quilt more often

i bought some new higher-quality needles today that were recommended in a quilt magazine. hope they will make my work easier. tomorrow morning is the quilting bee, so we will soon see

took my hoop off today and had such an easier time making even stitches.

got some balloons to put on my finger like a finger cot to help with pulling the needle through.

Progress has been a lot slower since I got to the quilting stage. I hope I finish it in time for the show. Now that it’s off the hoop, it’s more portable again so I hope that makes a difference.

I’m still not very good at doing needle-turn appliqué, but I was looking through one of my books on hawaiian appliqué and found an authentic decorative stitch I could use. I’m going over the already-appliquéd areas with a chicken foot stitch in a contrasting color and it nicely distracts from the imperfections, and looks very cool, besides.

It will only take another hour or so to finish W’s quilt—a few minutes on the machine and finish up the binding.

On another quilty note—I’ve started a hawaiian appliqué wall hanging so that I have a project I can keep in my purse, but I’m displeased with the quality of my stitching.

I’ve cut 50 or so Muslin squares for people to sign with fabric pens at my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah this week end. I also picked up some oceany batiks and will make a nice little quilt for her to throw on her bed and to remember all the friends and family who helped her mark this special day!

This is still a goal I’d like to achieve in ‘08

While I haven’t been actually quilting as often as I like, I have been sewing a great deal more. I’ve made a couple of fun simple tote bags, placemats and a funky summer hat all with great fabrics I’ve had in my stash. I have been collecting worn out denim jeans from my family and friends and intend to cut irregular strips from the fabric and make a quilt with that.