Since I last posted I got my long arm back...happy me...and took my main sewing machine to the store where I bought it...an hour and a half away...for repairs...sad me. We think it's a software issue. Sad times for machines in my house right now.
Another empty sewing space...
Look at all the things I keep at hand. My remote, nail file, lip balm, coaster, cup holder, speaker and zune. All just as important as the pins and thread. I can't remember what's in the baggie. I don't usually have food in my sewing room.
My small finish for March was another ornament. This is one little component of Bent Creek's Soapbox Winter. A pattern that is hanging around patiently awaiting its turn to be stitched.
I also finished stitching Christmas Magic by Heart in Hand.
It went into time-out for a few weeks while I looked everywhere for Blue Azul for 5 little x's. I know I bought the thread. I gave up and just used something different. I also left the year off and added the gift button. I wasn't interested in memorializing the year 2013 as graphed in the pattern.
My one finish-finish, not counting the ornament, was Lizzie Kate's Christmas is Forever. A pattern that came out in 2008 and has been stitched since *gasp* 2011.
Of course, the pins have been removed from the corner. This was just the best photo. I make no excuses for longevity in the 'waiting to be finished' pile. My lack of finishing skills/confidence is no secret.
Perhaps the biggest news is that I finally let myself start one of the two HEAD patterns I have in my stash. I put together the threads and bought fabric last summer but forced myself to wait until I had Murky Manor finished. As you know, Murky Manor is NOT finished but IS well on its way and residing in Florida right now.
The piece I started is Vibrant Vista by Jane Wooster Scott.
This is about 1/2 of one page. There are 24 but some are not full pages. Someday I will look closer and figure out how many full pages this works out to. I am working a half stitch using three threads over one on 25 count. The fabric is pre-gridded and marked off in blocks of 20 by 20. I started out working a full X using two threads over one but the pulling and tugging was hard on my fingers. It took me two evenings to pull out two evenings worth of stitching. I do not like the light coverage of one over one but that all comes down to personal preference.
This will take me years. I am planning to take a break after each page and stitch something different. I already have something different at my second stitching spot so that should help relieve the tedium of such a large piece.
Once I got my long arm back and running I finished up the quilt made of old shirts.
This is a trial run for making a shirt for someone I know from her late husband's shirts.
While I enjoyed making a quilt like this...one thing I would say is...I won't make one with this many pieces again. Certainly not for someone else. For a lap sized quilt with a pattern this detailed I would have to charge $500. So, unless someone really wants to pay that much, I will be looking for simpler patterns. I have seen some very simple quilts that look really nice.
I used this flannel fabric for the backing. Fun and cozy for a quilt made from old shirts.
Phew. Believe it or not I have more things I could show but I have worn myself out. I'll save the rest for another time.
Pam
