A Showery Kind of Day!

Rain poured all night.  It rained all day.
It was a misty, drippy, constant light right kind of day.
But what did it matter?
The quilters were all inside quilting - just as we are want to do on a quilt retreat.
It was the best kind of "Nowhere to go, nowhere to be but here and sew all day kind of day!"
I set right in to getting the borders on my Ladder Star top.
There was a bit of finger re-pressing to do as I went along as I needed the seams in the border to nest with the seams in the blocks.  Not a bit deal.
After taking the quilt with attached border lengths to the ironing board, it was a quick press to get them permanently going in the right direction.

And then the final victory lap - face down on the machine so I could keep those seams going the way the need to be going.

I really have found that wrong-side-up is the best way to do this kind of stay-stitching.

Click to Play:

Such a fun finish!

And yes, I am intending on hand quilting this one.  WHY?

Because I like spending some extra time with some of my quilts before I just run full speed ahead into the next one.

I like having a hoop in my lap and a thimble on my finger in the evenings when we watch TV. I find it calming.

There is no hurry to finish this one so I'll get it machine basted up when the batting arrives (Quilter's Dream Request is the lightest loft and I like it for hand quilting.) and as soon as my current signature block quilt is done (It's getting so close!) I'll have something waiting in the wings to slip into my hoop and away I'll go.

If everything pans out right, I'll have this one done and ready to offer as a PDF this fall.  It has kind of a fall feeling, doesn't it?

And there are some other already completed quilts made with recycled shirts that are waiting for PDF releases that will likely come ahead of this one so if you are antsy to start on a shirt quilt, we'll have more to pique your interest coming up.

Speaking of hand quilting - I've had many requests to do a video of how the needle puller shown in Barbara's photos worked.

I searched YouTube and found several (So please, instead of asking me to make a video, use the Google or YouTube search bar and see if there is one already.)

I have added the needle puller/hedgehog to the Quilting All the Time category of the Quiltville Amazon Affiliate Store.  

Direct link HERE. #ad

What I like best about the needle puller is that it has a thread cutter built in, and you don't have to stop stitching to pick up a pair of plyers to pull your needle through. It really helps get through tough places where seams build up.

Pulled a backing!  And there was enough!

My bins of backing stash gave me the opportunity to use this Pat Speth Civil War repro - I don't know when it came out, but as you can see it is stripey - and even the little doololly in the print is directional so it is great for a back, not so great for small piecing.

Meanwhile at the inn - something sneaky was happening!

Gail is about to become a first time grandma - and while she ran out to run some errands (with someone else in the know in tow to make sure she stayed away long enough!) the quilters were setting up a surprise baby shower for the grandma-to-be.

Just look at these!

Fancy olives and all!

Bring on all of the baby shower fun!

As for me - I had to miss the whole thing due to a 3:30pm Chiropractor appointment that had me needing to leave before the festivities really got under way - I was on the road at 3pm right when Gail was pulling into the drive after her run around journey.

I can't wait to get back this morning and find out how everything went.

And that rain? It continued all night.  It is still raining this morning and I had a heck of a time getting the dogs out for morning business.

Welcome to the season of MUD!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Always remember that you are strong enough to handle your challenges, wise enough to find a solution to your problems, and capable enough to do whatever needs to be done.

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But don't forget to breathe!

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Quilt found in Texas. Lavender and cheddar? Bring It on!

Have a marvelous weekend, everyone!