First for 2020

This is the first charity quilt for 2020 that is actually finished. I took 5" squares, cut them in half (5" x 2 1/2") and added a 2 1/2" square on one end. These pieces were sown into rows with the rows then being sewn together. The finished size is 40" x 48". I found a piece on fabric in the closet that worked for the backing.

To finish off the quilt, I used the "magic binding". The blue strip measured 1 1/4" and the red strip measured 1 1/2". When those two strips are sewn together and pressed, the 1/4" flange is created. The binding is sewn to the back side of the quilt, turned to the front and stitched where the two pieces come together. Using a matching thread makes the stitching almost invisible.

Third In The Set

Today  I am posting the third placemat that I just finished. Again I went to my scrap basket, sewed several strips together and made this placemat. I quilted it much like the other two.

Here is a picture of the quilting. All was done using the IDT on my Pfaff sewing machine. I used a decorative stitch that I have seen called "the wiggly stitch".  I reduced the width of the stitch from 9mm down to 6.5mm and increased the length from 3.2mm to 3.6mm. Then I just follow the seam lines. This stitch is very forgiving. If I happen to get off a little, it doesn't show.

For the borders, the machine was set for a regular straight stitch. As I sewed across the border I moved the fabric from side to side to create the waves. No lines to follow and I can make it as wavy as I want. This is an easy way to add the quilting to your work.

A New Year -- 2020

I can hardly believe that the first month of 2020 is gone. Here in Michigan we have had some really warm days and a few really cold days. We have also had a couple of large snow storms.

Parkinson's Disease continues to be a controlling factor in my days. My husband has some really good days and then there are days that are difficult. We try to take each day as a gift. Over the past few months I seem to be doing more and more quilting and less of the card making. I am trying to use fabric that I have on hand and I am also trying to become better at free motion quilting.

I took strips from my scarp basket and sewed them together to make some placemats. I then tried different ways of quilting them. It has been good to try something new. These placemats will be donated to "Meals On Wheels" in a few weeks.

Each mat measures approximately 12 x 16-inches. The pictures are not the greatest but the quilting shows up well.