Category Archives: Dwr

Making Progress

January 5, 2010 12:05 pm ⋅ Pam

The 4-patches I seamed Sunday evening went together easily with a 3/8″ seam. No issues. For the most part, the 3-patches on the outer edge are going together just as easily, also with a 3/8″ seam. I suspect, on the 4-patches which gave me so much trouble which were from the older part of the quilt, as I’ve run into a couple along the edge of the quilt. I can easily tell the older parts of the quilt from the new from the thread color. Burgundy is really old (20 years), navy can either be really old or simply just old (5+). The piecing from this past summer is done in gray thread. I switched to mostly piecing in gray thread 4 or 5 years ago.

After I stopped piecing for the evening, I counted what was left. 10 3-patches. So, I’m really close to having this pieced. Maybe tonight?

Posted in: dwr

What’s On My Design Wall

January 4, 2010 7:00 am ⋅ Pam

Today, it’s really “What’s on my Sewing Table?” Yesterday after getting something to drink, reading several chapters in my book, cooking dinner, doing a couple of loads of laundry and shoveling snow, I sat down at my sewing machine to get tough with myself.

I won’t say the 4-patches are perfect, but then that can be said about the entire quilt top, but they are done. Now, on to the 3-patches along the outer edge of the quilt. I’ve done one side, so I think there’s 18 left to do, plus one corner 2-patch.

Check out other design walls by visiting Judy at Patchwork Times.

Posted in: designwall, dwr

Three Days into the New Year and Procrastination Has Started

January 3, 2010 2:52 pm ⋅ Pam

It’s only January 3rd, and I’ve already started procrastinating — and I’m not talking about the laundry or other housework — that’s ongoing. I’m referring to getting those last few seams done on the Double Wedding Ring or putting borders on Ladder to the Stars.

I’ve finished the HSTs for Carolina Christmas Part 4. I don’t have the 2 1/2″ squares cut that are needed to finish this part. To help combat the procrastination, I’m not going to cut them until I finish the DWR top. There’s only 9 4-patches, 23 3-patches and 2 2-patches to finish seaming (see, anything to avoid working on it). I think I’ve narrowed it down to 3 things.

I’ve worked on this quilt on and off (mostly off) for 20 years and it will be sad in some ways to see the top finished — never mind that I’ll finally get to start quilting on it.
I made the mistake of putting it on the bed before I finished those 4-patches to see if I need to make it bigger. As a result I’ve “seen” the finished top and I’m ready to move on.
I’m not able to simply use a 1/4″ seam. Each seam has to be measured to see what is going to best work for the particular patch I’m working on.

Truth be told, it’s # 3 which is really holding me back.

As for why Ladder to the Stars is not getting done it’s because if I work on that, I’m not working on the DWR. Anyone see a theme here other than me?

Well, I said the DWR is # 1 on my Accountability Challenge so I that will be what I work on next. Right after I get something to drink, read a chapter or two in my current book and perhaps shoveling some snow off the driveway.

Oh , I’ve got a problem.

Posted in: Carolina Christmas, dwr, goals

What’s On My Design Wall? – 12/28

December 28, 2009 11:58 am ⋅ Pam

Another week where I am recycling an old photo. There’s nothing on my design wall this morning.

I finished Raising Cane yesterday and I don’t want to start anything new. Not that I don’t have plenty to work on. My goals for the rest of the year are to get the borders on Ladder to the Stars and finish the rest of those seams on the DWR. I’m not sure what’s up with the DWR.

So last night, instead of doing either of these tasks, or even working on step 3 of Carolina Christmas I was playing with WordPress to see if I would like it better than Blogger. I like the idea of pages and with WordPress I can upload PDF files. So this may be my last Design Wall post from Blogger.

But I will not work on it any more until I get the DWR ready to baste! Keep reminding me of this. I really want this quilt on our bed by the end of November.

Check out what everyone else has on their design wall this last week of 2009 over at Judy’s blog.

Posted in: Carolina Christmas, designwall, dwr, Ladder to the Stars

DWR Backing Found in my Stash

November 4, 2009 10:59 pm ⋅ Pam

After measuring my quilt top last night, I got to worrying about the batting. I typically use Warm & Natural in my quilt tops, but when I buy it by the yard, it’s only 90″ wide. My quilt measures approximately 94″ x 104″ – so I’m going to have to buy a king batt. I’m currently leaning toward Quilters Dream Cotton – Request.

That got me worrying about the backing. I called the LQS to check to see how wide the backing are – and shoot I can’t remember now – but I did validate that even the narrowest wide backing (is that an oxymoron?) will be wide enough. The bolt sale lasts through Saturday, so I can get the backing on sale.

That was this morning early. Fast forward to about an hour ago and a flash of inspiration struck me. About a year ago I bought a bolt of 60″ wide 100% cotton shirting for next to nothing. I pulled it out looked at it and decided that it would be perfect for my backing. Although I’m not looking forward to seaming the backing, I can take comfort in that it is fabric out of my stash and no additional purchase was needed.

Since I was on a roll, I pulled out my thread box and found both a partially used and a brand new spool of thread. The color is Camel. Since I really like this color, and would hate to run out of it before the quilting is complete, the next time thread goes on sale, I’m going to buy at least one maybe two spools of it.

I might just have this quilt on the frame by this time next week. Still have to finish seaming the 4-patches. I’m not sure what I did this evening, but it wasn’t a whole lot of piecing.

Posted in: dwr

It Is the Last Row!

November 3, 2009 10:34 pm ⋅ Pam

I just finished attaching the last row of rings to my Double Wedding Ring quilt! No, it’s not ready for the frame — I still have 4 patches to seam on the last two rows and then stitch the seams on the outer 4-patches, which are only going to be 3-patches. No sense in making them 4-patches and giving me 2 more corners per ring to miter around when I finally get to the binding.

Now I’ve got to measure the quilt to see how much backing I’ll need and start thinking about thread color for the quilting.

This is what I’m planning on quilting in the background. It’s a stencil by Gloria Hartley that I bought years ago.

I will also need to do some sort of quilting in the pieced arcs and 4-patches. I’m leaning toward outlining the arc, but not the individual pieces. I do want to finish this in this lifetime, preferably by this time next year.

Given that some of the quilting will be on the off white background and some on the colored pieces, should I use two different color threads? Or is there something which won’t look odd in both places. I suspect my thread color may influence my backing choices.

Posted in: dwr

What’s On My Design Wall? – 11/02

November 2, 2009 7:46 am ⋅ Pam

This is what I believe to be the last row of my Double Wedding Ring. Last night I finally sewed on the previous row, although I still need to sew the 4-patches. The row is far enough along so I now know I need an extra blue arc for this last row.

Check out what other quilters have on their design walls by following the links over at Patchwork Times.

Posted in: designwall, dwr

November 2009 Quilting Goals

November 1, 2009 7:13 pm ⋅ Pam

Since I didn’t do so well on last month’s goals, it’s more of the same.

* Keep up with the SBS BOW
* Finish the hand quilting on Josh’s Quilt
* Finish piecing the DWR
* Complete Finishing Instructions for large Kansas Spirit BOM
* Keep Scraps Cut Up

Posted in: dwr, Josh's Quilt, KTS, monthly goals, SBS

Review of October 2009 Quilting Goals

October 31, 2009 11:38 pm ⋅ Pam

The month is over, so how did I do? Well, not as good as previous months, but it could have been worse.

* Keep up with the SBS BOW – Done
* Finish the hand quilting on Josh’s Quilt – nope – two thirds of the last block remains
* Finish piecing the DWR – nope – one row is ready to attach and the last row needs putting together
* Hand quilt 2 rings on DWR – obviously not
* Complete Finishing Instructions for both sizes of Kansas Spirit BOM – The smaller quilt instructions have been turned in!
* Machine quilt borders on Josh’s Quilt – obviously not
* Make at least 4 make-up SBS blocks
* Decide on the quilting for Jeremiah’s quilt – didn’t even look at it.
* Work on Ladder to the Star sashings – finished and got the center completed
* Keep Scraps Cut Up – did this, not that there was much to do

I also made a pineapple block to try out a new-to-me technique.

Posted in: dwr, Josh's Quilt, KTS, Ladder to the Stars, monthly goals, pineapple, SBS

What’s On My Design Wall? – 10/26

October 26, 2009 4:30 pm ⋅ Pam

These are the melons for the last planned row in my DWR. One I get the previous row attached and these into a row and attached I’ll make my final decision. The melon on the bottom doesn’t have it’s corner squares yet because I’m not sure if they are supposed to be red or blue.