December 31, 2013

I am a bad blogger. I am not the worst blogger so I still have something to aim for! 
I don't really have a New Years resolution thing going on. In my younger years, it was not to go out with any blondes. Now they would all have gray hair.
  I do intend to change a few things this year. I intend to get rid of Time Warner Cable. Worst crap in the universe. 
 QUILTING:
 I am working, slowly, on a quilted bag that is from Missouri Quilt company. I am altering it to make it laptop friendly.  I am procrastinating on everything else.
 BRUNO is doing good and I have made it thru a month without any vet bills. I think that is the first time in almost a year.
 

FLickr site

I signed up for Flickr in 2011. I never used it. I am hoping to add some photos to it and begin using it. I am enjoying seeing other quilters work there and I want to add mine to it.
After about 2 days using Flickr, I am having issues with it not responding. I googled for info on that and found it may be an issue from them. Since I recently updated Internet explorer, I can't be certain. I have the most trouble while looking at Flickr though. Kinda disappointing. I love it as a sharing and showing of quilts and related areas. I feel it is set up better than using pinterest and and the pinned/repinned and  tons of pins.

patriotic chevrons

I have 2 patriotic chevrons quilted. They are 50x50. I tried hard to do a fancy job on the one and changed thread colors a bunch...trying to get the colors to look nice on the fabrics. I had issues with tension on the "fancy" one from nasty batting thick/thin areas. I did simple scrolls in a dark gold color on the second one. I think I will be the only one who feels the scrolls aren't as nice or even notices it.
A lot of work went into the "fancy" one. I went thru at least 6 bobbins of thread. I only went thru 2 bobbins on the other quilts same size with scrolls. I am whining here. That is kinda hard to realize after doing the work and spending the time...it didn't really make an earth shattering difference. It did to me. I felt I was doing a "better" job. It isn't better to other people. It is just what is in my head.
  The chevron is a GIANT chevron. It is based on a large block and the zigzags are large. That is part of the problem and the design being offset. The colors run in a v shape almost from the top to the bottom. It is much harder to quilt it in a fancy stitch and be continuous. I would have feathered it to death if it were for women. I want to add a photo or 2 here and maybe a side by side comparison. Been up all night. I'll do it later.

encoder replacement and bull going on

I got the new encoder today. I was hopeful it would fix it. That lasted about 3 seconds. The new one sort of didn't fit. I took the  big thick rubber rings off the wheel part and put the o-rings from my old one on it and it seems to fit and roll properly. It didn't fix the problem. I saw a wire hanging out of the plug then. The wire must have been partly broken and finally went completely. Or, the encoder was bad and I took it on/off enough and messed with it, that I broke the wire. Pretty disgusted. I am going to try to find an end that will fit from an electronics supplier. I can stitch a while in non regulated. I just don't want to. I could order a cable for it but then the whole machine needs lifted up and the cables changed.  It was a terrible let down.
   I had been piecing a bunch of patriotic quilts. I have a carpenter star that I need to put borders on. I have a 2nd Carpenter star blocks almost all made. My sewing machine is showing an extreme sign that it is almost dead. I can't do much without having a sewing machine. It is just pretty crappy having both machines messed up.
   Personal stuff in my life is sucking right now too. I am disgusted about the house. I would want anybody not to buy a house from their family's estate. I am feeling pretty burned and down about it. I spent part of the night pretty furious.

new chevron size 60x72

I am working out the details of doing a chevron with large blocks and finishing the quilt top as 62x73. I always see that the quilting has drawn it up a bit and I want to keep the size over instead of under. I cheated in a way by adding 1/2 inch to each square to get a bit bigger block and add 2 or 3 inches to the length and width. That works out well since the yard of fabric allows for the cuts to be 11.5".
I have am using almost a yard each of 2 blue, 2 reds and 2 whites. I think this makes it much easier to plan. I have planned to actually just cut some of these and use the pieces as triangles instead of sewing them together as a block and cutting one diagonal. I just have too many extra pieces and large amounts left over.
  My reds continue to be a problem with color bleeding and soaking them forever. I used boiling water on the worst one tonight.

Chevron's in the works

I have 4 chevrons in the works. I have 2 tops ready. I have ordered and should have the part for my longarm by Monday if it didn't arrive today. I sort of dread trying the part. If it doesn't work, the repairs will just be more money. That is the way it has been going. Anything going right means something else goes wrong. My sewing machine shutdown and went blank yesterday but then worked again. I suppose that is next to break down.
   I have been trying hard to use the fabrics to get the most out of them. I am back to the chevrons. I still have a hard time getting the amounts right. I don't feel like I am making much progress.  My first set of notes and charts have been redone more than once. I wanted to keep it to 2 reds, 2 blues and one white. I still ended up with mine planned with 3 blues, 2 reds, and 2 whites. I may have to add more reds to make the amounts I need. I have a bit more stash to search.

Side tracked by Carpenter Star

I have been side tracked by making a Carpenter Star. I think it is nice. I think it will look good. It took me forever... It is suppose to be a 4 hour job. I admit being distracted by family stuff. I admit being upset over family "stuff". I have a second Carpenter Star in the making. I have the borders cut for both. I stopped to figure yardage and stash to make at least one of these patriotic quilts for ME. I don't mean to make it right now. I just want to be careful about the large amount it will take and size of the squares. I have almost 5 yards of a nice denim color with stars. I have other patriotic blues and fabrics. I want a 70x90 chevron. It was going to take 77" of a dark blue. I have some seriously old stash that is really 45" wide! I will be able to cut the blue from it using 55". It is sad and irritating that the fabric today is 38 to 40 inches and has up to 1" selvages...and costs an arm and a leg.
  So making a Carpenter star was on my list. It isn't any more. I have admired all that I have seen. I was frustrated after sewing stuff together on the wrong end of the row and sewing one 3 times to get it right. I should have quit for the day. I still need to do the second one. Most of the blocks are done. I was tempted to make them into a pinwheel quilt. Doesn't really look as nice though.