Studio GO Circles

Went to adult education today and set up the GO, I needed and got a lot of help from the fellow students.

First I got help with just getting the machine out of the cupboard and onto a desk.

The cabinet where it is stored now requires the handle to be removed so the machine can be locked up.  That took a while to figure out.

Then the circle template was arranged differently than I imagined, and the circles were smaller too.  But it will be good.   So I had brought my Kansas City Troubles strips to do the circles.  It took me a while to decide but decided to go ahead.  I had to iron the facing on and then cut.  I did two different materials at the same time as the template has 2 columns of circles right next to each other.  But at first I was putting the template at the front of the tray and it wasn't working right, moving it to the back of the tray made it work in short order.

Because of all the figuring out I lost track of counting the circles, know I didn't finish all I will need for the abacus quilt, but realized I had cut more than I needed in the fabrics I already cut circles from.  I hadn't brought my sewing machine in the class, so didn't test the block - I just cut circles. So I sure hope I will like making the blocks for the quilt!

I thought I would need help with getting the machine back in the cabinet so had to shut down early as the lady who said she'd help had to leave early.  (Now I know a trick for moving it so can do on my own the next time! Simply carry without the tray, and hold the bars on either side!)

It gave me time though to chat with the instructor.  Talked about my Mom and how she is not eating as much now and more.  It was good to have someone listen and care.  (We have known each other off and on for about 22 years!)

90*4 Tumblers - only enough for a baby quilt....

A couple of months ago, the Liberated Quilters Yahoo group held the first World Wide Swap.  I received lots of blocks in progress that I have been using in my Liberated Round Robin project.

I didn't (and still don't) have a lot of works in progress so I took fabric to adult education class and spent two long days cutting up different fabric using the 3 inch tumbler die for the GO.  It was really tiring, but I thought would at least add value to what I was sending on.  I also cut 5 inch charms in not as many fabrics....  I traded with a lady in the class to double the number of fabrics.

I sent along more than an equal number of plain beige tumblers so there would be enough I thought for a nice lap quilt.

I've been sewing them together as a leader and ender project, it's been very nice.  Since I can't find my fabric to finish the LibRR I decided to go ahead and put sections together.  Now I realize I do not have enough tumblers for my lap quilt - also I shouldn't have sewn them all together in fours as that limits the order in which I sew them together.  And I know I need to send my World Wide Swap partner some more tumblers so she can make something useful!  It occurred to me tonight to check the GO site and see how many pieces are needed for different quilts - I only found the baby sized quilt - and it requires 180 tumblers - it's 12 rows of 14 shapes - then cut 12 additional shapes in half for the edges - surround all with a 2.5 inch strip and bind after quilting.  The finished baby quilt is 38 x 40 inches.
The pattern is here:
http://www.materialgirlsquilt.com/media/uploads/2011/01/19/files/GO-Tumbler-Baby.pdf

I haven't been attending that adult education class, will write the teacher to see if the GO is still available for people to use.....

I'm so surprised to see how wrong I was about estimating the number of pieces needed for a quilt.  Before packaging the pieces to mail I had laid them out on the dining room table and kept cutting and trading with people to get more fabric - I really thought there would almost be enough for a twin size quilt before borders, etc.....  Oh well.