30 October, 2008

Loaded, Piped and Serged!

There's a LOT going on in The Strawberry Patch these days... but it's little things, and each one requires sufficient time and attention; to the point that I feel like nothing is being accomplished at all. Ever have days like that? I feel a little bit like a cricket, hopping from one thing, then to the next. My brain must be about the size of a cricket's brain, too... herein lies part of the problem. I have loaded this quilt, pictured, onto Sundance. Simple enough, right? Not really. While attending long arm instructional classes, the week before last, we were given step-by-step loading instructions to facilitate the process for eventual quilt turning. It seemed simple enough, when we were there! It's not the way I've been doing it for months now, and something new always takes me longer. Eventually this new method will become second nature, but for now it's loaded and I'm proud of the way it all lines up. I hope to begin quilting it soon, that would seem like progress to me. But, there's the Zoo Train wallhanging for my grandson. Remember that? It's languished in pieces long enough. After consulting with my daughter a while back (months ago) we decided to sash the entire piece with solid navy blue and pipe around each block (there are 16!) with red to set them off, visually. I can make piping, and insert it straight and square, I just don't do it often enough for it to come easily to me. Detect a pattern here? Uh-huh. I think I know now what had become the roadblock to progress with this project, my hesitation to dive headfirst into the piping. Well, each block has it's piping made now and I'm closing in having them all piped. The rest will be easy, I feel all comfy-cozy with this process, at long last. Then there's the puddle pads... huh? Yep, puddle pads. For Mason's changing table. My daughter paid nearly $10 a piece for these and the edges aren't even finished! They are flannel back and flannel front with a rubber liner, the first time they are washed they fray and ravel like mad. She asked if I would serge around the edges. "Sure" I said, out loud. "Groan" I whispered silently, to myself. I don't use my serger often enough to even remember how to thread the darned thing, and I've had it for close to twenty years! Thank goodness I found it still threaded up from the last time I used it, that way, the simple act of finishing the edge of this only took half the afternoon. It's done, all serged! I guess it's safe to say that this cricket has a very low rate of retention; but for now, it's time to "hop to".

Life is Good!
~chirp~

Posted by Picasa

14 comments:

Quiltdivajulie said...

Oh, do I ever understand your cricket-ness!

You accomplished a great deal ~ good for you!!!

Paula, the quilter said...

Sometimes just jumping from one thing to another will whittle each down to a manageable size. Plus it keeps you challenged.

Baby Steps said...

Thank you! :)

Anonymous said...

Mrs. G, You are so amazing so now give yourself a pat on the back for all you've done on Sundance so far, I think you're right on! I love your drive to keep busy. I think Sundance must love being in your home and having you at the controls. Piping...that's a word that has always intimidated me so I never tried it. Why? I always wondered how to keep the piping taut once it's sewed on and not loose inside the casing, does that make sense? Like, how to sew it on just right so it works, not too close, and so on. Serger...ack...threading mine makes me nutty, I have that same dread, and for that reason, it sits unused too, mostly. I HAVE GOT TO GET OVER THESE FEARS AND JUST GROW UP! There, I said it.
;D wishes for a great day...cw

Mama Spark said...

Oh my! I seem to have your same cricket syndrome! I think you are doing amazingly well! I can't wait to see the train, it looks very cute.

Happy Halloween to you and your family!

Todd, Kari, Anna and Gracie said...

My Goodness!!! I am once again catching up on all your posts...First..CONGRATS about Mason!!! Oh Praise Him!! That is WONDERFUL!! I had some tears when I read your post about Mason and the family. WOW!! I also LOVED reading your posts about your quilts and about the acorns...((SMILE)) Your posts always put a smile on my face! It was great coming by and catching up....have a great day and know I am thinking about you and your family...

God Speed...

MJMR said...

sounds like you need a refresher Serger threading class at SO! Love the quilt, but of course it was the inspiration for the A & M 's wedding quilt. Can't wait to see the finsihed quilt.

Quilting Memories said...

SERGER......UMHHHHHH...... Now that I have finally learned to thread mine, I need to know how to use it for all the things it will do.....BUT, Most of that can be done on a sewing machine and my Sewing machine is always ready to use, and the serger is tucked away...so I rarely use it for anything...It is intimidating to me!!!!I love Mason's wall hanging, can't wait to see the finished project. take Care, bobbin

Teresa said...

Well, Jimminy..you've gotten a lot accomplished in your hopping.

Karen Newman Fridy said...

You'll have to show off all that piping...especially to MC (haha!)Sounds like you've been tremendously productive to me!

*karendianne. said...

I got a note today that said for me to remember "work is holy" so when I read this post I thought - well that's perfect! Because I think of that with you. In Spirit, Walking the Walk, Giving, Sharing...

Rhonda said...

Oh I like your cricket story! Now I know what to call it when I'm in that state!

Nan said...

My life is much like yours lately. I have been 'hopping' from project to project, and am not accomplishing anything! I guess it's all the small steps that lead to a finished project, right? I love the quilt and the blocks for Mason's wallhanging. I am not a fan of making piping, so I understand you putting off doing it. I'm sure you feel very good about having it almost finished now. Good for you! Chirp!

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

Don't forget to put a dab of Fray Check where your serging stitches end on those - or else the serging will eventually come out in the wash too - and they probably will be washed alot!
Cheers!
Evelyn