Boy, this weekend flew by didn't it?

We actually saw a bit of sun this morning, before the gray clouds rolled in.

I spent some time pulling fabrics for the next project.  

This QOV will go to someone special who I've known my entire life.  The star pattern is from Moda and can be found here.

As you can see, Dolly is quite worn out by all of the holiday hoopla.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Yaaaaay, I did it!

This was a special gift for a dear friend who sets a beautiful table.  I think the final length was around 65".  I quilted it by outlining each of the houses, putting swirls in the sky, following the plaid strip around the perimeter, and then stippling the bottom.

Of course you could use this pattern with a non-striped fabric.  I have a cute print that I'm thinking of trying the next time I make one.  But that will have to wait.  There are other fish to fry in the sewing room once I get the current fabric stacks put away.  You know how it is after a big sew-a-thon.

Dolly, the Bunz, and I hope you had a lovely Christmas with lots of yummy treats!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

It's in the mail before Christmas, and that in itself is a miracle.

A gift to someone very special who lives far away.

Made by sewing up crumb blocks and trimming to 6-1/2"

Then framing with light and dark combo of 2-1/2" squares.  All scrappy wildness.

Sashing is left over 2-1/2" strips of muslin.  Batting is 80%/20% and stippled with great abandon after spray basting on the front porch to avoid hazardous fumes.

The recipient simply adores the American flag and so I pieced the backing with a patriotic flare.

For a variety of reasons, this is the only Christmas decorating I'm doing this year.  No tree, no lights, no roasting of chestnuts.  I decided in August to keep things very simple this year so I can focus on getting some other things accomplished. 

Playing with photoshop, Jeremiah almost disappears.  Soon he'll be going to a new home along with 2 other bunnies.  Just sharing the furry goodness of Flemish bunz. 

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Bye bye bunny!

Yesterday Opal moved to a new home over in Hayesville.  We'll miss her, but she will have a good life and no doubt be even more spoiled.

I also basted, quilted and bound a twin-size quilt all in one weekend.  It's been a coon's age since I was able to accomplish such a feat.  As you may surmise, it's a Christmas gift and time is flying by.

As soon as it's washed and dried, I'll be sure to show it to you.

Meanwhile, since it is 27 degrees and quite frosty out there, please don't forget to sweep and salt your elderly neighbor's porch and steps.  Dolly and I thank you in advance.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

We woke up to WOW this morning.

And 26 degrees.

 It was gloriously beautiful.

 Everything crystalline, like a big wedding cake covered in sparkly sugar.

 Yes, I know, mild compared to much of the country.

I only had about 5 minutes to catch it digitally and by noon it was all gone.

Dolly looooves the cooler temps.

Me, I'm glad the gray rainy days have moved on for a bit.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

It only took 1 elephant, 8 elves, and the CEO of Product Development,

To help me get this VERY SIMPLE PATTERN . . . together.

Actually the original length of fabric was 70".  (Now down to 38")

I think I took it apart 3 times.

And I'm really not sure how many times I sliced off the pie shape.  But it's quilted now so I'll do the binding tonight.  Simply put, I'm good at making up my own patterns, but have a difficult time following others.  Even when the instructions are clear and concise, as they are in this pattern.

Another lesson in humility, and yes, I was kidding about the elephant.

Dolly has a new toy.  I cleaned out the sock drawer.  2 non-matched socks get shoved in the toe of the 3rd and a knot is tied.  Then it's play time.

Except once Dolly gets a hold of something,

She absolutely, unconditionally will not let go.

Unless of course she smells a hamburger cooking.

I hope none of you were caught in the 5-hour back-up / pile-up on the PA turnpike recently.

And to all of those out West affected by the storm, L.L. Bean sells those ice grippers that clip on the bottom of your boots.  There are even some boots for pups!

Stay safe out there folks.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Does anyone know how New York gained the title, "The Big Apple"?

 Jeremiah doesn't really care, he just wants a slice of the real thing.

 To enjoy while resting on his bench.

 While I try to capture the moment on digital.

We can't say film anymore can we?

And since it's such a lovely gray and rainy day out, AGAIN, ugh.

I decided to take a photo of the latest finished QOV quilt top.  I'm trying to learn better lighting techniques with the new camera.

Evidently I need to keep practicing.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.  Please remember to salt your elderly neighbor's porch and icy steps.  A box of rock salt is much, much cheaper than an ER visit.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

There is another way to measure the diagonal on a square.

Some of you may already be familiar with it.

Simply align the ruler from top to bottom point on one block before it's sewn and deduct 1/2".

There are 9 different fabric squares cut in 4ths to create set-in triangles.  Notice I balanced the colors by placing them on opposite ends of each row.

It helps to have a design wall when doing this, as rows with 17 blocks need to alternate a bit.

I did get one top laid out and and the 2nd assembled half way.  Ahhh progress!

Peter asks that everyone drive carefully in that snow storm out west.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Dreary weather is perfect for staying inside to sew.

So when I discovered I was off today, Dolly reminded me that I hadn't as yet given you the layout requirements for the latest QOV.  Silly me.  Sew sorry.

Here is the basic layout, albeit a bit cockeyed.  You will need l79 rail fence blocks.

That means a total of 18 units done from chains each 47" long.  (A UNIT is a Dark, Light, Dark strip sewn together).

In other words, 47" allows 10 blocks per UNIT.  10 x 18 = 180 rail fence blocks.

Starting in the upper left hand corner, laying rows diagonally:

Row 1 = 1 block (missing from picture)
Row 2 = 3 blocks
Row 3 = 5 blocks
Row 4 = 7 blocks
Row 5 = 9 blocks
Row 6 = 11 blocks
Row 7 = 13 blocks
Row 8 = 15 blocks
Row 9 = 17 blocks
Row 10 = 17 blocks
Row 11 = 17 blocks
Row 12 = 15 blocks
Row 13 = 13 blocks
Row 14 = 11 blocks and continue to decrease until your down to block 1.

Now for the side triangles.  Or set-in triangles if you prefer.  Here I've pulled out a back vest panel piece probably from the 1990s.  It's washed, starched, pressed, and the top section was torn to create true grain.

The basic math formula for determining set in triangles is really simple.

Determine the diagonal measurement on the finished square and add 2-1/2".

The rail fence block is 4-1/2", but when SEWN/FINISHED, will be 4" (minus seams).

Are you with me so far?  (Carol, please stop texting during class. Judy, you're awake aren't you? )

Calculate 4" x 1.4142 and you get 5.65.  Round up to 5.75.  That's your diagonal measurement.

Add 2-1/2" + 5.75", and you get, 8.25".

The size square for set-in triangles is 8.25".

I was able to cut 3 squares from the vest panel.

I need a total of 36 set-in triangles for my QOV top.  Therefore, I'll need 9 squares  (9 x 4 = 36).  I'm using a mix of black, gray and green.  Fabric that will blend well with the top.  I could use one color, but I chose to be scrappy.

 Cut the 8.25" square in half on the diagonal.

 Then half again.  Wallah, 12 set in triangles from 3 squares.

Why are they cut on the diagonal you ask?  So the straight of grain stays on the outside.  (Bias edges are on the inside seam).

 And up on the corner square you'll need one set-in triangle on each side.

I'll teach you how to measure and cut the last outer corner triangle later this week.  The one that goes on the top left and bottom right.

Shhhhh, don't wake Dolly, math bores her to tears.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Did someone say pie?

 I was fortunate to be invited to join dear friends for Thanksgiving dinner.  These folks are international travelers and cooks.  Here we have Chef Paul carving the turkey.

 My contribution was apple pie, which is always a hit largely due to the crust.  The recipe can be found here.

In between cooking and cleaning, some sewing occurred.  There are now enough rail fence units for 2 quilt tops.  Yahoooo-eee.

Today's cute pet picture features Samson, enjoying his holiday treat.

I surely hope you're finding some time to sew this holiday weekend!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Wooooo - wheee

There's nothin' that will put a hop in your get-along like 24 mph winds and 31 degrees.

Yes, that's SNOW you see out there.  Just enough to be thankful for a warm fire, plenty of milk for hot chocolate and enough pet food to last until it melts.  Which will be soon I'm hoping.

Stay safe everyone and have a Blessed Thanksgiving.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Are you ready for the next QOV challenge?

Yes, I realize it's Thanksgiving week and everyone is rushing around buying out the grocery stores and contacting Aunt Midge for her famous sweet potato pie recipe.  So if you are in charge of cooking the turkey, you can have a hall pass for this week only.

and if your job is walking the poor, nobody-loves-me pup, you get a hall pass too.

But everyone else, I'm counting on you to do a bit of sewing for our soldiers this holiday season. After all, if it weren't for our boys in blue (and khaki) we would not have a home front to come home to now would we?

So get out some light 2" strips and trim the edges even.  Sew into a long chain using a fat 1/4" seem.  The longer the strips the better.  But if you only have short ones, that's okay.

Get out some dark 2" strips.  Try to use several pieces in one color family, say browns, blacks, or greens.  Then cut 47" lengths off of each chain.

Sew a light chain to a dark chain, press.

With the light chain in the middle, sew another dark chain to make a unit of 3.  (No picture available, but I'm sure you can envision it.)

Press unit well and cut into 4-1/2" length and trim to 4-1/2" square.

Wa-lahhh, a speedy rail fence block.

You can make it red, white and blue!  You could even use 2-1/2" strips, but you'll need to adjust the size of your block.

Since I've been busy buying out the grocery store and calling Aunt Midge for her recipe, I've only gotten this far.  But trust me, it's a speedy project.

My friends keep warning me about the "coming storm" and the chance of "SNOW".

This was my view on my way up to work this morning, a.k.a the balcony, and yes indeed, you could see ol' mother nature rolling in.  With a morning temp of 26 degrees, I'm glad to say we're ready for anything.  Except power outage.

Dang, I forgot the batteries!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .