Autumn Jublilee Row Quilt Along - Make Sure You Vote!

(From My Carolina Home) Carole is now onto her third row for this quilt.  This week there are just five maple leaf blocks to make.  

I think, as her previous quilt projects have all been, this will be another winner.

If you have some good fall color fabrics, and time, you should click over to see what she is sharing!

Autumn Jubilee Cookish

So Carole has posted another blog post - this time it includes a recipe from a book she is having a drawing for - Milk Street.  Sounds like a nice cook book to refer to, to learn how to gain confidence with cooking.

https://frommycarolinahome.com/2020/10/11/autumn-jubilee-cookish/ 

I just finished a week of Asian inspired dinners so will save this to try another time.  Perhaps I haven't mentioned here that I'm working on planning at least a few dishes ahead.  And thinking I will try different countries for inspiration.  I'm recording our meals on my other blog - there is a link at the top of the screens of this blog.  I'm doing pretty well at just having meals ready for my husband and son, now it's time to get more interesting and to try newer things.

So today the fabric for my two baby gifts are all washed and dry so I will be able to start making the circular day quilts, the towels with the little triangular hoods and washcloths. I got each of the mother's special fabric for the top of the day quilt (need 1.25 yards to make it all with one fabric).  Will have to edge one of the pieces as I only got 1 yard of it, but it will still be nice.  But I think I will be starting by cutting and connecting the bias strips that will be needed for the binding.

***** I'd like anyone reading this blog post, to please share the URL of a recipe they have recently made in the comments!

Autumn Jubilee Quilt Along

Carole From My Carolina Home is hosting another Autumn Jubilee!  She has so many projects that she is sharing - incredible amount of work and although us mere mortals could only hope to do one of them, it is fun to read her clearly written directions and see how things can be done.

The one that is really catching my eye this time is the row along quilt.  So far there are stars and trees done in fall colors.  I have never actually seen trees with leaves in these bright fall colors, but hope to some year soon.

It seems from the web that there are a lot of people who are able to get sewing and projects done during these stay at home days.  I've managed to master the food ordering and making of meals, and the standard things one does.  But I have yet to settle into a nice schedule of sewing or doing things just for fun.  Guess I'm paying for still needing to clear out the garage.  I keep moving boxes and going thru them - it seems to be my life's work...  Hmm.  I guess having a personal trainer for three or four times a week for 60-90 minutes counts as doing something just for me.

But someday I will be able to just power thru and sew projects to learn new skills and just have fun.  Carole always has lots of posts to read and learn from.  She is like a real person Martha Stewart - without all the staff and helpers to get the various projects designed and put together!

New Project: EBHQ Lone Robin Part 1 of ?

 I've started another project (without finishing anything I have previously started).

This one is EBHQ's Lone Robin.  Each month there is a clue to add to a quilt - pictures are shared, we work at home.  Similar to the Liberated Round Robin I hosted a few years ago...  

I'm late to joining in, but have had fun getting things together.

#1  Make one or more blocks that feature curves.  I decided to start with the blocks I made in February 2020 while I was up in Berkeley for a EBHQ workshop.  But these blocks were made in a Circular Rectangles workshop taught by Claire Sherman at Hello Stitch.  A really fun class.  I put my untrimmed blocks on the class design wall. We decided it was good to have some plain blocks to highlight the special blocks made in class.

#2  Add one or more Flying Geese.  I thought I would try to use only the orange Marimekko fabric that I got a few years ago.  By cutting areas of the orange and red fabric, I would have some very cool looking flying geese to add to the Lone Robin.  The blocks were getting smaller in size, so I decided to add a larger circle from the Marimekko fabric too.

#3  Add stripes or strips. Any size, any width, anywhere.  I already broke my internal rule of only using the orange fabric when I remembered the blocks I had started making for a baby quilt a few years ago... These herringbone blocks were supposed to be easy, peasy - but they were very hard for me to trim up correctly.  They are made of strips and have the colors in the fabric that I used for Claire's class. I will add another stripe block next to the four flying geese (or move the lower strip block so it is next to the lower flying geese).

#4 Squares are the next motif to add.  Again, any size, any location.   I could put the plain large blocks back in and be done.  Hmm.  Thinking about this now...

Guess I will sew what I have together now, that will be more in the spirit of the challenge I know.  I will sew them in the order the clues were given out...

See the 2nd Liberated Round Robin I started (and haven't finished yet) in 2012. That one starts with the first block being anything, then rounds with triangles, squares, rectangles, curves.  I did liberated blocks, but I arranged them very traditionally.

I decided to put batting on and to start quilting it at this stage:

http://liberatedroundrobin.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-progress-so-far.html

Nothing more has been done on this project - yet!

Having a lot of fun working on the EBHQ Lone Robin now!

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Incredibly strange times.  Scary times.  Glad to be healthy, to have our son with us now, to be able to work on quilt projects and use zoom to get together with others.

EBHQ: Online Workshop: Latifah Saafir: Molehills Quilt - First Prep

East Bay Heritage Quilters is wonderful. I joined a few years ago when Claire became one of their Workshop Chairs. I knew her only from the Liberated Quilters group on Yahoo. Anyway, she needed more people to attend a workshop and offered to host me if I could come. So I did! I have had a few years of wonderful quilting and friendship filled weekends since then.

Since the Covid-19 shut in order, the guild has been organized so locals can pick up supplies to make masks, and kits to make charity quilts. Once made they are dropped off and then distributed to various places.

From https://ebhq.org/page-18178 on 8-16-20. At last count EBHQ sewists have made and given away over 6,900 masks, 150 gowns and 150 surgical caps to various local medical groups and community organizations.

They have had zoom meetings and meet-ups. At first there was a presentation by Pati Fried who was going to teach the workshop and give the lecture at the meeting. She gave a very nice presentation, Quarantine Quilting: Listening to Your Inner Self to Spark Your Creativity, that coincidentally brought in several Ed Tech concepts when talking about quilting. I really enjoyed it and had fun sharing with my husband (the Ed Tech professor) afterwards. When I have attended the member meet-ups, they suggested a topic so every one got their turn to respond to the topic, and show off anything they were working on. Very nice. Smart to give us guidance so it wasn't just a chit-chat event.

And this month they are having their first online workshops!  I signed up right away.

ZOOM WORKSHOP - LATIFAH SAAFIR
Molehills Quilt

The design is made using paper piecing.  We can do a block so the curve is just one piece, or many, or can insert what ever shapes we'd like.  It reminds me of an echoing clam shell pattern or a Baptist fan type of design - but with fabric not with stitching.

I printed the templates and made them so the pieces would be all with one kind of fabric, so I can trace around them to get my fabric marked.  I glue sticked the pattern to a file folder, then cut it out.  Then I used regular liquid glue to put that on top of another file folder.  Waited for it to dry then cut that out.  I used scotch tape to position the templates with more than one piece together, then finished by putting packing tape on both sides of the joining parts of each template.

Later I will print more and cut them apart so I can have at least a few curves made with many pieces of fabric. These will be good also to help me check the sizes of pieces that I create with little pieces.

I'm getting excited about the workshop and getting ready for my full day of sewing!

It will be very nice to know how to join these all to make a quilt, that's for sure.

Her other workshop looks so interesting too - but I would have to give up one of my exercise sessions as the events overlap. Right now I'm leaning toward keeping with the exercise appointment.  Subject to change depending on other things.

I'm so glad that Claire and I have become friends, and so pleased to now be a member of EBHQ!

I'm delighted to feel like I know how to get food and supplies for my family, so even during this time of crisis I can spend time sewing and having fun again!

Fooled Again Shame on Me

Last post I shared a link and information from the

San Diego Community Volunteers for Coronavirus Response

It was incorrect, and I apologize for contributing to the spreading of misinformation.

It may be that that San Diego hospital runs out of face masks, but it was not a true statement then to say they have and are asking for home made masks.

If you have made masks I understand they may be welcomed by grocery clerks, delivery people, home less people, nursing homes or rehabilitation centers (for example).

I have now subscribed to my local newspaper, so I am better informed on the local situation.

Time to Sew for Hospitals? How to make a Face Mask?

I admit, I was thinking that after getting our food inventoried and more orders made, I was going to spend the day working on one of the many online quilting projects.  But now I'm going to get set up to make masks....

Targeted for San Diego, but unfortunately I think all areas now or soon will need these.

UCSD Hospital is completely out of masks, no joke. They are pleading for home-made masks. Scripps says they will be out in 3 weeks. Anyone who sews and has close weave cotton material is asked to fire up the old Singer. There is a tutorial on how to sew them on https://deaconess.com/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask If you have collected extra manufactured masks you don't really need, they need them badly. Either way I'll have a box on my front porch at XXXX Poway . These cotton masks will be washable and reusable.

The masks that you may have heard are coming from construction and 3-M will help but not not be anywhere near enough. Each health worker goes through many each day. I don't sew so I can't answer your questions but I think the CDC website may be able to.

Posted by a member of the:

San Diego Community Volunteers for Coronavirus Response

Facebook Group

How to make a Face Mask (there is a video to help make too)

What you will need

• - Cotton fabric, a pretty print is best.
• - Rope Elastic, beading cord elastic will work (you may also us 1/8” flat elastic)
• - Cut the elastic 7” long and tie a knot at each end (DO NOT knot the ends of the flat)

You can make two sizes: Adult or Child

1. Put right sides of cotton fabric together o Cut 9x6 (Adult) or 7.5 x 5 (Child) 
2. Starting at the center of the bottom edge, sew to the first corner, stop. Sew the elastic with the edge out into the corner. A few stitches forward and back will hold this. 
3. Sew to the next corner, stop, and bring the other end of the same elastic to the corner and sew a few stitches forward and back. 
4. Now sew across that top of the mask to the next corner. Again put an elastic with the edge out. 
5. Sew to the next corner and sew in the other end of the same elastic. 
6. Sew across the bottom leaving about 1.5” to 2” open. Stop, cut the thread. Turn inside out. 
7. Pin 3 tucks on each side of the mask. Make sure the tucks are the same direction 8. Sew around the edge of the mask twice. 

East Bay Heritage Quilters  posted these links:

Here are 4 patterns to choose from:

The Fu Face Mask has links to a how-to video and instructions and is made with “ribbon" and not elastic (something in short supply). 

Link for the pattern and video instructions: https://freesewing.org/docs/patterns/fu/

Link for printed instructions: https://freesewing.org/docs/patterns/fu/instructions/

This Deaconess pattern is easy and can be made with elastic or ribbon.

Click on the link below to see the instructions and a video demo.

https://www.deaconess.com/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask

Another one: A.B. Mask -- for a Nurse by a Nurse is made with ties. It can fit over a N95 mask so it's a bit more complicated. Has pattern and step by step picture instructions.

And yet one more link to Kadiddlehopper for an easy pleated mask with elastic or ties.

If you get online and google "face mask patterns" you will find many more patterns.

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Note the date on this article - January!

The Atlantic

HEALTH

We Don’t Have Enough Masks

Pandemics will require deciding who needs respirators and surgical masks, and who doesn’t.

JAMES HAMBLIN

JANUARY 30, 2020

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/01/viral-masks/605761/

And then there is this from Times of San Diego
https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2020/03/08/woman-wearing-a-surgical-mask-robs-kearny-mesa-7-eleven/

Behavior Tip

Long Weekend: Not Quilting: Dana Point Weekend

So, my husband and I took a few days and drove up the coast to Dana Point for a little holiday.  I thought when we married that we'd be doing this on a regular basis, but that hasn't been the case.  Oh well.  We started by dropping some things off to Goodwill.

A little cat my mom used to have on a shelf.

Cake decorating books from a friend in Australia, a basket it the shape of the state my son's ex-wife was from, assorted blankets I tied with my mom.

Am empty case for dinosaurs.

I hope they can distribute party paper goods.

My mom's jacket.  Destroyed by moths.

I like the way it is designed.  Should have had my husband take a photo actually showing how nice it looks....

After emptying the trunk, we drove up Pacific State Highway.  It's a pretty road, has the Pacific Ocean on the left and houses or businesses on the right.

We stopped in one of my favorite cities, Encinitas for lunch and had a visit to their beautiful library.

I didn't take photos of the library, but it's the best.  They have a place to buy coffee (as a fundraiser), and you can settle into chairs to look at books and the ocean!

 Brave New Quilts was organized sort of by different design principles of different artists.

Quilt with Tula and Angela, had a nice combination of color theory, piecing, and fun free motion quilting.

I've heard of Christina Cameli, but this was the first book I'd seen by her.  There were lots of ideas for different designs, but for a beginner like me, there was not enough step-by-step instruction to actually do the designs than she has in the book.

Once we got to Dana Point we stayed at the Best Western.  Walked for dinner to a BBQ place, read, next day walked to the harbor, had seafood dinner, we left after breakfast the next day.  Drove up to Irvine to go to another bookstore, then back down to San Clementine for a super used book store. Then home.

The only picture I seem to have taken is the design on the duvet at the hotel...

Oh we went to lunch in Irvine, this was outside the restroom. It was huge, so I only took the corner.

and this is the book my husband checked out of the Encinitas Library!  He is teaching a class on Educational Games...

WIP Charity Top: Jordan Fabrics How to Cut A Rail Fence Quilt

I've never made a rail fence quilt.  September is charity top day at my once a month group, so since I had found this YouTube, Jordan Fabrics How to Cut A Rail Fence Quilt, I decide to find some fabric and make a top.  Several people were also looking thru the fabric, so I think that part could have gone quicker, but it was nice to chat to folks.  I found four fabrics each about 19 inches wide and started cutting 2.5 inch strips.  I followed his tips and cut several fabrics at the same time.  I subcut those into 8.5 inch strips and got to sewing the blocks.  At the end I needed more of the darker blue.  I was going to use some different fabric, but then I discovered that I could piece together enough to make the final strip.

It's unusual for me to follow directions!  I cut the fabric for a top all at the same time, used only a few fabrics, and cut several fabrics at the same time.

It felt like I was working rather quickly, but I'm not sure...  I think it took about five hours for me to get this top pieced (including picking the fabric, ironing, cutting, sewing, chatting).  Unfortunately, I did not pick out backing fabric, so I was not able to get the batting for the quilt.  But I'll get that and work on it the next Saturday group that I can attend. Gosh, that won't be until January.  : (  But at least it's a start of a charity quilt!

Since I have more time, think I'll add some borders to make the quilt a little larger than 40 inch square.