Id which we brig you more sewig
Ah, the summer cold. Living, viral proof that life is neither fair nor dignified. I’ve managed to succumb to it on the last day of school two years running, thereby wimping out on the nocturnal faculty revelries that traditionally follow graduation. Since I don’t feel much like getting out and doing things, it’s fortunate that I’ve got endless table-top entertainment in the form of my mother-in-law’s rotary cutter and a big stack of newly washed fabric:
I’ve been merrily pizza-cutting squares for the Leafy Snowball quilt: the genius of the Leafy Snowball quilt is that it’s all squares, but ends up looking like circles – perfect for a beginner like me. I made one last run to Mill End, and now I think I have all the colors I need, save for a few more solids to form the diamond shapes in between the “circles.” I still need to sew the binding onto the Lap Quilt before I’ll let myself start playing with the arrangement for the Leafy Snowballs in earnest, but since the rotary cutter is on loan for a finite period, I feel justified in forging ahead with the cutting. Besides, my parents were here to visit over the weekend (Happy Birthday again, Mom!), and my mother was riveted by the rotary cutting action. Both my craftsperson parents like to see a particularly useful tool doing its bit. And while I made a few wobbly cuts at the beginning, I’m wielding the thing with confidence now. I may need to get my mother-in-law a new blade before I give it back.
Speaking of sewing, I finally got a picture of the Bend-the-Rules Denyse Schmidt (good catch, Véronique!) oven mitt in situ:
But any cleverness I might have been feeling about this has now been erased by the fact that the Charming Handbag Knitting Bag I just made from Bend-the-Rules Sewing has now flown out the door to be Katrin’s birthday present without posing for a single picture, in progress or finished. One big forehead smack for me coming right up. Go say Happy Birthday to Katrin – you should see her spanking new blue elephant ink! (Well, maybe in a week or so when it’s all healed. In the meantime, take my word that it’s really cute – I mean tough – and that the girl is a rockstar and barely flinched even for the ouchy over-the-tailbone parts.)
And now I’m off to down another mug of tea and summon the energy to go frisbee the dog.
Posted: June 17th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Oh there will be pictures – probably paired with my nice yellow socks;)
Posted: June 18th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Looking at all that fabric makes me want to dive into my fabric stash again. I have a whole closet full that is just scraming to become a couple of scrappy quilts, which are my favorites. Why do you linedry your fabric? I throw mine into the dryer, so they’ll shrink before I cut them and not later, when they are a quilt.
Posted: June 18th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I hope you feel better soon!
Oh, your quilts are going to be lovely 🙂 By the way, is that oven mitt from the Denyse Schmidt Quilt book?
Posted: June 18th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Thanks, guys! Angelika, I line-dry pretty much everything when the weather is good to save $ and electricity. I wash the fabric in warm water, which is what I’ll do with the quilt later on. But the finished item will either be line-dried or put through the dryer on low heat, so I’m hoping the shrinkage won’t be too much of a problem. Of course, that’s assuming I’m going to keep it – if it’s going elsewhere I’d better give it the full dryer treatment so the recipient doesn’t get any nasty surprises! 🙂
Posted: June 18th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Poor you! Get well soon and have fun with the quilt. Speaking of cutting implements–have you ever seen Dial M for Murder? I recommend it: Grace Kelley is the leading lady, and the contents of a sewing basket get put to some diabolical uses. Maybe an afternoon-on-the-couch watch?
Posted: June 19th, 2008 at 1:27 am
Beautiful fabric! And aren’t rotary cutters fantastic? Truly a magnificent invention.
I made that oven mitt too! Love that book, sigh….
Posted: June 19th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Hope you’re feeling better by now so you can really enjoy your quilt, which I think is going to look fantastic.