Sewing, sewing, sewing. Ironing, cutting, bandaging blisters and more sewing. Yes, I have a blister on my pinkie finger. From scissors. I’m intense, it seems, with shears. Today I spent about 3 hours at the workroom organizing my previously sewn together bits which were then pressed open with spray starch and a dry iron. Sorted together into stacks of three-random with no repeats-and sew together in chains.
Here’s a big chunk of chain, once I got the ball rolling:
It looks like a lot because it really is a lot. I used 50 strips of fabric sewn together in 2′s, then traced and cut out 10 double pieces then sewed 3 double pieces together. Somehow, when I do the math, it doesn’t come out even, but it DID somehow, come out with no extras. I like that. My quilt will have 9 solid rings.
And boy, do I like the workroom. It’s so pretty and refreshing and there’s Maisy saying hello and hoping for a tasty morsel. I did bring tasty morsels, but nothing for a dog.
Walked home via Dufferin Mall and ironed all my new seams flat. Washing the background fabric so it’s nice and fresh for Thursday.
YAY – it looks great! And look at all that fabric in the background…drool!
Funny thing about scissor useage. About a year ago I noticed a werid spot on my knuckle and freaked out thinking it may have been a (gasp!) wart. Then I noticed I had the same spot on my next two fingers in the same spot. I can be a dimwit but finally I realised that it was calluses (callae?) from using my scissors so much. I still keep meaning to get a rotary cutter!
Might a good rotary cutter and mat be a good giftie idea?
Jenn, I also get a serious dent on my index finger from scissors but it never turns into anything and it fades once I stop snipping.
I can’t use a rotary cutter on this type of project, there are curves and it just wouldn’t work. And I would, if I could, I do love my rotary cutter AND my 4 cutting mats that are taped together on the bottom so they don’t slip around and make one big beautiful mat.
At this point, other than a half decent sewing machine, I’m pretty good for quilting schwag.
Wow all that fabric in the background is just beautiful! how exciting! and clever you at working out a shortcut to sew all those thingies (I can’t even work out how to describe it)…
The workroom is such an inspiration, it’s so very pretty in there. And I know it’s a huge conspiracy, it’s basically impossible to leave without spending money. I’ve resisted the last 2 times but my will is getting weak.
I wish I was clever enough to figure out shortcuts, Rosie, but it’s all right there in the instructions for the class. My teacher, Johanna, deserves all the kudos. She’s a quilting genius!
It’s called chaining, so instead of snipping between each piece (because quilting by nature is pretty repetitive) you just feed in the next block/piece as you go leaving it all attached at the end and you just cut them apart. It’s a huge time and thread saver.
All your squares look so perfect and matched in size!
What is the workroom? Is it a store where they let you work? or is it your quilting class space? It sounds lovely. My dream is to have a house one day where I can have my own workroom with a big table in it (like the ones at Fabricland) with a measuring tape built into the wood and drawers for my supplies and I can make the space pretty and always have my fabrics scattered about. Having to haul everything out and back into our tiny (and ONLY) closet under the stairs everytime is a hassle.
Your quilt looks like it will be beautiful!
The workroom is a fabric store that also sells books and patterns (and sewing supplies and machines) but I think the larger part of their business are the sewing classes they do. The one I’m enrolled in is a 4 week class. There are also one afternoon classes. And you can pop in and use their sewing machines which they charge you $7/hr. And sergers.
It’s a great space. I had an idea to open a similar type situation but doing all kinds of crafty things, not just sewing.
That is a really great idea! I would love to have a place like that to go to! Not only would you have supplies on hand, but also being able to learn and share ideas with fellow crafty/sewer type people would be very nice. Add on a coffee bar and it sounds like heaven.