Hyperdrive … engaged!

The definition of hyperdirve has been redefined today LOL. I’m in a state of shock of what I managed to accomplish today. Seriously, it was a lot even by my turbo speeds.

1. Quick summary of today; printed out the tissue paper for mum’s star, quilted it, removed 99% of the paper, and got the binding put on – still needs to be sewn down
2. Yoga mat – deciphered two patterns and cobbled them together to one for me, with lots of reverse stitching and rereading instructions thinking WTH???
3. Getting reacquainted with my quilt books – yes they were found!!!

I think I got it .. maybe

This is something I’ve been batting around in my mind for a few days now – well more than a few days.  I’ve been thinking about this the whole time I was working on it.  I wanted to use motifs that were mum’s passions – she loved cats and gardening  she loved to read and a million other things, but you could find her outside in the garden soon as the weather broke – her and I would be so excited when we saw the first crocus pop up through the snow – the true harbingers of spring – never mind that weasely rodent pfft .. as if I would believe an overgrown rat!  Crocus – you can believe them for sure!

So I finally decided on using cat paws, tulips and gardening tools.  I went back and forth on this a million times – did I want the pink entwined to be negative space, did I want to use coffee cups .. ugh.  These thoughts would follow me to sleep and when i woke.  I put it up on my design wall and stared at it, put it on the floor and stared at it.  I knew I wanted a looser motif for the center, matching triangle corners seems like a good idea.

Like I said, I think I’ve got it, I’m sure this will evolve as I work on it the one thing I know for sure is the center block and I really like the idea of the cat paws wandering around the center block – the gardening motif may change and so may the corner motifs.  As it is, the paw motifs might be side by side like the cat is walking – I’ll just have to see what I find.

Least the first block is a definite LOL

Blanket Stitch Graduate

I can honestly say that I’ve got blanket stitch down pat now LOL. Was a bit awkward getting started and getting into a groove.  I opted to use my machine for the stems after strategic placement of fusible web.  The idea of going through all the layers of the bias strip stems I found rather daunting to do on my first go round of hand applique. 

Mum’s Entwined Star

I just love the variety of looks you can get with HSTs. I wanted to do this with the bandanas I picked up at Michaels the other day – I had a hard time cutting into them as I was terrified I wouldn’t have enough or would make a cutting mistake. I worked it out in Quilt Pro then sent my numbers off to my quilt list. And my math was confirmed.

40 HST later and a lot of VERY careful sewing it was coming together.  The original measurement of the bandana were 22” x 22”,  The material said 100% cotton but it felt really weird – even to account for sizing – really slick / slippery.  So I washed it .. and it did prove to be cotton LOL .. went down to 20” x 20” – yes panic ensued as my measurements were for a 24” star – ya that wasn’t going to work anymore.  Sooo back to the drawing board – or rather resize and run the rotary chart in my program lol.  Finally it ‘grew’ to 18 ¹/₂”

Quilt Plotting .. Pin Cushions

I was thinking about the bandanas I picked up yesterday and that they were HUGE when I opened them up – I didn’t want to do an economy block that freeken big – so I started to plot .. hee hee .. yes no surprise to anyone I’m sure. I’ve mentioned before I love to design with HSTs and love the look they give. I designed Kyle’s Spinner quilt all with HSTs.  You can get so many unique looks with just one simple block.

I’m finally at the point where I can do something for my mum.  She passed in 2006 after a 25 year battle with breast cancer  I plan on hanging this in my sewing room so her and I can sew together once again  Mum taught me to sew by hand, by machine, do garment construction, embroider etc etc etc So with the bandanas I came up with an entwined star block – it started out at 24” but is now down to 15” – it was at 18” but I washed the bandanas and lost a few inches LOL  I plan to start on this tomorrow.  One of the bandanas got all wonky in the wash – totally out of skew – I just might rewet it and try and block it into shape

Time out for girls!

What an absolutely fantabulous day!!! I got some awesome girl time with my gf. As well as quality time at a fabric store and a quilt store as well as Michaels LOL.  You’ve heard me mention before that I wanted to make a bag for my yoga mat – I just didn’t know which one I wanted to use.  The issue with one was double drawstring openings top and bottom – the other had a too wide strap (easily fixed I know) and the shoulder strap was way to wide  Soooooo I’ll use most of the design from this one but certain refinements from this one – this one told me of the short comings they found for themselves and I tended to agree with them – to short of bag, really weird pocket style etc and she even mentioned 10 layers of fabric – ya no thanx.  I’m going to use most of the first tutorial with certain refinements (such as a bottom to the bag)