Then when I got home I had a telephone call which threw me into headless chicken mode. It was on Facebook one of my sons had been involved in an incident which had him at deaths door with a life changing injury. Yes, you can imagine how desperately worried I was. I eventually tracked him down to a local hospital, he was injured, but nowhere near as bad as portrayed and was only in hospital a couple of days, although he will be of work for about a month. Facebook is like Chinese whispers, so many people repeating, exaggerating and changing the story so it ends up nothing like the original incident. If I hadn't been so panicked I wouldn't have believed it, but I'm his mother and I did.
After the initial relief, and he is recovering well, I became as flat as a pancake. I had a bad case of can'tbebothereditis. I think we all have these times, usually I turn to sewing but no I had a good mope and felt very sorry for myself for a few days. I didn't blog, didn't read any blogs, and to tell truth I haven't even answered all the wonderful comments you all made on my last post.......yet! You will all be glad to know I am now much recovered and I'm going to spend the next week catching up on everything, so bear with me, 'cos I'm now officially back!
So, want to see what I finally have been up to quilting wise?
I finally finished the cushions to go with the quilt. My second finish for the 2017 Quarter 2 FAL. The quilt itself I finished last year and blogged about it on this post. It's called Sugar and Spice but known affectionally as the fat babies quilt.
They sit nicely on my rocking chair too but Indi springer loves pulling them off to lie on.
The tops were made so all I had to do was layer and quilt them, just loopy squiggles and quilt in the ditch. It couldn't be anything else or it wouldn't match the quilt.
Then I added an envelope backing, I forgot to take a pic but hey, it's just two pieces of fabric and not often seen. At least that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
I love this hair fabric. I have made a few of these for Christening gifts. My niece has her little girls cushion up on a high shelf, she says Laila can't have it until she learns to appreciate it, shame.
When I was feeling really down what I wanted was a bit of mindless hand sewing, so I did the binding........
on another five mug rugs. No I didn't just do another couple to add to the three I showed you last week..........
and here is the evidence to prove it. Eight Russian doll mug rugs. My third finish for the 2017 Quarter 2 FAL. You can find the pattern here. I made some coasters too just by reducing the size of the pattern but, you guessed it, I haven't done the binding yet. Maybe next month........
So, not a lot to show for two weeks. Circles? Who said circles? Ok, I had a bit of trouble......
Here is the back, one not so wonderful row. Can you see the back has gone all wrinkly? This doesn't happen when I pin, what am I doing wrong? It doesn't happen to the front. I attach the back to the wadding then iron it, them I add the quilt top and iron that. The problem starts when I start to quilt it. The last quilt I ended up ironing the back after every row, it took ages. The top is ok just the back goes wrinkly, does this happen to you? Do you iron it when spray basting? What am I doing wrong?
So that's been my fortnight. I didn't get to my sewing group this month either, but that was because my other son who lives in London came home for the weekend with his lovely girlfriend, so it was well worth missing it.
Hopefully I will have some proper progress to show you next week, but I wouldn't hold your breath.
Until next time,
Smiles from,
Kate x
Linking up with:
Midweek Makers
Wednesday Wait Loss
Needle and Thread Thursday
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop
Chezzetcook Modern Quilts hosting for TGIFF
You have a valid excuse for not blogging. I'm sending your son 'get well soon' wishes - sounds like he needs them! Bravo for finishing the pillows - adorable! - and the Russian dolls! Wish I could help you on the quilt basting issue (I have a longarm) - hopefully someone will have a suggestion. Thanks again for sharing your quilt on Midweek Makers
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I agree you've had a valid excuse for not blogging! After that Facebook episode, it's not surprising you were emotionally wiped out! I'm glad your son is okay and you're feeling better. Wish I could help on the quilting/basting question, but I can't. I'd maybe check some of the tutorials by Christa Watson on how she spray bastes? Or maybe someone else will comment with advice. Those little mug rugs are adorable; the fat babies are too!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a fortnight you've had. I'm glad to hear your son is okay but it must have been very worrying! Whew-itis is a well known phenomenon, it commonly occurs after exams and other stressful situations and I'm glad to see you've recovered from yours and gotten back into the quilting saddle. I love the cushions and mug rugs and I'm glad to hear Indi is using the cushions as a bed instead of eating them!
ReplyDeleteOh Kate, what a time you have had. So glad to hear your son is, for the most part, ok!
ReplyDeleteAs far a spray basting, I tape my backing to the floor or whereever, spray then lay out the batting, tape some more and then layer the top. I've had the same problem when not taping the backing to the floor. Good luck!
Oh my goodness, Kate. That must have been so scary. I am sending best wishes and healing vibes for your son. Many hugs to you. We all need a break every now and then. I believe that when I make one mistake too many, the universe is telling me to take a break. When you are rested and rejuvenated, everything will fall into place.
ReplyDeleteThose dolls are so adorable, I have saved the pattern for a later date.
I'm so glad you're feeling better. It's been a busy, nonsewing couple of weeks in my little corner of the world, too. Your work is adorable! A lot of work, too! Stitched in Color's most recent post states that she heat set her spray basting before she got to work under the needle with success. wishing your son a speedy recovery! XO
ReplyDeleteI am so glad your son is doing ok, what a scary feeling until you could locate him. That can take a whole lot of energy out of a person. Take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteThe pillows and quilt look wonderful Kate.
ReplyDeleteWhat a scare for you - I am thankful the story turned out well in the end. Hoping for a full, swift recovery for your son.
I have never spray basted anything so I am of no help there. I always think it will be messy so I haven't tried it.
Kate, I'm so sorry! What a scare. Silly Facebook. I'm glad to hear it wasn't as bad as you thought, but I'm still sending prayers and good wishes your way so your son will soon be better. In my mind you managed to accomplish quite a lot this week! You got the cushions done, and five more mug rugs. These projects have been hanging around for a while, so moving them off the unfinished list is big. Take heart in that! Wish I had advice about the spray basting but frankly I've never tried it. Not sure why except I don't have a good place to do the spraying. I don't think the back should slip like that and wrinkle up. I think after spraying I'd probably iron it to set it and take out any remaining wrinkles, but I don't know if that would help or not. So frustrating! Fingers crossed you get a good answer soon on what to do.
ReplyDeleteSo glad your son is on the mend and things were not as bad as you thought. We all need down times to just sit and think or just breathe. I've never ironed after spray basting and have never had any issues with wrinkles. I imagine after washing it will relax and be fine. But I understand the frustration. Karen
ReplyDeleteGlad your son is fine and hope he has a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteYour projects are fantastic and the pillows so cute,the quilting caught my eye!.
Have a great week
Eek -- social media is wonderful and awful -- just like you learned. Glad he's on the road to recovery. I'm sure most of us have our down days, weeks, even months. Glad yours was really pretty short lived. I've spray basted quilts but generally only small ones. I would question if you've put enough spray on the various parts. I spray backing, smooth down the batting, spray the batting and then smooth down the top. I generally do it as two halves (think wall hanging size.) (Hum, now I wonder if I only spray the batting not the backing... I don't do it often so I may not do it "right.) Perhaps it is time to go back to pinning -- overall it would save time. But, pinning is a bummer....
ReplyDeleteOh, Kate, I'm so sorry you had such a fright! I hope your son heals quickly. I'm glad it wasn't as bad as you feared, but still not a fun thing.
ReplyDeleteI find that I sometimes get that kind of wrinkling when I'm using my walking foot and the backing is lined up in a particular way. If the stitching lines go selvedge to selvedge, no problem. But if the quilting runs parallel to the less stretchy, straight grain, it can wrinkle. I think it doesn't happen on the front because there are more pieces, so the fabric grain is running lots of different directions. That makes the top more flexible and able to "go with the flow." And of course you can see any little tucks and puckers that are starting to form and fix them immediately on the top.
I've found that I can avoid the worst of the backing wrinkles by either using a pieced back or choosing a quilting pattern that avoids that non-stretchy direction. For instance, if I quilt a diagonal pattern, I rarely have the wrinkling.
I spray baste most of my quilts and I do think it adds to the problem. Once the spray sticks, it REALLY sticks! A little baby wrinkle then gets sort of stuck and grows bigger and bigger, out of sight on the back. But if it is just pinned, then there is a little flexing and shifting that happens between the pins, and that might be enough to ease the wrinkles away.
what a fright you must have had good news though your son was not badly hurt her`s hoping for a quick recovery. Do hope you are now feeling much better too we all get those down days don`t we. Loving your quilt was not following you last year so this is the first time I have seen it, it must be in my top 10 for favourite quilts, and the pillows lovely. I too have problems with my backing well with the whole process of quilting if I am honest. I do like to do circles but they have to be done by hand could never manage them on a machine. I have read recently and seen it on craft channels that we should never spray the fabric but the wadding but not tried spray myself lots of good comments today
ReplyDeleteSewing is our therapy! I love your wee folks on the pillows!
ReplyDeleteAll your projects look great! Sometimes you just have to take a break. Quilting is a hobby, not a job! If it feels bad, it's time to take a break. Happy that your son is okay. How very frightening. I wish I could help with your backing troubles, but I don't use spray basting. Is the backing pieced? Sometimes those wrinkle up no matter what you do. Good luck with it!
ReplyDeleteOh so sorry to read you had such a bad time Kate !
ReplyDeleteI never spray baste since I don't like working with glue ... I baste all my quilts with basting thread (old-school hahaha !) even if I decide to machine quilt since I'm not a fan of safety pins either :-)
Oh Kate, when life hits, it sometimes hits really hard. Hopefull you are okay now. I hope there's no next time, but if so, blogging about the happenings and your feelings may help. At least you'll get some e-sympathy from lots of quilters. :)
ReplyDeleteAll of your work is so pretty, but those Russian doll mug rugs are my favorite. I've been watching your progress for a while, and I'm happy to see you've been able to get them done. Your friends will love them.
Get well wishes to your son and to you, also. It's hard being a mom to grown men, isn't it? You can't mother them forever, but auto-mom just kicks in. That's what I tell my 30-somethings, anyway. Now that they all have children of their own, they are beginning to understand.
Wow, what a time you have had lately. I am sorry for all the mishaps and miscues. You deserved the down time. I have to tell you that I love your writing style. I am hooked and will be coming back to read past posts - you describe things with just the right words - and very succinctly. I commend you! Hope you find your mojo soon!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that your son is better than you had initially thought, I hope that he has a very speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a couple of very stressful weeks, followed by decompression. Glad that your son is home, sorry that he was in the accident. That's enough to put anyone off their schedule. Hoping that your son is healing well and that you are getting back into the sewing room.
ReplyDeleteI use FB which I detest to keep tabs on our friend John in New York but I hate it and refuse to use it for all else. Glad he is not as bad as spouted off about but still-- 'can't be bothered itis. Love that. I think we all get that from time to time; QBL is overwhelming at times, and I'm in one of those times too. Your quilts are spectacular. LOVE seeing the Russian dolls again and yes that hair fabric is fab! For quilting I ditch to stabilize the quilt. Not always between every row unless the blocks are 12"+, but at least so I have a grid. Those straight lines melt into the backing so you don't have to worry about them detracting from the FMQ.
ReplyDeleteGosh, Kate! So glad your son wasn't as bad as you feared! I hope he's lots better now.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see your gorgeous quilt and cushions, and it's great you've had time to work on your Russian doll mug rugs!
Oh no! Trouble with spray basting .... I only use safety pins on my little bits of quilting! Ah, yes! Sandra mentions ditching to stabilise and I've just been reading that same thing on another blog, so that sounds the way to go!
Hope you are feeling better, and more like stitching again!
Barbara x
What a shock that must have been -- so glad your son is okay. I don't iron when I spray baste. I had carpet in my basement, so lay my batting (wadding) down right on the carpet and smooth. I lay the backing on top. I pull the backing back halfway and spray. I think I spray the batting. I smooth that down, and then do the other half. I then flip it over and lay the quilt top down on the batting. Again, pull halfway back and spray batting and smooth down and then do the other side. I often will then flip it over so the backing is on top and smooth down again. If you don't have carpet, tape down your backing on the floor and lay batting on top. Do same as above. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI genuinely treasure your piece of work, Great post.
ReplyDeleteFirst off I would like to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question in which I'd like to ask if you do not mind.
ReplyDeleteI was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your head before writing.
I've had a tough time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out.
I truly do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes
are usually wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or hints?
Cheers!
As you are a no reply blogger I cannot answer you direct. I never try to clear my head, in fact that would stifle my thinking. I have a mental note of about three things I want to blog about then just let my thoughts flow, whatever comes into my head I will include, well, most of it anyway.
DeleteSimply a smiling visitant here to share the love
ReplyDelete(:, btw great pattern.
Hi there, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam comments?
ReplyDeleteIf so how do you protect against it, any plugin or anything you can recommend?
I get so much lately it's driving me insane so any assistance is very much
appreciated.
As you are a no reply blogger I cannot contact you. I have solved my spam problem by activating comment moderation, you don't need any plug ins. I hope this helps.
DeleteHi, yup this article is actually nice and I have learned lot
ReplyDeleteof things from it on the topic of blogging. thanks.
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you,
ReplyDeleteHowever I am going through problems with your RSS.
I don't understand the reason why I am unable to subscribe
to it. Is there anyone else having identical RSS problems?
Anyone who knows the answer will you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
The problems you are having is probably because you are a no reply blogger. Comment moderation has been activated due to the increase in spam comments recently. It is interesting to note that of all the comments on this thread only the last six are no reply. This makes me suspect that some, although not all, may not be genuine.
DeleteIf you are a genuine reader then I urge you to change your no reply status, I am always happy to converse with readers and have made many friends.