Have I mentioned that I recently took a felting class?

 Now don't laugh, this was my first attempt.  The process involves laying wool roving over a piece of cotton fabric, wetting it with soap and water, folding up the plastic and rolling PVC pipe back and forth to agitate the fibers so they cohere.  It will eventually become a pin cushion.  Wool lanolin is good for sharpening needles, or so I've read.

The shop offers a wide variety of colorful stuff for knitters, spinners, and weavers.

 Aren't these pretty?

 The next item coming up in the Baggie Brigade, "cue the trumpets", is a string piecing project that's about 10 years old.

From this book here.  Check with your guild members, someone is bound to have it.  It's an oldie but a goody.

Have a warm and sewful weekend everyone.  Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Old joke: What is black and white and "red" all over?

I don't know either, but they sure do like peanut butter.

If the polar vortex has once again found your county and come a-knockin' at your door, please remember to wear your hat and bundle up.  With a low of 19 last night, Spring has not found us quite yet.

Until then, keep stitchin'  . . .

Excerpts from 1922

Ordering Ice by Pounds

It is often a great annoyance to the busy housewife to accomplish the necessary household tasks and still keep a watchful eye for the ice man's arrival in order to tell him the amount of ice desired.  I have eliminated this inconvenience in the following manner:  I cut out the figures ten, fifteen, twenty, thirty, etc., from the large-typed calendar, and when I need ice, I attach the necessary figure to the ice card with a clip. 

A. C. W., Mass.

Good Housekeeping Cookbook 

To keep a timeline perspective, my maternal grandfather was an ice man in Philadelphia.  He carried huge blocks of ice up tenement steps for refrigerators.  Isn't it a wonder that our grandmothers had any time to quilt?

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .  

Eggless, Milkless, Butterless Cake

A recipe for hard times,

Or in case the storm keeps you at home while low on supplies.

Good Housekeeping Cookbook, 1922.  

Eggless, Milkless, Butterless Cake

2 cupfulls brown sugar
2 cupfulls hot water
2 tablespoonfuls shortening
1 teaspoonful salt
1 package seedless raisins
1 teaspoonful cinnamon
1 teaspoonful cloves
3 cupfuls bread flour
1 teaspoonful soda

Boil together the sugar, water, lard, salt, raisins, and spices for 5 minutes.  When cold, add the flour and the soda dissolved in a teaspoonful of hot water.  This makes two loaves.  Bake about 45 minutes in a 325 degree oven.  This cake is of good texture and will keep moist for some time.

Until then, keep stitchin' . .  .

On the lighter side of the news.

A bit of spring cleaning was done yesterday.  Unearthed was my paternal grandmother's 1922 copy of the Good Housekeeping Cookbook.

Which had the following suggestion:

"Evening Stocking Darning"

Darning dark stockings at night was quite an ordeal for me until I discovered that by inserting my electric spot-light in the stocking and darning the stocking over the illuminated glass end, the process was made quite simple.  Aside from the light enabling me to darn faster and more neatly, I found the glass surface an excellent darner.  

Mrs. W. G. H., Pa.

So for all of you darners out there looking for a better way to save stockings, please use a low-watt bulb and try not to burn your fingers.

For those of you who do not know what darning means, just Skype your grandma.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Just a few steps to the finish.

 Begun in July, this pink baby quilt sat in the closet in halves.  That seems to happen when it's time to clean up the sewing room.  Evidently, I clean up a lot!

 So I quickly assembled the sections, added a 2-1/2 floral border, and a 4" pink border.

The 9-patches are made using 2" squares.  After trimming, the alternate floral square was cut to that exact size.

Today the front door is open and some windows are too.  A high of 60 something is predicted.  Quite a difference from last week.

Until then, keep stitchin' .. . . .

Flash binding . . . binding done in a flash.

Good buddy L.M. and I recently discussed machine binding for speed and durability.  The binding was placed on the back, sewn down, pressed flat, folded over, and pressed again to cover the sewn line.   Then following Wanda's idea, I used a small zig-zag stitch to get this quilt finished in a flash.

The label will go on once the baby is born (any day now) so name, date, and birth weight can be added.

The pinwheel blocks measured 6-1/4" when trimmed.  The blue sashing was cut at 2-1/2" and the border at 3".  I also used up 4 left over pieces of batting, layered.

And just to add some cuteness to your day . . . sweet Dolly enjoying a porch nap.  

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . 

First the good news.

We're supposed to reach 60 today.

And . . . after 2 years of indecision, background fabric was selected and the first basket block baggie is being assembled.

Now the bad news . . .

I'm running low on Thimbleberrries Quilt Club Collection 2003, sku# 4504 in Green.

If anyone has one yard to trade or sell, kindly let me know.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Another baggie busted for QOV

Farmer's daughter is one name for this block, shown frequently in books by Connie and Mary at Country Threads.

It's a great pattern for new quilters who wish to expand their repertoire.  

If you'd like me to do a post/tutorial on cutting and assembly, just let me know. 

Here's Dolly doing her imitation of a one-eyed pirate . . . Arghh mattie, where's me chow?

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . 

"The Perils of Pauline"

 With no Dudley Do-Right in sight.

The story begins when all the snow melted into the soil.

Our innocent heroine (exit stage left) climbs into her vehicle for a trek to the fabric shop in search of backing fabric.  After all, they are having a SALE on EVERYTHING at $4.00 a yard for goodness sake.

 "For Goodness Sake" yells Pauline.  "I'm stuck."

 Thinking fast, Pauline loads Dolly into the truck for extra ballast.

But nothing works.  Not wood pellets under the tires, hay, or boards.  And who knows where the kitty litter is hiding.

So what does our heroine do . . ..

She sews.

And sews

Knowing soon the mud will dry up.  By that time, every finished quilt top will have exact measurements for backing fabric.

But wait, don't touch that dial!  We'll be back with more finished quilts for the Etsy Shop.  

So until next time, keep stitchin' . . . 

Directions for Block B of American Chain and yes, more snow pictures.

I've discovered that unlike Dolly, birds will not stay still for photos.  The fact that I got 2 birds with one shot is pretty amazing.

 I went out early and spent 45 minutes taking pictures using 2 different lenses.  Sadly, somehow I lost about 75 shots.  

 Everything is melted off the trees now.

And even the roads are cleared.  It was pretty while it lasted.

Now on to block B of American Chain, or you could call it a scrappy Irish Chain.

I've been making this pattern since 1989 and have always had trouble with Block B.  The problem comes from using a wide variety of 2" squares in Block A.  Some were cut from starched fabric, most were not.  A lot of the squares are frayed.  Since they were cut at different times, different locations, different cutting tables, and under different lighting conditions, you could say they measure . . . . differently.

I cannot starch them after assembly, they shrink too much.

However, I have come up with a solution.  It's only taken 24 years to figure this out, proving once again that you can teach an old dog new tricks.

To begin, use a square ruler that has increments of 1/8th.

Measure the 3 center rows from side to side, include the seams.

That is the width of the center unit of Block B.

Measure the length of the 3 center rows and that is the length of Block B piece, PLUS, add 1/2"

My measurement came out as 5-1/8" x 8-1/2".

To create the side pieces of Block B, I first measured the length of the center 3 squares on Block A.  Including seam allowance.

My measurement came out to 5" long.

Here are the pieces for Block B.  Center section measures 5-1/8" wide and 8-1/2" long.

The side pieces are cut 5" long, but 2-1/2" wide.  That's 1/2" wider than the original squares in Block A.

I'm also using 2-1/2" squares as the cornerstones. 

By finger pressing in half, I was able to pin together and sew after aligning on the center line.

After pressing, Block B was trimmed down to the exact size of Block A, which is 8".  To trim evenly, the ruler must be set at the center point horizontally and vertically of the block.  Not along the sides.

In this case, I put a small pencil mark at the top center and side center.  The rulers' 4" mark was aligned on those pencil marks.  I recommend making a test block before cutting all of your fabric.

Of course the tan/light fabric was starched well before cutting for Block B.  This helps stabilize Block A even more.

Soon I'll show you the assembled quilt.  Today I'm working on the borders.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Gee, guess what?

 It's snowing.

 Again or still, you choose.

This is what 40% chance of snow looks like.

Evidently I learned a different definition of percentages than the weatherman.

40% off of a yard of fabric I can calculate in a flash, but snow, no way.

I'm very thankful I can look out and enjoy it and not have to drive in it.

Dolly is too.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Is it Skippy or the other guys, consumers can tell the difference.

Pileated woodpeckers are picky about their peanut butter.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .