Thankful Thursday

What a week this has been!  In the midst of getting College E ready to head back today and Little S starting tomorrow I held a sewing class at the library yesterday.  Way back when I picked the date I had no idea what the week would be like.  But sewing is my therapy, so all is well!

Learning to use her mother's machine!

We had 5 brand new sewists come to the class.  Little Miss A had sewn with her grandma and had her own machine, but that was a quite a while ago, so she was really starting from scratch along with everyone else.  They were all so excited.  I love the enthusiasm when they first press the pedal and see it go!! First they practiced sewing straight lines on gingham and pivoting at the corners.

Slow & Steady

We talked about different kinds of fabrics and sewing projects.  Also demonstrated the different parts of the machine and dos and don'ts.  I love teaching about using a "spider".  Did anyone else learn about "spiders" way back from Eleanor Burns on TV?

Separating the project from the spider.

Now I use Bonnie Hunter's leaders & enders method, but by starting with the spider the students learn why it is so helpful.  After we get the straight lines down, we will move on to leaders & enders.  They were duly impressed by my X Marks the Spot Quilt which is the result of consistent leadering & ending!

Lots of Leaders & Enders

Then they were pedal to the metal making travel tissue covers.  That is such a fun first project.  Guaranteed success and practical too.  Perfect for Back to School!

Unsewing.  It happens to all of us.

By the end of the class my stress of getting all my girls to the right place at the right time with the right stuff was gone.  I know that if I had stayed home I would not have taken the time to sew, but teaching the class was just what I needed.

Careful straight line stitching

I am so thankful to these ladies of all ages for giving up one of the last afternoons of their summer vacation to learn to sew.

Getting the Red Out

The red inspired me as a border for X Marks the Spot.

I think it is perfect and it kept me out of the red this week. 

Fabric Used/Out This Week: 1.6 yards
Fabric Used/Out in 2016: 56.29 yards

Fabric In This Week:  0 yards

Fabric In 2016: 54.67 yards
 
Net Used 2016:  1.62 yards

Staying accountable with Judy over at Patchwork Times.

X Marks the Spot is a Flimsy

I'm so glad that I got the last blocks done before I had to move the sewing room.  So when I wanted something relatively simple this past weekend getting those blocks sewn together was perfect.

The story of all this red is coming soon.  A GREAT find!!

Having all the newly acquired red fabric lying around while I was webbing the blocks made me see the natural combination.  

I love the way it turned out.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict to show off finishes.

Stash Report 073116

X Marks the Spot Blocks are Done!!

My school responsibilities are done for the summer so I have about 2 weeks left of vacation to do my own thing.   Before getting into anything more serious I sewed. I was close enough to done on this Leader & Ender project that I just finished the blocks.   I have enjoyed the process of just working away at something without a real plan.  I love the finished product.   One day I'll lay all the blocks out on the LR floor and get them arranged and then joined together.

Pretty sure I'll add borders to finish it up.


Fabric Used/Out This Week: 4.83 yards X marks the Spot blocks
Fabric Used/Out in 2016: 50.52 yards

Fabric In This Week:  0  yards

Fabric In 2016: 31.54 yards
 
Net Used 2016:  18.98 yards

Staying accountable with Judy over at Patchwork Times.

Leader & Ender Finish

This started as Leader & Enders a few years ago with no plan.  First joining 2" squares into twosies.  Then since I had no plan I joined them into 4-patches.  Still no plan but the idea of a 16-patch was appealing so that was the next step.

Sorry - no way to show all the blocks together yet.

By then I had seen the X kind of design and I liked it so I made some calculations and started on the neutral X blocks.  Then joined the blocks together.   

This week is the Grand Reconfiguring of the upstairs and the sewing room will be taken apart and put back together in a modified version - in a slightly larger room, but also serving as living space for Little S.  I had enough of the blocks done or partially pieced that I made a final plan (24 blocks in a 4x6 layout) and just went ahead and made the last 4 blocks.  I'd rather my next step be put the flimsy together then start all over on the design wall in the other room.  Now I can put it away for a rainy day waiting to get its final layout and sewn together. Done is good.  

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict to show off finishes.