Trippin' Blues

Right off the batt (pun intended) I have to give credit to crazy mom quilts for inspiring me to do this top.  I saw a lot of versions of this design, but hers was so yummy-delicious, I just had to give it a go myself.

Well, it was a LOT OF seams, including plenty of twisted ones joining the blocks together, but I've (almost) finished my Scrappy Tripalong quilt top.

single blocks sewn into units of 4 where possible...42 blocks

I didn't realize how long this craze has been around,(the post I linked to was put up in 2005, and the tutorial was a repeat from 1999 !) so I guess I wasn't 'in early' like I thought, but I'm sure glad that I got wind of it at all.

Just in time, a sunny day for picture-taking...mind the wind !

I haven't pieced anything with this many pieces in a very long time, and it was good for me, but I am SO VERY TIRED !  I just kept plodding after it the last few days until it was done.

But looking at it on my bed, (and LOVING IT) I can see that I indeed do need to add borders to the length of this top.

Lottie snubbed me this morning when I woke up....she had been banished from the room yesterday while I assembled all of the single blocks into bigger units.

The sides really don't need anything more, so I may just go with top and bottom borders.  I definitely WON'T be piecing 6 more blocks to add to it !

I'm also thinking of using a polyester light batting, like I did in my Blushing Bloomers quilt.  That is the best feeling quilt to sleep under !   I started out quilting with polyester batts, then switched to cotton ones for a more traditional wrinkle and look.   But I'm back to practical, making quilts to USE, and I love the feel of the poly.  Since I plan to just ditch quilt this one in both directions, I hope that the polyester batting won't let the top layer 'slide' in front of the walking foot.

I found, by searching online, that the foot I'd like to try is the Brother SA188, and it sells for around $50.00.  I saw it on another site for $39.99, but the photo was too small to share here.  If you know of a much better deal on it, let me know.  I still don't know if it would fit my Singer and my White, but I may try one out sometime.

For now, though, I won't be ordering one for the next couple of weeks, as the trial is scheduled for February 13-15. 


"Praise the Lord........Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.   When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.   Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them---the Lord, who remains faithful forever.  He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free."              

 Psalm 146: 1,2-7

Getting back to the 'travelin'

You'd almost believe she'll help, huh?

I now have my stack of blocks ready for layout.  It's been a wild few days, rearranging furniture and rooms, doing this and that, while squeezing in a little bit of sewing when I could.

evidence of pawprints !

Lottie says that she's going to help, but that hasn't been the actuality usually when I start to lay out blocks.  Somehow they wind up skewed or generally squished with pawprints !

Anyway, I attempted a partial layout last night, and really had trouble getting seam allowances to oppose the way I wanted........and no, I didn't do like I said and lay it out and THEN press.  Oh, well, I may go for a different layout if I have too much trouble. 

But first, I need to go and get some potatoes all peeled and cut up for the potato soup I hope to have for lunch.  A rainy winter day, a new quilt layout, and hot soup, topped with cheese, red onions, and bacon..............wow, sounds like a great day a comin'.  Thank you, LORD !

Trippin'

If you've missed anybody recently, they've probably been on the same trip that I have taken.  Generally, I miss the quilting rages that seem to take the internet by storm, and only stumble upon them much later, making mine in quiet anonymity.

And, admittedly, I won't be the first to finish on this one, but I have succumbed to the allure of the Scrappy Trip-Along.   I cut out enough strips to make 42 blocks, hoping for a layout of 6 blocks by 7, measuring 72 x 84.  I figured that I would then add a 3-inch border all around, bringing me to finish the top at a measurement of approximately 78 x 90 inches.

Then I started piecing blocks, and found myself cutting more strips as I changed my mind about the color layout.  I'm not even pressing the finished blocks until I see where they go, so that I can make the seams oppose one another.  If you follow the instructions for pressing that are given in the tutorial, for me they automatically oppose if you turn the block one way, and they don't if you spin the same block 180 degrees.  I'm not disparaging the tutorial........I think that it is brilliant.  I would never have attempted this project without it.  This is a LOT of 2 inch finished squares !

So, anyway, that's where I've been hiding...........

   There's not much else I could do around here, anyway. 
We had warm weather last week, with buttercups and hyacinth coming up out of the ground, and then over the last couple of days we've had our first ice storm of the season.

 I think that these storms' effects are so pretty; they just fill me with wonder at God's majesty........and prompt me to call upon my heavenly Father to protect us from any harm that might come from breaking limbs, and slippery roads !

So, be safe, keep warm, BE THANKFUL, and sew something pretty !

In search of a walking foot......

On the 28th of December, 2012, I performed a Google search, looking for a walking foot to fit my old Singer sewing machine, as mine had begun to push the fabric along in front of the foot, rather than move it at the same speed as the feed-dogs.  I kept winding up with tucks or pleats when I would come to a cross seam that had already been quilted.

Well, I really wanted to find a foot that gives you a good view in front of the needle, so that you can stitch right in the ditch easily.  I found one on Annie's/Clotilde site; I chose to order it because I could see that the opening slot in front of the needle started out a  little wider, then tapered .   It wasn't a BIG opening, but it was better than any that I had come across.  They offered free shipping, so I placed my order, paying via card.

The tracking number that they gave me was for Fed-Ex, which means that they bring it to a post office and drop it for USPS to finish the delivery.  Well, this meant that you couldn't actually track the item all the way.  When it didn't arrive the day they projected, I had no idea how much longer it would be, because you couldn't find out where it was.........what's the use of the tracking number?  Anyway, blessedly, it DID arrive one day later and was very well packaged to prevent damage.

Unfortunately, as soon as I opened it, I could see that it wasn't the same foot that I had seen pictured on their site.  The slot in front of the needle opening was very narrow, all the way through.   I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt, and give it a try.  I quilted on a little quiltie that I basted up for the trial, and had SO MUCH trouble trying to tell where the seam was, that I was very disappointed.  The fabric didn't bunch, like with my old foot, but I couldn't keep my stitches close enough to the seamline, and I really couldn't tell when I had reached a corner, ready to turn.

I promptly looked up their customer care service on their website and let them know that the picture did not represent what they were selling, and that I felt wronged........(remembering the old 'bait and switch' practices of long ago.)  Well, they responded that their pictures showed exactly what they sold, but that I was welcome to return it for a full refund.  Not wanting to sound snarky, which I kindof DID, I said that that wasn't the point....much time had been wasted and they still didn't own up to the mistake.

So, I managed to get a good photo of the foot that I had received, and made a collage photo showing their photo, my foot, and specific text pointing out the differences. 

sorry for the blur, this is not the picture that I sent them, but notice the white plastic on the end of the needle-clamp arm, and the black mounting clamp, plus the hole in the rear for a guide

This is the photo from their site...notice metal arm for needle-clamp. white mounting clasp, and no hole for guide.  .

The next morning, I received an email acknowledging the mistake and crediting my credit card with a refund.  They even told me to keep the foot they had sent, and they said that they had forwarded the picture to the appropriate account manager .

This is a generous reply, and I appreciate the customer service.  I hope that they will take the time to change the photo on their site.



But WHERE can I find a walking foot to fit my old Singer that has an opening to be able to see where you're going ?    I've seen a wonderful one that fits an Elna, I think it was, that is totally wide open in front of the needle hole, but I think it cost around $50. and who knows if it would work on this old Singer 15 !

 Oh, well, atleast I can do just straight-line quilting with this one, like channels of quilting, without it pushing up pleats.
And I finished the little quiltie.........FINALLY..........I pieced this thing YEARS AGO !
It measures 18 inches by 19 inches, and has a thin polyester batting.  Again, it is a pattern that I drafted up in my notebook........no clue what the inspiration was.

  

But.........the search goes on......

Rose block, drafted for use

Having had quite a bit of interest in the Rose pattern that I used to make the Christmas Roses table runner, I went ahead and attempted to draft it up for sharing.    I have been told that when it comes to quilting, I sometimes speak a language of my own, so if you do not understand anything about my cutting and minimal piecing instruction, feel free to let me know in a comment.  I'll try to translate what I meant.

If you want to copy the photos and can't, I will email them to you.  Just let me know.

Click on photos to see enlarged view.

By the way, my brother and sister-in-love DID really like the little quiltie and put it directly into use.