A pressing issue

My friend Susan, who owns the lil' fabric shop known as The Quilter's Block, encouraged me to do a post on fabric preparation. Or, more specifically, how I prepare my fabric for cutting. It may seem a bit more involved than what you are used to, but for me, the benefits far outweigh the time needed. These benefits include ease of handling small pieces and much less fraying.

I'm not going to cover washing fabric, as you can find all you need to know regarding that subject in Harriet Hargrave's book, From Fiber to Fabric: The Essential Guide to Quiltmaking Textiles. In it, Harriet covers many aspects of dye testing including washing in the water that comes out of your faucet. See if your libary has the book or can borrow it via interlibrary loan.

After my fabric is dye tested, washed, and dried accordingly, I tear off a section based on what size and number of strips I'll be cutting. Generally this includes 2-1/2", 2", and 1-3/4" strips. These pieces will be for my fabric library. The idea is to cut for current and future projects that I have floating around in my head. To this measurement I add 1" for trimming allowance.

The fabric section can have a stringy bottom, which I quickly trim off, tossing the trimmings into my scrap basket.

I iron a sheet of freezer paper on to my ironing board to keep the spray from soaking in. It also keeps the cover cleaner so I don't have to wash it so much. Then I spray each fabric section and pin it to my design wall to dry overnight. (This process is assisted by the dehumidifier which runs 24/7.)

When the sections are dry, I iron them straight (as shown in previous post). If needed I re-spray any areas that are not stiff enough.

Here is my next stack waiting to be trimmed in to strips and/or squares. The fabric pieces left over after cutting strips go in to a separate bag for string quilting. The basket holds any pieces too small to use. As the basket fills, I dump it in to a box. When the box is full, it will be donated to an art teacher or to the local humane society thrift shop. There are many fiber artists in this area who make paper, do felting, etc. Someone will find a need for the fiber and it won't go in to the landfill.

The only change I will be making to this process, is switching from canned spray starch (which has jumped 14 cents per can) to spray starch concentrate, which is much cheaper and I will mix up myself. I'll post more on that process soon.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

Fall Color

Before the rain started on Monday (YEAH, IT'S RAINING!!!), Bonnie and I took a little side trip to the Hiawassee catch basin area. Amazingly, and I don't know why, this is one of the few lakes in the area whose water level is not down a few feet.

Notice how well the Princess Puppy blends in with the fall colors. She was keeping me company while I hung out quilts.

Including the newly washed Chinese Coins. This project was an experiment I started way back about 1998. I had some low thread count muslin which I cut in to strips and then proceeded to sew the "ribbons" on to it. When I first put this quilt together, it bowed to one side like the proverbial flag. I took it all apart, read some directions in one of my books (isn't it amazing what you learn when you read the instructions?), and assembled it by first sewing 2 units in the downward direction, then reversing and sewing 4 units in the upward direction. And guess what, it actually worked. Imagine that!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . . .

A touch of plaid

Thank goodness for pretty days. And clothes lines. And an actual vacation day that allows me time out to take pictures.

This idea was originally seen in a catalog long ago. Of course, I made up my own version. The 16-patch squares were made using 1-3/4" strips in the strip piecing method. The half square triangles made to match the size of the 16-patch block. Remember that rule, "Always Make Block B After You Know What Size Block A Is! "

Not that I always follow it. However, when I do, things generally come out right!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . . .

Excitement

The suspense has been building for several days now. No doubt you've been marking your calendars waiting for the official names of those poor chickens. Well folks, it's decided, Mabel and Alma have signed their adoption papers and Aunt Bertha will be winging her way to Nadine's house very soon. As you can imagine, it was a very hard decision. Such creative folks you all are. Aunt Bertha, Mabel, Alma, and I send our sincere appreciation to all of those who participated.

And just for your viewing pleasure, I managed to take a couple of photos of the color this weekend while stopping at a church rummage and bake sale early this morning. In the scenic shot, you can just see the mist as it rises up between the trees. This happens regularly here, but more so when the warm earth meets the coolness of the morning.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

A Recipe, A Contest . . .

But not a recipe contest.

For today's menu, we have Ham and Egg Pie.

When my mom was President of the United Methodist's Women committee (and chief menu planner) she found this recipe to serve at the men's breakfast. It was not called quiche then. You may call it whatever you like. I call it delicious and quick! (Recipe at bottom of post).

Just for grins, I thought you might enjoy seeing my pincushion collection. After all, pincushions are like Lay's Potato Chips, you definitely will want more than one. It never fails that when you are working on your cutting table, your pincushion is over by your sewing machine. Or upstairs, or in your work basket . . . . (You know what I'm talking about.)

One day the light bulb finally went off and I said, "aha, why can't I have more than one?" So I've been making and collecting them ever since. I especially love homemade ones. Although the wooly purple egg, which I bought in Florida, is so tough in the middle I rarely use it. Now the one on the glass candlestick pedestal I made recently. It is stuffed with sheep's fleece that I bought from a local weaver who also raises sheep, and it keeps my pins very sharp indeed. The red plaid apple came from Ohio (made by local Amish ladies). The light colored basket was found at Joanne's Fabrics. And the brown basket was made by a local gal who sells them at a yearly craft fair nearby. (The log cabin background fabric I recently found at Susan's shop, but sorry folks, she's all out.)


And yes, I was serious when I mentioned a contest. You see these two well loved chickens? Well, they do not have names and are in desparate need of one. I know, I know, with my love of fiction, you'd think I could come up with something appropriate. However, my brain is tired so I'm leaving it up to you.

Please leave a comment and submit your favorite names. On Saturday, October 20th, I'll pick a winner. And what will you win?

This lovely lady right here. Whom I did name. She's Aunt Bertha and she rules the roost. Bertha wears a steel apron, carries a wooden spoon, and knows how to use it. When she cackles, the whole neighborhood wakes. (Of course, you can make up your own story.)


I'm going to leave you with my version of my mom's recipe. I'll be taking a few days off from blog land as there are some things I need to catch up on. Not to worry, I'll be back with more fun and adventure.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

HAM AND EGG PIE

4 eggs (I use 6-8 for a fuller pie)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups cooked ham (cubed 1/2")
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 cup grated sharp cheese (I use a medium sharp and monterey jack blend.)

Mix the above items. Pour into an unbaked pie shell. Bake at 425 degrees for 35 minutes OR 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Enjoy!