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Post by choney2 on Aug 8, 2022 10:45:16 GMT
Good morning and Happy Monday!
All crafters are welcome here as we discuss crafting, life and our weight loss journey. Crafting includes actual hands on crafting, such as crochetting, knitting, sewing, quilting, needlepoint, painting, jewelry making, etc.....plus reading craft catalogs, craft blogs, watching craft you tubes or other crafting videos, chatting here about crafting,chatting with another person about crafting, reading craft emails, thinking about crafting, organizing crafting supplies, going into craft stores or the craft aisle in a store , attending craft fairs,or any other activity that inspires or directs your mind toward a crafting activity- even visiting us here to join in our posts!! There are plenty of days in which the closest we get to crafting is a visit here, so even if you have no time to craft, we would love to hear from you.
We welcome newcomers to our friendly discussion! So glad you are here!! Please feel free to stop in and say hello!!
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Post by choney2 on Aug 8, 2022 10:49:51 GMT
Well, its supposed to be hot here today but at least there is a bit of a breeze. I slept well once I fell asleep, but falling asleep was the problem.
Ruth, congrats on the safe arrival of the new great grand niece/nephew! Always nice to have a new little one in the family, will you be making something special for this child? Glad you are getting better at the diagonal basket stitch. Do you actually enjoy doing the stitch- guess what I am asking is when you complete this project, do you think you will take on another project using it?
Busy am here, but hope to be home late morning and before it gets insanely hot. I still have to attach the binding and the label, but hope to get that started this afternoon
Stay cool all!!
Ginny
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Post by cj59 on Aug 8, 2022 20:32:29 GMT
Hello Everyone - Hope you are all doing well today and staying cool. It's very hot here again, and the inside of the house is not that cool  Phyl - Sounds like you have a busy week ahead. I'm glad you got some organizing done. I can imagine if it was the designer of my quilt who hold a workshop only wanted experienced quilters. Her patterns are a bit complicated. Ruth - The little purse and soccer ball sound like fun projects. Congratulations on the new addition to your family  Ginny - Hope you can get your machine dropped off and that you can get the binding put on your quilt. Glad you got the label made Sue - I'm happy to hear your pretty scarf is done. Sounds like your weather is very changeable. I finished the Moda Blockheads block this morning, so I'm happy to get that done. I also pulled all the printed paper patterns and other patterns that I'd just been stacking in my sewing room and got them a bit organized. I pulled out the ones that I'd really like to use first so maybe I can get some fabric picked and make some kits. I didn't get any hand quilting done yesterday, hope to do some this week and get the center done. I did get a piece of backing and batting set up to machine quilt a small table topper quilt top I made recently. I like to let the batting lay out for several days to flatten out, but I'm hoping to get that machine quilted and bound by the end of the month. I only have a few monthly projects that I need to work on now, and the only weekly one is the Moda Blockheads. This has made me feel a bit relieved. I had put too much pressure on myself with all those weekly projects. Hope you all get to do some crafting today. Take care! |
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Post by Ruth on Aug 8, 2022 22:38:51 GMT
Hot here too but as my neighbor and I just said when I saw her at the mailbox, better this than cold and snow.
CJ, yes too many weekly project like that definitely can become a burden instead of the pleasure they should be. It sounds like you're getting really organized for the patterns you would like to make from the stock of patterns you have printed out.
Ginny, I hope you're able to get the binding on the quilt and sewn in place. It's going to be loved by your bil!
Well I just took some yarn out of an order I received a few days ago from Mary Maxim. It's Premier Basix yarn and I intended to use the white in my basketweave blanket but it's a very, very weird texture. It's nothing at all like the other Premier Basixs that I bought.It has little bumps along the strands of yarn and feels bumpy and not soft at all like the white Premier Basix I've bought from them in the past. It's also wavy...almost like a boucle yarn.I bought six of the white and it's all the same weird texture. I got out one of the ones that I had bought previously and that one is the normal smooth and soft yarn ...nothing like the skeins in this order. This is weird
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Post by choney2 on Aug 8, 2022 22:46:05 GMT
CJ- glad you were able to get some organization in your sewing room! It will make everything less stressful. I do love the idea of making kits, but they are your kits….and if you decide to change the fabrics used to another project, I hope you will allow yourself that liberty. Its no good if this crazy habit of ours does not bring us joy and is not fun. That is good news that you got the moda blockheads block done, I know that has been a quilt that has caused you some aggravation in past weeks. Are you planning on keeping this table topper for yourself or will it be a gift? What are your plans on quilting it? And working on a hand quilting job sort of sounds like a peaceful treat, relaxing and something that will cause little frustration for you. Hope you get to work on that soon. Congrats on getting back to only monthly projects! That will allow you to feel less pressured and if you chose to make something seasonal as a distraction, then you can do so.
Got the binding attached (I have to hand sew it on the other side) and my label is edged and ready to be hand sewn on. I figure toward the end of the week I will get to hand sewing and get the panel quilt done. I hope to drop off my machine later this week. I know many who take their machines for annual servicing, and while this is not inexpensive to do I know I put good money into the machine and want to take good care of it.. Hand sewing the panel quilt gives me a break from the machine while its serviced.
I will have to water the garden a lot this week as hot as it is. My area sure could use some rain.
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Post by choney2 on Aug 8, 2022 22:51:44 GMT
Ruth would you consider returning the yarn, being that its not really the same product that it used to be? Sounds like you will not be able to use it in your basket weave project, perhaps call MM and see what they advise. I hope they are helpful. Hopefully you have another yarn in your stash that will keep you crocheting until you figure out where you will get more yarn.
Sorry to disagree, but i can take winter better than this heat. For me, its hard to look out the window and it looks like a pretty day, but its way too hot to enjoy. I enjoy cool mornings and evenings when I can sit outside and listen to the birds and just enjoy nature. Its too hot to so that now., but that is my opinion.
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Post by Ruth on Aug 8, 2022 23:52:10 GMT
No need to be sorry in disagreeing. The nice part of life is that everyone is allowed to have their own opinion and preferences.I did send MM an email and am waiting to see what they have to say. I really don't feel like packing up the yarn and taking it to the post office so regardless of what they say I'll keep it. With six skeins I will definitely be able to use it. Oh my neice's baby is another boy so she has two sons now.No I won't be making her anything. She lives in Ca so doesn't need blankets and she has a lot of other family and friends who will either be sending or have already sent gifts. With her other son less than two I'm sure she has a lot of his clothing to use for the new baby. And I have trouble keeping up with my grands and greatgrands  |
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Post by choney2 on Aug 9, 2022 10:49:41 GMT
I can imagine its challenging keeping up with all the little ones in your family, especially because your family is spread out across our great nation. When a family is in “baby mode” much gets carried over from one baby to another Good luck with MM!!! I have never had to return anything to them, but the one night I had to ask a boatload of questions about an afghan kit, I found them super friendly and helpful. And disagreeing over the weather? Absolutely no biggie… the person I am training loves this super warm weather, and its just not my cup of tea. Its a free country! Or at least that is what I thought.
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Post by cj59 on Aug 9, 2022 18:34:13 GMT
Hello Everyone Ginny - I'm glad you got your binding attached and hope you can get it sewn this week. Ruth - Hope you can get things worked out with that yarn. Phyl and Sue - Hope you are well. I agree with Ginny about the weather - I'll take the cold over the hot  It's the hottest day this week here - in the 90s with heat index around 100. I'll only go out to get the mail. But I know that you have a lot longer time in the year for colder weather, so I can understand you choosing the warmth I sandwiched the table topper quilt this morning but haven't basted it yet, hope to do that soon. I'll keep this for myself. It's not that large only 27x27, so it will be quick to quilt with straight lines on the diagonal. I haven't finished my second Moda Blockheads quilt yet, since the quilt along goes through September, there are 9 more blocks and a new one came out yesterday or today and it uses a 60 degree block. They gave paper piecing directions for those that want them, but I don't do well with paper piecing so I'll try using one of my tri-recs rulers to make the block. I made a final decision on how I'll layout these 16 blocks from the second half of this quilt along. I'm doing them in a 4 blocks across and 4 blocks down, with sashing and cornerstones between them all. I'm going to use small pinwheel blocks for the cornerstones and the white fabric for the sashing. I made another block this morning from the previous patterns because I needed that to make 16 blocks. So I can start piecing some of the sashing and make all the cornerstones to be ready to quickly put this top together in late September. I'm really happy with the pretty bright colors I'm working with. Here's a picture of all my blocks as of yesterday and another picture of the block I made this morning with two of the pinwheel blocks I'll be making for the cornerstones. I'll need 25 of them in total: Take care everyone and have a good day!   |
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Post by Ruth on Aug 9, 2022 18:41:24 GMT
HAHAHA, I was going to say the same about free country. MM got back to me and said they are having the warehouse supervisor "pull the yarn"for them, I guess they want to see for themselves what it's like.Regardless I'm not going to go to all the trouble to return if that's what they want me to do.
Since I finished two projects I've added two more. I started another knot bag (this one is turning out like it should...don't know what the problem was with the other two) One will be the blanket for the neighbor since I found out he is on chemo now. That will be my priority.I need to get the yarn together for that.I do want to finish the little purse I started for dggd and do the other little purse and the soccer ball for dggs.The other projects like the basketweave blanket don't have to be done right away although I want to keep up with the basketweave so I don't forget how to do it.
I hope all of you have a great day and don't get too warm.
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Post by Ruth on Aug 9, 2022 18:44:43 GMT
CJ, your post was not here when I started mine even though it says it was posted 7 minutes ago. I, too, love the colors and you did a great job putting them together. The pinwheel blocks will be great as cornerstones.
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Post by choney2 on Aug 9, 2022 22:33:52 GMT
Ruth, do you have any idea what the prognosis is for your neighbor? I know he has been a very good neighbor, kind and generous. Hope that you can put together a lovely afghan for him quickly, which I am sure he will appreciate. That is awesome that the knot bag (your latest) is working out well. I remember the first one being a bit problematic but not the second one. Are you using the same pattern?? Best of luck with MM. Perhaps a reasonable settlement might be to get a credit for the yarn- for another purchase. I know restocking the yarn they sent you would cost more than it is worth to them, and its not like you have never ordered from them before. Let us know how it all works out.
CJ- I love pinwheel blocks!! When I made my BOM they had us use something called thangles, to assist getting the triangles made for pinwheels. Its a bright and cheery quilt top and its good to hear that you are pleased with how the blocks are turning out. I am glad to hear that the table topper is one that will keep for yourself. Will you be putting it out as soon as you are done quilting and binding it?
Got my very warm walk in this am….then actually took a break and finished reading the book I was working on. I had listened to the book on CD when going upstate, and realized that I will not have enough time to listen in the car and I only had a few short chapters to the end. So I took the book out yesterday, and finished those short chapters today. It was an Agatha Christie mystery- I like her because the books are entertaining, but are lacking bad language or truly creepy plots. I did finish the book. Then had some errands to run, and got my hair done, rescheduled from last week. (My hairdresser got a bad summer cold). Now I am back home, and won’t be getting in any crafting today. Think I might go outside and build a fire…well lets say I will do that if the temperatures start to drop. Supposedly the temps will drop into the 60’s tonight. A welcome change.
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Post by cj59 on Aug 10, 2022 19:32:10 GMT
Hello Everyone Ruth - It's nice of you to make a blanket for your neighbor, I'm sure it will be used and appreciated. Your other projects sound fun Ginny - I'm glad you were able to get a walk in, I'd never survive walking in this heat Sounds like things are busy as always for you. Years ago I used Thangles for a project, but I'm just making the HSTs using the two at time method. I like that and I'm comfortable with trimming them. Phyl and Sue - Hope you are well. It's still hot and humid here but not as hot as yesterday. My house has a lot of heat built up into it though. I'm hoping it will get better by the weekend when it will be in the 80s. I woke up at 4:00 A.M. this morning and could never get back to sleep. I finally got up before 7:00 and spent the morning working on the two new Moda Blockheads quilt blocks and also did some machine quilting. I've figured out my layout for these last 16 Moda blocks, so I hope to start working on making my sashing and finish making the pinwheel blocks - I still need 23 of them. I'll put a picture of the blocks below. The one on the left is supposed to look like a jewel/bauble and I think it does. The instructions for this block were for paper (foundation) piecing, but I don't like that so I figured out how to make it my own way and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The other block is a basket. The machine quilting was not as easy. I had everything set up and quilt was basted (pinned) and marked ready for quilting. I set my machine on the stitch length I wanted but every time I started sewing the stitch length was small. I changed stitches and also tested them out along the outer edges of the backing/batting and they stitches were the right length, but then when I started on the quilt they went small again! It was very frustrating. I did have to pull out a bit from one of the rows. I finally finished quilting it all in one direction and the stitches were bigger. I think I'm done and now I'll go ahead and bind it. I probably need to pull out my other machine for machine quilting if I do this again, instead of using my smaller machine. This just shows me again that I do not like to machine quilt I'll be putting the table topper on the pile of completed quilts where I stack them. This one will remind me of being frustrated for awhile Take care everyone!  |
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Post by Ruth on Aug 10, 2022 20:27:24 GMT
CJ, the blocks are beautiful as usual. I really like that one on the left and am glad that you were able to make it in a way that is best for you. I remember you talking about paper piecing as well as Ginny and PHyl, and that it is difficult. I'm sorry the machine quilting didn't go well. That sounds like experiences I've had with sewing machines and, yes, it's very frustrating. Mine was in doing machine quilting. It was just sewing other things.
Yes I think someone would have to come and get me and carry me home if I tried to walk in this heat so congratulations to you Ginny on the walking despite the heat.
Well yesterday I was having a time deciding on colors for this prayer blanket. I've been in the neighbor's house a couple times but don't remember anything about the colors they have so I thought shades of gray with maybe a little white to give it a little brightness but then realized I didn't have enough grays in Premier basix to do another afghan and finish the basketweave. (Dgd wanted grays) so looked in my yarn store(aka my craft room) and saw that I had Pound of Love in only two shades with one being charcoal which is more like black. So digging deeper I found one called cornflower and it's perfect. It's kind of a bluish gray. So with the Charcoal, the cornflower and little white it's looking good. And the crystal wave pattern makes it do soft and cushiony.
I saw an article from Medscape today saying that awakening during the night is actually a good thing. It supposedly helps your memory.
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Post by Ruth on Aug 10, 2022 21:18:32 GMT
Oh and the other thing I meant to mention was that I couldn't use the pol with the Premier Basix anyway because the basix is much thicker than the POL even though they both are supposed to be the same weight.
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It's the hottest day this week here - in the 90s with heat index around 100. I'll only go out to get the mail. But I know that you have a lot longer time in the year for colder weather, so I can understand you choosing the warmth