Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Two Down!

While the kiddies are in their final count down to the end of school, I got to do something I haven't done in a very long time. . . . . head off to a classroom!!! Yes last Saturday was my first meeting of The Farmer's Wife Club. With great anticipation I loaded up my tote bag with goodies and made my way over to Candlelite Quilts.

While not officially a "class" there were plenty of new techniques for me to discover. Making templates from which to cut each piece individually was definitely an eye opener and has given me a far greater appreciation for all the patchwork done prior to the days of the rotary cutter! I'm sure they didn't have the pleasure of using a sandboard back then either and that's too bad because now that I've been introduced to it I can't imagine trying to trace onto fabric without one. The most surprising tidbit, however, was the concept that one shouldn't do more than to lightly press straight down on a piece of patchwork when using an iron. Shocking! Or at least for me, a huge fan of working my iron into all the little nooks and crannies of my patchwork blocks in order to make them lie flat as a pancake. Apparently, by doing so I am stretching the fabrics out of the proportions so carefully created by sticking to the seam allowances. Unfortunately, I do believe it's going to be very hard for me to kick the ironing habit. I've already cheated a teeny bit . . . . . but at least I know now why I can never seem to have precise piecing when it comes time to assemble my blocks all together!

By the end of the day I had two, slightly wrinkled, 6.5" blocks completed. I present you with Evening Star (#31) and Autumn Tints (#2). Now only 109 to go!

4 comments:

  1. Your fabric choices & your first 2 finished blocks are beautiful! I look forward to watching your progress.

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  2. Love the fabric, and the finished blocks look terrific! Hope you continue to share as the next 109 are completed!
    That ironing trick? I never knew that either until a couple months ago...it makes a HUGE difference.

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  3. You're off to a great start. Are these blocks hand pieced as well as being template cut? I admire your ability to take the process that slowly if so. I love the old blocks and prints but I also love the speed of the rotary cutter and sewing machine!

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  4. Sounds like a lot of fun. Love your fabrics. Can't wait to see your quilt when it is finished.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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