Part 2: Quarantine quilting – the tale of a scattered serial quilter
Apparently “scattered serial quilter” is my new normal. When I am traveling to teach and lecture, I just can’t have 3 or 4 projects going at once. My brain can’t handle it and my studio needs to be organized enough that I can stop a project and prep for my gig.
So this makes me realize, no wonder most of my friends have multiple projects going – because they can! It feels unnatural to me. The good thing is if I get stuck, I can just move on to another project. This is all news to me, grin.
I’ll categorize my sewing/quilting this week:
Playing with techniques:
Oh this was fun:
I know, it looks like a pimple or something but this is the French-Knot-by-machine technique. I dusted off the memory banks to pull this one out. I still hold the thought of re-making my One Year Failed Whole Cloth (my new name for it) and these French Knots would make a lovely addition with all that texture. They sit high off the surface of the quilt and I just love them! I used Lana wool thread by Aurifil.
I see I forgot to post about this previously. I started this in Betty Busby‘s class in early Feb at the Santa Barbara Quilting Retreat. That was long before any of us were aware of the impact of COVID 19 and I really did not intend this piece to be a COVID piece. But dang, it sure does suggest it! I have finished the body of this piece and decided to roll with the COVID theme.
I am so struck by the juxtaposition of the horror of this pandemic against the gorgeous weather we’ve had and my joy in having time to create. So, undeveloped idea here, but thinking about a sheer border that would express my “sheer joy” against the darkness of the virus.
I simply ironed silk organza to freezer paper and ran it through my printer, no Photo Shop, ‘nuthin. I like the concept but need to refine it using images that work well with my center piece. This is my thought at the moment.
Still playing with free motion couching, watching a few videos, refining the thread and tension choices, figuring out what kinds of motifs work well with this and which do not. I’m really liking the technique and want to add this to a denim jacket. I’m kind of on a roll with ideas for denim jackets.
Masks:
I finished a bunch like these with the sewn ties as there is no 1/4″ elastic in the entire world. I knew all about the technique of using tshirts which is much faster and easier, but I truly had no idle tshirts around.
I decided to sacrifice a slightly dingy white tshirt:
This is sooooo much faster and easier! One shirt yielded enough to make 15 masks. Another thing I figured out:
I don’t think you need the 3 pleats. And if you do, you sure don’t need to measure them, you can easily eyeball them. But let’s take it a Big Step further, if you don’t have pleats, it’s a simple and quick task to just thread the tie through a channel, boom, done.
So, no pleats + tshirt ties = quick masks!
Vintage Table Cloth Whole Cloth quilt:
You might recall this project. I’ve been tap, tap, tap, waiting for the rickrack to come, praying it would be the right color:
It’s not. But how can I make do? Current thoughts: overdye, bead, hand-stitched embroidery, double stitched center, etc. I am hoping to fool-the-eye by laying down the color I want it to read. We’ll see where that one goes.
In my mind, this is my “primary project” so I’m really itching to move forward on it.
COVID Mask quilt:
I digitally cut 1.5 million half-petal-like thingys to make the “mask”:
I triple-stitched around each shape using 12 wt thread to give it that beefy dimension and I love that. Obviously I did not measure correctly before cutting and fusing 1.5 million of the little petal guys…
Just to give me a feel for it I hand cut a circle for the center and I really like that. So hey, “I meant to do that”, right? Still not sure I love this one but I’m going to keep going until I love or hate it.
Well there ya go, another week of Quarantine Quilting under my belt. I love how I am learning so much. It does seem scattered, because it is, but maybe all this will come together in one glorious piece! I can only hope.
One little bit of levity:
This guy visits me every morning as I sit and have my devotion/quiet time. He actually gets up on his haunches, 1′ away from me, puts this little paws on the window and peers in. He is a rodent. Squirrels eat electrical wires. You ain’t cute buddy! As long as he is outside and stays out of my attic I’m good. The nerve of this guy!
As to the virus, this too shall pass. One son is in the line of fire working ER. Thankfully there have been very few virus cases in his facility. My MIL and SIL are in an assisted living facility with hundreds of others. I pray for us all. No matter what, onward.
What color would surface if you bleached your rickrack?
Well good idea – I’m on it! Thank you! Hope that you all the people that you love are well and safe.
Can I just say that 8 out of 10 times when I buy fabric online I am disappointed. The 2 times I’m happy doesn’t mean it was what I was expecting, just that it is something I liked. I recently found a yard of online fabric in my stash that was the perfect binding for my quilt. That was unexpected, but it does happen sometimes. I am eager to see how your rickrack works out.
And ONLY because I’m stuck at home did I order online so yes, like you, am disappointed. I’m still working on the alterations to see if I can get it to read pink/red.
I have discovered that if my studio is all clean and straight I am not being productive. LOL. The squirrel wants to check and see if you are there or not. Maybe he likes the fabric colors he sees there. Hang in there and may you and all your family stay well and safe, despite their risk factors. Hugs.
LOL! We all work differently. Bugs me to have a bunch of stuff out. And you too, take care, be safe Betty Jo!
That piece is so Covid themed! If I could emoji respond with a hands around mouth in surprise – that would be it! I bought a spool of 1/4 inch elastic from Etsy not too long ago. Elastic is not friendly on the ears. Much prefer the tie method. I have tried about 5 different mask variations and seem to like the one that is fitted around the face best. Think it’s the one by @craftpassion. I even had some pipe cleaners lying around to make nose wires. Stay well Jenny!
Hi Mary; in some cases they ask for elastic. It seems so individual which makes sense, medical people have specific needs. Sounds like you have all you need – lucky you!
Did you try bleaching a piece of the purple rickrack? Never know what color it will be until you try. Things are looking up – hold that thought! Hugs!
It’s poly, sigh.
Try another chemical? Maybe TSP?
TSP is not recommended for squirrels apparently.
Would Wright’s Berry Sorbet color be closer?
As I did my research I dismissed any small packages of rickrack as I need several yards and did not want several joinings on this piece. Their berry sorbet is probably a little too vibrant of a pink but it would be a better fit than what I have. There is no blue in the tablecloth and that purple I have goes a little blue. Going to add red and see what happens. I may be sunk. I want 1 – 1.5 inch and that’s even harder to find, in the right color, in the quantity I need.
You’re having lots of fun there…your vintage table cloth project reminds me of the kind of thing done by Cindy Needham. You might check out her work for ideas. :-)
I’m unable to get into ‘play’ at the moment — my brain won’t do it; I need orderly instructions from other people. That said, I’ve had to play with colour as I selected my fabric for 3 different quilt tops, 2 of which have a very modern ‘feel’ (that’s down to the designer)…so it’s been fun anyway. Happy Easter across the miles, dear friend!
Yes, love Cindy’s work. She lives about 2 hrs from here. I’ve got some great ideas for my “tablecloth” that I can’t wait to get to! Happy Easter to you also. This is surely one to never forget. Be well.
Such fun to see what you’re doing! I’m making masks, too, though I’m making elastic-around-the-ears type. Using the elastic I have had around for decades, cutting wider elastic in half lengthwise, and also cutting round pony-tail bands into a straight piece for going around the ears… has been working pretty well (but then, maybe I have small ears – lol!)
Good for you! It’s a good thing to do when times are so uncertain.
I must tell you how much I enjoy your posts and email. Our international quilting community is so important to us all right now. Having time to play with no deadlines is very therapeutic. Thanks too for your little silly stuff- a great giggle is always welcome! Have fun with your projects.
Thank you Val – that is an encouragement to me and I appreciate it! Yes, we are all united by our love of quilting. I hope you are having fun with the time you have to quilt now.
I love your news sharing and new way of working. Bugbusters, my favorite pest book by Bernice Lifton, says block out rodents so that means no spaces in the house but also no places where they can get their teeth in. My sister has bad squirrel problems in Denver so
I tried to research repellents. Alas there seem to be no commercial products but someone suggested orange peels work. Sister has not reported on this yet. You and friends save all peels, let them dry and hang in bags where the buggers might hide and chew. By the way all of the native squirrels were eaten by hungry pilgrims in the 1600s. Someone missed squirrels so repopulated with invasive.
Thank you Karen. We’ve done a good job of blocking apparently because he is not in the house yet but they will eat through almost anything to get in if they want to badly enough. Because he’s all over, not just in one place baiting won’t work, there’s no nest. So good news is that he’s not in my home yet. Kinda good news is that if he got in, we would have a spot to bait him.
Quilters who make T-shirt quilts have plenty of T-shirt backs from which to make ties. One of my local shops who makes many of these quilts has offered the shirt backs for ties.
I sacrificed 2 shirts and now have plenty of ties!
I always enjoy the great things you come up with. I love your tablecloth quilt and the ideas you share with all of us. I have learned a lot from you both in my class and right here. Keep doing what you enjoy and encouraging others to do the same.
Oh thank you Cheryl, that is wonderful to hear! I do love what I do and hope you do too. Enjoy this extra time!
TSP for color changing polyester rickrack, I meant.
Ahh, I get it. I’ve figured out a way to make that rickrack “read” the color I want it, going to stick with that.
Cool! Please let us know when you reveal the finished project.
Will do!