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I made the top of this quilt more than two years ago, to show my Thursday quilting friends what I like best about foundation (paper) piecing. I made all twelve blocks in a single day, and spent a few more hours adding sashing, cornerstones, an inner border and an outer border. Once the top was finished, I set it aside for more than a year before rediscovering it in a box in the closet. I chose a backing fabric from my stash and had it quilted. Then it sat around for nearly another year waiting to be bound. Finally this week I got tired of the recriminating looks it was giving me. I spent two pleasant hours Tuesday, hand-stitching the binding while I watched the first episode of this year’s Downton Abbey. This is why I never know what to say to people who ask how long it takes me to make a quilt.

Shabby Fabrics

I ordered all twelve Patchwork Party block kits on the same day, but Shabby Fabrics' package was the first to arrive. This didn't surprise me in the least. I've placed several orders with them over the past few years, and their customer service has always been excellent. They're prompt and efficient, and they were among the very few stores willing to ship to an APO while we were living overseas. Their website says it all: “Shabby Fabrics is owned by a Christian family that holds integrity, honesty, loyalty, hard work, and compassion as our highest values. We promise to treat you with the kindness and respect you deserve. Please be assured your satisfaction with our products and customer service is our most important business objective!” I wish I could say I was as pleased with this first block kit. I’ve never bought laser-cut fabric before. I didn’t realize “laser-cut” would mean crispy, browned edges. Or a smell like burnt toast.

Tempest in a Teapot

You know when you’re stressed, but do you know what to do about it? One of the most effective things is to breathe. Sure, you’re doing that already, but deliberate deep, slow breaths can calm you down. When worried, in pain or upset, most people subconsciously hold their breath or take short, shallow breaths. Breathing deeply can make you feel instantly better. So can eating a bit of DARK chocolate, or fresh fruit. Cacao and natural sugars have been known to reduce stress-related hormones. Take time for a bath. Lock the bathroom door, fill the tub, turn down the lights and use candles. If aromatherapy is your thing, you might try oil of bergamot, peppermint or lavender; especially around bedtime. Take a walk, ride a bike, or go for a swim. Exercise may be the very thing you need, even if it’s the last thing you want to do. ESPECIALLY if it’s the last thing you want to do.

Carolina Star

I’ve given some thought to the appliqued block I posted two days ago. I’ve come to the conclusion that I made two major mistakes. One, I plowed ahead and made it without really knowing how to get my sewing machine to do a satin stitch. I’ve never taken a single class to learn how to use my Bernina, aside from watching YouTube videos to see how to wind a bobbin and thread the machine. Two, I used black thread to outline the purple petals and green leaves. If I’d used colors that blended better, the resulting block might have looked less like something my three-year-old grandson drew. I’m not ready to throw in the towel yet. There’s plenty of fabric left to have another go at it; after I’ve bought some matching green and purple thread. And after I’ve searched YouTube for videos on making a Bernina do a satin stitch.

Persian Puzzle

There’s been a Patchwork Party every year since at least 2007, but I didn’t hear about them until four years ago. Patchwork Party is an online shop hop involving a dozen quilt shops. Each store offers a kit for a 12” block as well as a finishing kit that incorporates all twelve blocks in the design. Last year quilters were offered a choice of two color ways: raspberry or rust. I made both and ended up with two lovely queen-size quilts. This year the kits will be laser cut. Cutting takes roughly the same amount of time as piecing a block, so these blocks will go together much faster. But I can usually produce three to four blocks out of two block kits by cutting frugally. This year twelve kits means twelve blocks. Worse, the price of each kit has jumped from $8 to $10. So instead of spending $96 for 24 blocks, I’ll spend $120 for twelve.

Carolina Bloom

Lately I’ve been getting hints that I need to improve my applique. My husband and daughter are bored with my angular pieced blocks; they’d like to see images they can recognize. My mother tells me (and she’s probably right) that I’d be more likely to win a blue ribbon if my state fair entries had a combination of piecing and applique. So when I saw a class offered for a table runner calling for both techniques, I took the plunge. Below is the teacher’s finished product. My first attempt is above. I was doing well until it came to satin stitching around the petals and leaves. Maybe there’s a trick to this I haven’t considered yet. I can make my Bernina do a sloppy zigzag that won’t cover the raw fabric edges, and I can make tight little thread blobs that get stuck under the presser foot. But somehow I can’t do anything in between.