Antique Quilts (That I Wish Were Mine!), and Binding

At quilt class Monday night, the teacher brought some of her quilts to show the different methods of binding, or finishing. These are beauties!

I especially liked the hexagon one, the maker placed black triangles at each point of the hexagon "flower", and it was a great design call.


The Double Wedding Ring was very creative in its design, too. Each solid color of the ring has an appearance in the print next to it. That took some planning!

I was sharing with friends my method of binding. Life is too short for me to do hand stitching. Come on, "Pokey" is a well earned name, I tell ya. :-}

Today was Little Zoe's first birthday. Here's some final pictures of her quilt, and the binding is machine finished.

Even at machine stitched, sewing the binding took about 3 hours to complete. I attach mine like you hand stitch-ers do, but I attach onto the back so that my finished top seams are spot on.

If it gets off a bit in the back, I'm okay. I'm pretty picky, so I make considerations on thread color and the contrast, but usually after the wash and draw up of the quilt it is all good. I only pin at the corners, because I want those neat mitered corners!

But, I've found if I don't pin the long sides I'm able to get my seams on the binding on the back by trying to match the seam line the bobbin shows. Is that clear?

You know, I deeply appreciate the fine hand stitching of others, it just isn't reality for me. I joke that if our ancestor quilting mothers had the wonderful sewing machines we have, we probably wouldn't see the quilting done by hand.

I know, I have friends in class that say I'd get marked down in competition, but hey, most of my work is love driven, not competitive. BTW, I have won two blue ribbons and a third place in county fairs, in machine quilting...just saying it is possible....
Now, I'm only sharing this for those of you who want to try, I am not criticizing anyone else's practices! I find it a joy to sew, but I always have. I hope you keep creating and enjoying it, too.

Oh, and I'm happy to add, the "Our America" quilt raised $275 at auction! Amen!!

Happy Quilting!
Pokey

What's on the Frame

For my friend Debbie J. from my Monday night quilt class, here's her piecework that I was honored to quilt for her.

She's a friend with patience, I've had this to do since January's "10 in 10" list was posted!

She has trusted me with one other project, a table topper that she gave at Hanukkah.

I had agreed with Susan today, you do approach someone else's work with a little fear and trepidation-what if I mess up? But, the extra precaution usually pays off with a very satisfied accomplishment, and another goal reached. I'm happy with it, I hope she is, too!

Now, it has become another completed project to cross off the list.
Don't you love reaching a goal?
*smile*

Now, here's what's cooking for dinner, "Too Two Chili" with cornbread, great for our stormy weather!
*note: I'm editing in the recipe!*
Larry says it's too good (it is soupy, and a lot like Marie Calendar's)
and it has almost two of everything:

Too Two Chili
-2 lbs browned and crumbled hamburger or ground turkey
season with black pepper and garlic powder while cooking
-2 onions, &-2 bell peppers, chopped (seeded) and softened in
-2 T. olive oil (or 1T, and 1/4 c water to boil them soft)
put in a large crockpot or stove top stewpot, and add undrained:
-2 cans stewed tomatoes, crushed
-2 cans kidney beans, regular size cans
-2 cans pinto beans, large size cans
-2 c water
-2 T chili powder
-2 t garlic powder
you can add red pepper flakes for "heat" if you prefer.
Cook for a while, it is good the next day, too. Yummy with cornbread!
Let me know if you try it.

And here is the little progress on my
Blue Kitchen Sink, from:

It is slow progress. Well, maybe it's just me. . . I am a little pokey. . . .

Happy Quilting,
Pokey

There Goes The Neighborhood

Hi, so I feel left out not posting this week at all, when actually I have sewn every spare minute it seems!
These are my twelve houses, and tomorrow, I will have only one of mine, and eleven new neighbors! Stay tuned, we'll see these guys again....

Happy Quilting, Pokey