tension

 

There has been some progress around here but not without issues. I don’t usually have a problem with tension but I can’t quite seem to adjust the sewing machine.

It’s possibly the new bobbin. Once I get that sorted these blocks can be put together. There will be a little hand sewing required on the back but it’s been much easier to quilt each block than to try a wrangle a big quilt on the machine.

This tower of delicious treats was enjoyed in the company of Gail from Gail’s Place who was visiting Australia and has covered quite a few kilometres in her travels.

Check out her blog to read about her adventures. Except for that pesky window frame, the views of the Jamieson Valley were stunning and we even managed a visit to Picklemouse Corner Patchwork.

We were stuck in some fairly awful school holiday traffic heading up to the Blue Mountains and on the way back into Sydney but managed to entertain ourselves.  

I’m so glad we had the chance to meet in person having been blogging buddies for sometime now. Perhaps I’ll get the chance to visit Missou-rah. 

countdown

 

It's been hot. It's been humid. 

The only sewing I'd been doing was mending and there's no fun in that.

Finally got back to quilting these Garden Path blocks. Only three to go and then piecing the blocks together to make something resembling a quilt.

I'm enjoying using the quilting ruler as I don't have a "painter's eye" for freehand. Now if I can just stop stabbing myself on the pin that you stick in the centre from underneath the block to spin the ruler on . . . .

halfway

 

Eight of the 16 blocks have now been quilted despite the fog of heat and humidity that has been our lot this weekend.

You know, I might just be getting the hang of that quilting ruler.

Since there wasn't enough purple fabric to cut all the backing blocks, the leftovers were cut into 5 inch squares and combined with a charm pack that I think was a gift from a blogging chum. My apologies if it was you and I've forgotten. Thank you. The charms are a terrific match for the project.

That lime green pops. Love it!

 

fern

I decided to start quilting on the couple of blocks that I managed to put put together before the bobbin case threw a hissy fit on the machine I use for piecing and general sewing.

A new bobbin case has been ordered.

I have a different machine set up for quilting and purchased the  Westalee Coral Fern template  from Punch With Judy (no affiliation or advertising revenue).

I thought the leaf-like pattern suited the Garden Path block design.

It's a bit tricky at first. You  push the pin that is supplied with the template through your block and the template pivots around that point.

Kept stabbing myself on the pin and the template kept popping of it but got into a rhythm eventually.  Also had to make some adjustments to the tension.

You can see the design a little better from the back.

One done. 15 more to go!

sashing

 

The weekend has been hot. humid. Not my favourite if I'm honest.

This wee iron has been a real boon as even though it steams it's not as feisty as a normal iron but it reaches the same temperatures as one. I have the burn marks to prove it!

Note to self: best not to iron fingertips.

I've been adding sashing to the Scrappy Garden Path blocks. This will allow me to quilt all over the main area without making it difficult to join the blocks later.

Some technical difficulties though when the sewing machine started making an odd noise. Everntually, I figured out that it was the bobbin case, so a new one has been ordered.

In the meantime, guess I can start cutting the backing and batting squares.

grateful

 

Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

I'm drawing a line under 2022 but I am grateful that we were spared the dreadful floods that struck our state at the beginning of last year. Those waters are now flooding parts of South Australia.

I am grateful that we have been spared the *bug*. . . so far. Family and friends haven't been so lucky but all have survived.

The news from the USA has left us aghast - vision of snow and ice storms, unimaginable tempertaures and now heavy rains and flooding. 

I hope you and your families are all safe and well.

After quite some time away from quilting, there have been moments where work has progressed. Although I haven't finished quilting the Federation Stars, I just needed to get a binding on it. I know - not ideal - but that's how I'm playing it for now.

Federation Stars

With that quilt off the sewing table, I can now start planning the finish for these blocks (this is just a sample).

These blocks will be quilted sperately and then stitched together. Not quite Quilt-As-You-Go but in the spirit of.  Makes things more managable. I'm finding it a bit of a struggle these days to push a big lump of quilt through the machine.

So that I can quilt the whole block with a design, I have an idea for sashing that will join the blocks after quilting and I can just stitch in the ditch.

It will make more sense once I've done a couple.

Happy Stitching