Caught Up in the Webbing!

Who can guess what is going on here?

My Accuquilt studio has been getting a workout!

As much as I love my machines for quilting – equally important are the tools I cut with.

The best thing I ever did – okay, the second best thing – was to buy a second Accuquilt for the cabin.  Yes, I have two.  One at the house in Wallburg, and one at Quilt Villa in Virginia.

My patchwork designing is really pretty straight forward – Everything breaks down into the strip widths I use the most, so the strip dies are right at the top of my favorite things.

When it comes to cutting sashings with cornerstones already attached?  I stitch and press and subcut!

Weehaaaa!

Can you see the parallel lines I drew perpendicular to the blades with a silver sharpie?  Those lines help keep me straight so I don’t end up with parallelogram sashings. 

Boy did that sentence have a whole lot of geometry in it.  My 9th grade math teacher would be impressed.  LOL!

ONE PASS!

I cut all of this with one pass of the tray – less than 10 seconds of cranking through – I tell you, that Accuquilt is the quilters version of Play-Doh Fun Factory!

And as I say the words Play-Doh, I’m thinking – Do kids even play with that anymore?  Do they use their imaginations anymore? Or is it all digital electronic stuff they play with.  What a shame if so.

Sorting out the neutral cornerstones from the 1 1/2’’ squares bin.

I hope you also save squares in the sizes you use most.  For me it is automatic when I get down to the tail end of any scrap of fabric.  I save squares in 1 1/2’’, 2’’, 2 1/2’’ and 3 1/2’’.  I also have a stack of 5’’ charm squares that have come to me by a variety of sources, but I don’t personally cut those to save them as I find I then later have to cut them down to something else to use them.  But they are there.  And I dig into them when I can.

Here at the cabin it is as simple as 4 plastic shoe boxes, one with each size.  At home I’ve gone one step farther – I keep the neutrals separate from the colors, so there are 2 drawers for each size.  It just makes things easier for me to choose what I need for whatever I am doing with them.

Laying sashings down, neutral cornerstones in place!

This is as much of this project as I can show you for right now.  But yes, I lay the sashings and cornerstones so everything is where I want them, and then I begin to assemble my quilt web.

The beginning of column #3!

I’m loving this Necchi Nora!

I’m also smiling because the two “IOWA” sashings you see here were given to me while in Iowa last week.  Stitch the memories in as often as you can!  Don’t save everything for a future memory quilt --- just add them to the one you are already making as part of the memories of this one!

Webbing in progress!

One thing I have learned over my years of sewing with vintage machines – not all cabinets are the same height!  And some of them have more leg room than others.

A girl has gotta do what a girl has gotta do!

This cabinet sits shorter than the cabinet my 301 is in. And the legs are closer together. A quick trip to the construction area around the “Man Shed” gleaned 4 pieces of scrap lumber to place under the legs and get the machine up to where this tall girl needs it. 

I also prefer to sew centered in front of the needle, and this means I’m sitting with my left leg on the OUTSIDE of the left table leg…..It’s keeping me from leaning and keeps my left leg from being pressed up against the inside of the front left table leg while sewing --

I love sewing on a flat surface, and cabinets are great – but why don’t they give you more room for your legs?

**As I say this I realize this cabinet was made in the late 1950s as pencil skirts and pumps became the fashion…..knees were evidently a lot closer together in that era!**

It hit 3pm and I just HAD to get out and get some fresh air.  An antique mall run? 

Anyone near West Jefferson, NC looking for a treadle?

This is a beautiful 27 that just needs some love.  The cabinet is in “fair” shape, and would be a great refinishing project for someone.  The machine moves freely, the shuttle is in place.  $95.00 at Main Street antiques.

There were no quilts that I hadn’t already photographed on my previous trip (Remember the post about the string quilt with the murder trial story on the newspaper foundation!?) but I did find this to come home:

Gorgeous oak mirror with original beveled glass!

$15.00!!

I’m not even sure where it is going to go yet.  I just knew I loved the shape –  so interesting.  I’ll find a place.  I just couldn’t leave it behind.

How do you know when you have really made a place feel like HOME??  You run into someone you love and admire, not once – but TWICE in two different stores in the same day.

I was wandering the aisles at Dollar Tree when who do I spy but Carolyn!  The last time I saw her was during our Bedford, Virginia workshops in February – not that long ago I guess, but it feels like longer!  we had a good quick chat, I got to meet her daughter, and off I went, only to run into her and her hubby at Walmart about an hour later while picking up groceries.

West Jefferson is a very small town, and between the Lowes, the Walmart and the Dollar Tree, along with Tractor Supply, you’ve pretty much got my route down pat – especially if you throw in the antique mall.

In ALL the 10 years I’ve lived in Wallburg, I have rarely if ever ran into a quilt friend while shopping.  Twice in one day? Yes, this place feels more and more like home.

Funny of the day!

I really NEED a cabin stash of necessaries so I am not hauling so much stuff back and forth ---on a whim I read the laundering instructions on a pack of pretties I was considering and promptly put them back.  In my busy life I do NOT have time for  a.) hand washing of delicates or b.) line drying of the same.  There is no doubt that I would NOT be ironing these!

As nice as microfiber sounds, they went back on the shelf and I stuck with good old machine wash/machine dry cotton!

I don’t even deal with lingerie bags and hand-wash cycles on my machine.  If they can’t be thrown in with the rest of my wash, forget it!

It gave me a chuckle all the way back to the cabin where I settled in for some evening binding stitching:

Scrappy reds all around the edge!

This project will be revealed in due time.  Can’t wait!  It’s got china memories sewn into it, and the red Chinese house fabric is perfect as backing.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Boxy Stars quilt shared by Debbie during our Illinois workshops last month.

List one thing in the comments section that you won't take for granted today!

Happy Friday, everyone!