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Post by choney2 on Jun 11, 2021 22:48:45 GMT
Quiet here and I hope everyone is ok!
Had a busy morning, worked and then trained. After lunch Dd#2 and I went to Bj’s so she could stock up on some things, and I stopped in Michaels to look for that bernat blanket stripes yarn. Well, I got lucky. They had some solids - but those colors were pretty sedate and not very balloon like. Then I found a few skeins of more funky colors. I would have liked to get really good balloon colors but found a skein of purple and white- 50% off on clearance. So the kids will have purple and white balloons. Hope I can make sense of the pattern.
Supposed to be cool this weekend -which is fine by me.
Will stop in later to see who has checked in.
G
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Post by cj59 on Jun 12, 2021 1:22:23 GMT
Hello Everyone  Ginny - Your day does sound busy! Good luck with trying to make the balloons, I'm glad you found some yarn to use. It was cooler here today, but rainy all day. I did enjoy not having to put on the air conditioner. You are right about the binding. I think the part I like the least is joining the ends of the binding while I'm sewing it on the quilt. It's just irritating pulling the 2 strips together and then I find that when that is done and I'm sewing it down the binding stretches and I have extra fabric that I have to try to pull on so I won't have overlap. You are right that it's nice when it's all done  I finished sewing on the binding for the 10 quilt pieces and I'm ready to sew them down, which hopefully I can get done tomorrow. Then I'm going to pull out the rest of the quilts that are ready to bind and pick fabrics for their binding and get working on those. I really want to get this done, so I can work on some fun projects. I also have things I need to be doing around the house, but I just feel that I need to get all the binding done first. Hope everyone has a great weekend |
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Post by Ruth on Jun 12, 2021 4:27:12 GMT
I kind of got engrossed in my crocheting so didn't get to anything else not even my email. Friend sent me a prayer request so I stopped and prayed immediately.Just saw it though a couple minutes ago
CJ, I know you'll be very relieved when you got all those quilts done. You'll also be surrounded by beautiful quilts.
I'm having trouble with the shawl cardigan pattern. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but it's comprised of repeating rows of treble crochet and hdc. Every time I do a hdc row, it looks right so I do the next treble and find that it's off and have to rip out both rows. It should actually be done by now with all the time I put into it but I'm only to row 7. I always somehow get it straightened out and get those two rows done right then when I go on the same thing happens. If I could figure out what went wrong I could avoid doing it. Well it's not exactly an earth shaking problem. It'll get done sometime or I'll do something else.
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Post by choney2 on Jun 12, 2021 11:13:43 GMT
Good morning all-
CJ- if a non crafter/quilter read our posts they would think we were speaking about convoluted yoga poses of something like that- as we talk about pulling and stretching. How do you do the final join of your binding strips- the directions that work best for me involve overlapping the two ends of binding by the length of the binding piece width ( which is usually 2 1/2 inches) and then making a nice diagonal join. Everytime I do that I am a nervous wreck, but know that for the baby quilt the process worked out really well for me and resulted in a nice diagonal join. (Cannot say I was always that successful!!!). About 2 years ago I had a gift card to use up at the LQS and bought wonder clips. Do you use them? They are real life savers for the final binding attachment. Never thought I would like them as much as I do. Glad you got cooler temps too, so you can keep curtains and window shades open to let natural light in. Its absolutely incredible how many quilts you have made!! We could attend a CJ quilt show...you have made so many lovely quilts. Glad you are getting them done and bound (the binding is noone s favorite part of the process). Then you can move on and work on all the other projects that you have plans to make.
Ruth- I have total confidence that you will overcome the challenges of this shawl pattern, which could be as simple as poorly written directions or a step that they neglected. Where did you get this pattern from? Would any of your contacts on the crocheting FB page, or contact with the pattern designer help? That is one of the many reasons I am reluctant to take on new projects, especially for garments. You are much braver than I am....and will either figure out what was intended and perhaps not well communicated, or find another pattern that does a better job of relating what is intended
Nice to hear that you were so engrossed in your crocheting that you lost track of time!!! Any news from DGS? How is his visit home going?
DD is coming over this am. We went to BJs together yesterday and have to divide up some of the stuff we bought. She wanted stevia too- and the box contains 800 packets . One of the many things that needs to be split up which we did not have the time to do yesterday.
BBL
Ginny.
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Post by gramma15 on Jun 12, 2021 23:43:39 GMT
It's hot so I've been sitting in front of my fan crocheting. I MAY have found the problem but still am not sure. I ripped it out back to row 6. She has a written pattern available and a video but I still didn't get it. So we'll see now that I ripped all those rows out.
Also waiting for email from my friend and keeping her and her family in prayer until then. I'm thankful that we have a loving God who cares about us.
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Post by cj59 on Jun 12, 2021 23:58:17 GMT
Hello Ginny - It's nice that you can split things with your family that you buy from the warehouse stores. There are things I'd buy at Costco sometimes but it's just too much for me to eat alone. I do like buying some paper products there. I do have those wonder clips and they are great! I never used them much before but they are just perfect for clipping the sewn on binding to the other side and to secure the corners. Ruth - Sorry it's so hot there, hope it get cooler for you. I hope you do find the problem with your project, that sounds so frustrating working and finding it isn't right. Good luck. Phyl and Sue - Hope you are well. It was nice here today, not too hot and the rain is gone. I finished doing the final sewing on the binding for the 10 pieces and since the daylight was good in my sewing room I went ahead and pulled fabrics for the last 15 that I need to bind. There is one other one - a Jelly Roll Race - that I may/may not do this month. I might save it since it's so large. I did try sewing one of the bindings as a stitch in the ditch and it worked pretty well, but I just don't like the way some of my stitching shows on the front of the quilt, I'd rather have it show on the binding. So I just need to stick to what works for me. Here are a few pictures of some small pieces I finished today:     I was happy with how this one turned out. I like the bright colors and I had enough fabric to make the binding the same as fabric in the quilt:  |
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Post by choney2 on Jun 13, 2021 0:46:11 GMT
CJ- you did a great job on those quilts!! Glad you had those wonder clips, once you remember to use them they sure do make the job easier. I know, think we are harder on ourselves than we need to be, your quilts look great and your stitching is nice and even.
Ruth, I wish I could come and fan you....did Dh put the air conditioner in? Sorry its so hot. Were you able to figure out the problem with the shawl?
Attended a funeral today- kind of a long day. Not sure why I am tired but I am.
See ya tomorrow
Ginny
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Post by gramma15 on Jun 13, 2021 1:52:31 GMT
I''m waiting for my other laptop to update and reboot so I can check my email. I can't get it on this one and the other keeps changing things and now has me put in my pin every single time I want to wake it up and now it said my pin was not correct and wouldn't let me try again. So I'm rebooting but it said it had to do updates...what a pain in the neck.
CJ That last quilt is so amazing. I think I like it more than any other I've seen! I love the Christmas tree one too and actually all the Christmas ones but the tree is #1 in those Christmas choices. Yes I think that if one method works best for you that you should stick with that one. And that's wonderful that you have only 15 more to do except for the large one. What a great feeling that's going to be.
Ginny, I do hope you can get some relaxation in and a lot of rest tonight! I never buy from Sam's, which is the only store of it's kind here, anymore. We used to go there and actually found some amazing markdowns on some things but haven't been there in years. We seem to do most of our shopping online now.
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Post by choney2 on Jun 13, 2021 11:05:36 GMT
computer updates are a royal pain in the neck and can take so long to complete. The computer downstairs does that- seems to take an eternity to update. And its frustrating when all you wanted to do is check email or pay a bill an get on and off quickly, but the updates go on forever.....nice that you have an alternative and can avoid the computer when its updating.
Last night I was so tired (not sure why, my day was not that hectic). But yes Cj- those quilts you posted are so pretty.. I like them all! But think that the Christmas tree and the simple green and pink one (one up from the bottom) might be my favorites. Do you use a 1/4 inch foot for finishing the bindings?I purchased one with my “new” machine (had it over a year) and wondered why i had never had one. They make things so much easier. Hope that your weather is pleasant so that you can keep the air conditioning off. I wonder what fun projects you will take on when all the quilt tops you have to bind are done. Do you have an all time favorite quilt top??
I want to print out the directions for the water balloons and something else. (Not craft related). The last thing I needed was another project but love how small and easy the water balloons should be. I will try to get a walk in this am, while we still have lovely weather. I hear that humidity is returning here, so I have to enjoy the nice weather now. Might try some light gardening later on. I did clean out some weeds yesterday am and want to continue with that.
Have a blessed Sunday all
Ginny
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Post by gramma15 on Jun 13, 2021 20:17:34 GMT
Ginny, the good thing about the water balloons is that if you make a mistake you're not going to even see it so It doesn't matter. I don't know if you've use Bernat Blanket yarn before or not but esp in this pattern you can't really see your stitches so you have to feel for that little string that's inside the chenille to know where the stitch is. the water balloons are actually easy to do and don't take much time. There are various patterns...some with sc, some dc, and some hdc. I use single otherwise they come out too large. And I use an I hook. Some patterns have you use a huge hook but that, again, makes them too big. Nice thing is everyone can do it however they like. Just decrease after you get to the size you want the to be around in the middle and you'll end up with that balloon looking neck where you tie your balloon shut. I made one so far. Today is hat day again and I've actually been working on one for a couple days between working on the shawl. It's a "swirly heart" pattern and goes slow at first. Hearts swirl all the way from brim to the top.I'll do the balloons this coming week when it's 100 and over and I don't want anything too warm on my lap.
We've been keeping pretty cool with just the fan so dh hasn't put the a/c in the window yet but I'm sure he will before the 100 degree days start which is Tues
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Post by choney2 on Jun 13, 2021 22:14:29 GMT
Ruth, thanks for the heads up on the pattern for the water balloons. No, I have never worked with this particular yarn before, so it will be interesting for sure. I had already taken out one size smaller hook but can drop back to an I hook. I tend to have to increase my hook size because I crochet tightly, but will see what happens with this yarn and pattern. Gotta watch the video too and see if that is helpful. Balloons sound awesome to work on for you when its too hot. Do you have all the cool colors to make balloons or are you using what you have on hand? I have a purple and white variegated....so I guess that is what my balloons will look like. Just hope I can figure out the pattern.
Brought my neighbor to church with me this am- its her second Sunday there (she went with me last week) and she seems to like it. Everyone has been so friendly with her and has made her feel welcome.
Think I am going to sit on the deck and read the paper....
Ginny
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Post by gramma15 on Jun 13, 2021 22:55:06 GMT
As I said, don't stress over the pattern, it's easy. And a J hook would work great too. Some of the patterns tell you to use an N hook which, in my opinion is way too big.
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Post by cj59 on Jun 13, 2021 23:30:18 GMT
Hello Everyone Ginny - Good luck with the water balloons. I'm glad you and your friend had a nice time at church today. I do just use my regular foot on my sewing machine for the binding work and it measures 1/4 from needle to the right edge when I pick the quilting stitch on the machine. I don't use one of the special ones that has an edge/ledge on it. Ruth - Hope you are staying cool and you can get the air conditioner in before the hot weather. The swirly heart pattern sounds very pretty. It looked like it was a pretty nice day out today - I never went outside to check though It was in the 80s. We might get some rain overnight. I'm going to have to go out a few times this coming week for errands and a larger grocery order. I'm not looking forward to that. I've really gotten used to just staying home. I did some work last night and a lot of work today and I finished making all the bindings for the quilts I pulled. I'm hoping I can get them sewn on and then finished this week. I may try to put the binding on the Jelly Roll Race quilt, which measures 50x63, by the end of this month. That will get all my quilted pieces finished. I have 18 more pieces that I had marked to machine quilt myself, so I really hope that over the next few months I can do a few each month. This time I'm going to do the binding right after machine quilting. I don't ever want to make 40+ bindings in just a few weeks again!! I also have to work on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks for June - the color is PURPLE. And the new blocks for the monthly Sewing Bee come out tomorrow. There is also a mystery quilt along starting at the Fort Worth Fabric Studio tomorrow. I'm not sure if I'll do it, I want to see what the fabric requirements are first. Here's a link: fortworthfabricstudio.com/blogs/patterns/2021-suddenly-summer-mystery-quiltAnd in July Pat Sloan is doing another quilt along. This one has 12 blocks and I want to participate in that. I don't care for her quilt patterns where the blocks are all different sizes and the quilt just looks all jumbled. The quilters make them beautiful, but I like pieces where the blocks are the same size. Here's a link to that information: www.ilovetomakequilts.com/summer-soiree-sew-along.htmlTake care everyone! |
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