Too Many Irons in the Fire

Or maybe I'm trying to juggle too many balls with one hand...or maybe I just have a short attention span and can only work on something for a short amount of time before it's time to move on to something new.

Although one of the projects I have going on right now is definitely not new.

This is a UFO I've worked on periodically for years.  We'll see how long I last. Right now I'm adding the frames. For the size of quilt I originally planned on making I need to make 25 more string blocks. 

I also made another Aunt Daisy block...8 out 16 are now completed.

All the sub-units to Angela's Brightly quilt, my leader-ender project, are done. I want to group block units together before I start actually putting the blocks together. 

The new project is this cute Care Bear border print. There is almost two yards of the fabric so instead of making one quilt I'm going to make two. So it won't be too narrow, I'm going to add borders down the sides only. I'll put yellow on one and green on the other. Both will get the butterfly fabric.

Making both should go quickly.

I did focus on finishing the Winter Snow Friends quilt. I was able to get the tension to an acceptable level.

Once it's washed I don't think anything will show. I used the extra backing flannel as the binding. 

I loaded Lady on the frame and started quilting it tonight.

I'm loving this pantograph. So far no tension issues. 

So, do you think I should add more irons to the fire?

I Hate Tension Issues

 I did another "oh boogers, I forgot it was Monday" about 2 a.m. on Tuesday. I didn't have much to post so didn't bother on Tuesday.

I finished the Grid Girls mystery quilt.

All the borders are on and the binding is made. It will probably be a while before it gets quilted. I'm not thrilled with the quilt - I liked the pattern, not the fabric - and I don't have anything that matches it to use as a back.

I did finish quilting and hand sewing the binding of the sampler quilt.

This one I am thrilled with. I love the quilting in the blocks. The pantograph in the border? Not so much. It was hard lining up the pantograph edge with the border edges. Don't know why I stressed over it, you can barely see the quilting due to the busy floral print.

I think I've mention JoAnne, the Quilts 4 Kids coordinator, is downsizing the program a bit. She is no longer taking in new fabric donations and is getting rid of the fabric in her she-shed. She has been bringing 7-8 totes in each month. What is not taken, she is taking to Goodwill. My hoarder heart just can't let that happen.

This is what I brought home last Friday. I brought home almost as much last month.

There was a small tote full of airplane fabrics. Above are a few. I brought them all home. I don't know where I'm going to put it all but I brought it all home. :o(

Are you curious about this blog post title? I had some tension issue when I changed the bobbin quilting the sampler quilt. It took a while but I was able to resolve the issues. Last week I loaded this quilt.

It came from one of Angela's estate sales. I'm getting loops on the top. 

Checked the bobbin tension with the Towa gauge - all good. Loops on top - solution is to loosen the top tension. I've loosened it to the point of the knob is almost ready to fall off. ??? So what to do? My solution, ignore it hoping it will go away. Don't think that is going to work. This was last Monday (probably why I forgot to post). I haven't touched a sewing machine since. I did do a wicked clear out of everything, put everything away, scrub it cleaning of the sewing room. Maybe if I did the same thing in the long arm room it would resolve the tension issue.  

I know. But I can dream. 

Slow Progress

 But I am making progress. I finished the first border on the Grid Girls quilt and added the second border. The final border is pinned to the quilt (no picture). Hopefully I'll finish it tomorrow.

The block quilting is finished on sampler quilt. Now I have to turn it three times to finish the borders. Don't you get your wish if you turn the quilt three times? I'm really happy with the quilt motif I chose for the blocks.

I haven't had any problems quilting this free motion design in all directions.

A friend sent me this quilt pattern catalog from 1928. 

I love the quilt on the cover.

Some of the block designs. 

And the price list! Twenty-two cents a yard for calico fabric. Fifteen cents for the pattern. $.35 - $2.00 for finished blocks - the double wedding ring block was the most expensive at $2. Complete quilts $25-$45.

I had three bucks in my backyard this evening. They don't like to be too close to each other. This is the largest one, I've shown his picture before.

He has gotten much braver. He is laying on the rug right outside my slider window. He didn't move when Mom went to her chair with her walker.