16 June, 2020

All American

All American ~ 60" X 60"

I didn't quite succeed in getting this patriotic quilt top pieced by Flag Day this year, but almost! I saw this pattern a few months ago online and knew that this was the quilt that I wanted to make as a wallhanging for brick wall out on the new porch, it will hang over the drop-leaf game table that Mr. Goodneedle is building-- the colors are perfect and I believe that the visual impact of this design is reminiscent of a game board. I did something that I hardly ever do: I ordered the kit from Simple Stitches; everything about the fabrics, colors and design appealed to me. The customer service was great, receiving the fabrics and pattern in a matter of only a few days! I modified the pattern for my space by only constructing five rows instead of six and omitting the outer border entirely.
This was an easy pattern, the blocks are all 12" and the piecing was straight forward. I didn't use the cutting instructions as directed: in fact, I never even opened the pattern at all. I used my Studio 180 tools: the Tucker Trimmer for the blocks above and the Wing Clipper for the large star blocks. 
It's easy to be accurate when joining the blocks using these tools, as everything is just a smidgen over-sized and the trim down results in perfectly square units every time. 
Once the blocks were all laid out I "webbed" the entire quilt top together vertically and then stitched the horizontal rows together; this is a time saving technique for me. 
Here's a snapshot of the cutting table with the paper pattern (link is above, under the top photo). If anyone reading this post would like the pattern, please let me know. Its brand new and I'd be more than happy to send it to you (USA). If more than one person would like it, I'll simply draw a number. Now, I just need to get this new top loaded and quilted; as things stand right now I have two quilts in line ahead of this one.

Adapting in an upside-down πŸ™ƒworld: because we can't visit my Mom and Dad in person right now we've taken to Face Timing. Our normal early morning phone calls are now video experiences. I'm extremely grateful to my brother-in-law who facilitated the I-pad set up so that this could happen. Originally we had planned to set-up this gift for Dad in person, when we went to their home back in March. That trip never happened. Finally, it became apparent that we wouldn't be traveling (and exposing them to heaven-knows-what we might encounter between here and there) for the foreseeable future, but the need to see each other was still great. So, we sent it off in a package!
This is a screen shot of our phone visit this morning; I couldn't be happier, he was willing and eager to learn and use technology. We hope to get up to New England to see them by late summer or early fall. Fingers crossed. 
"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be" - Abraham Lincoln

What's making you happy today? 
I have switched off the TV and am listening to my favorite playlist of oldies while I sew.πŸ™‚πŸŽ΅  
Next up on my cutting table: more face masks, assembly-line style. 

Life is Good!

6 comments:

darlynn said...

I would love the pattern. Thank you for offering.
Your dad is darling by the way.
My mom tried to learn "technology" but at 92, it just isn't working so well for her.

thank you

Janet O. said...

That is a great summer quilt. A perfect addition to your screened porch.
That is nice that you can Facetime with your folks. My Mom can't even remember how to answer a call on her cell phone.

cityquilter grace said...

just being outside in fresh summery air...not hot or cold...just right as goldilocks would say! fall in new england is wonderful....me and mum have vaca plans first two weeks sept...

Susan said...

I think that's great that your Dad was willing to learn some new technology! Our technology is difficult for some elderly folks so it always makes me smile when I see or hear about them using it πŸ™‚ Very happy for you that you can start your mornings with a video call with them! I feel awful telling you that I am interested in your pattern since I see that others are too, but I love the design! ❤ Have a beautiful day and stay safe!

Quiltdivajulie said...

We do Face Time with Little Man and his parents - my sister uses Zoom with her three grown kids and their families all together every Sunday after dinner. (They chose zoom because 2 families don't use apple products) Good for your NE family. I've been listening to more music lately - Pandora to the rescue.

Tanya said...

Good for your Dad to be willing to give this new technology a try! Sometimes it is even too much for me! It would be good to be together with loved ones but iPad, Facetime, Zoom etc. is a wonderful blessing!