, they are becoming very code heavy and are harder to use. Which, to me, sounds counterintuitive. 

Yesterday was like a regular work day but doing my own quilting rather than customer work. Do you ever wonder how I get the channeling around the piece work in the quilt?

Chalking my perimeters

On a positive note. The Produce Section is quilted! I love this part of the quilting process...

Getting ready to remove

I have to check the backing to trim any stray bobbin threads that didn't get pulled up during tie-off. Occasionally there will be a few hanging around. 

I rummaged around to find the binding for this and it's not where I thought it was. Jim moved my queue totes to under DW (you can see them in the pic above), and he thinks he saw the binding in there. Or, I have fabric left over to make more if necessary. It may or may not get attached today.

I'm looking forward to snuggle Sunday with the girls and I have a scarf I've been working on (knit-wise) and hope to relax and work on that all afternoon.