Crazy Quilter on a Bike!: Emergency run........................

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Emergency run........................

As you have probably figured out by now - I am in Saskatchewan visiting with family. Since there is not a lot to do but visit, I always bring hand work.

Since I have been here - I have finished hand stitching the binding down on that quilt that I quilted for my mom. The one that she made 50 years ago.

Yep - while visiting with family, I got out my needle and thread and got the entire binding stitched down. Haven't done a a binding in a while and great to get this one done. Mom was very pleased with the end result. So here is an OLD UFO - done!!!!!!!!!!!! The only thing - I forgot to make a label, so will make the label and bring it next time and stitch it on.

Brought some knitting and got one square done. I am rarely a passenger in a vehicle, but the other day I knit all the way to town and back and got this done and half the next one done. I only brought three balls of yarn with me and half of it is done. Do you see where I am going here?????

I think I meant to bring my embroidery and I forgot it at home, but I had thrown something else in my bag. Does this look familiar????? Tish????? Diane???? A number of friends are getting involved in English Paper Piecing. I have had this project on the go for YEARS. The only thing that I had done was cut out some of the hexagons. I had only prepared ONE hexagon. OK - I am going to tackle this project and try and get some done.

English paper piecing

Get out the needle and thread

Oh crud - this is fiddly - did I mention that my hexagons are 1/2" - so each of the 6 sides are 1/2" long.

Now somewhere along the way I had heard of using glue pens to do the "stitching". I must have because I had one in my box.

Glue pen

Hmmmm - is that really going to work????? and how do I get the papers out?????

Well time to open up YouTube and see what it is all about. Found some several videos and after 5 minutes - I thought I would give it a whirl.

YouTube video

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hexagons glued down. FAST FAST FAST

I had two packs of 100 hexagons with me and I had picked up another one at the quilt store in Saskatoon.

These things are fast to make

There is 100 done.

OK - so now we have a problem. I had black hexagons cut and I had some orange - but a silly orange. I don't really like the fabric. Now that I had 1/3 of my hexagons done with black - I needed some more fabric. Well if I were home, I would make a 5 minute trip to Ruti's. However she is a bit far right now. So I hopped in the car and drove 50 minutes to Fabricland. The only option. However this is a great Fabricland and they have loads of quilting fabric.

Look what I found. Got .25 m of each

Now I have to cut the hexagons. Oh boy - not looking forward to that. However my Mom has a small cutting mat, one ruler and a HORRIBLE cutter that needs a new blade. Well - it is all I have, so will have to make due.

Now here is something absolutely hysterical. When I was a kid we were NOT allowed to watch much television. For numerous reasons. We could watch, but not much. Now I do not watch TV at all and my Mom spends the entire evening watching TV. Oh my - how the tables have turned!!!!!!

Anyway - I watched two shows with her (and now I know why I do NOT watch TV any more) and in two hours, I was able to prepare over THREE HUNDRED little fabric hexagons. Oh yes - I had the cutters, the scissors and I had a production line going.

Table room is scarce at this house (my mom is a piler - just like me). So I improvised with a little stool - worked like a charm

I think I got 28 of each of 12 colours

Made a few pink ones before I went to bed and reconfigured my little box and everything fit in

Got some silk thread to stitch them together. Not sure it is the best, but all I could find.

Those little packs of hexagons aren't cheap - well I paid $7 for the last batch of 100. My mom says - I have a punch. So she dug it out, but the edges are 3/4" (or very close).

So what do you get with an 8 1/2" by 11" piece of card stock and a hold punch?????

50 hexagons in a mere matter of minutes. She is well trained with hole punches. Now I need her to do that three more times!!!!!!!

I picked this fabric up to use with the larger hole punches. I know - a stripe. No one said I was smart!!!!!

Also got a ball of cotton yarn to make a dish cloth in the event I get really bored

Saw this gorgeous rick rack so bought all they had - it was cheap!!!!!!

If you have ever been to the prairies you would know how wide open the skies are. I don't think I will ever get enough of that. It is stunning to see the sky change. There is NOWHERE in the city that you get that feeling. As I was driving yesterday - I had to stop many times and take pictures. Here are a few for your enjoyment. Yvonne - these are for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!