Here's A New Project...But Not New

 So, take a look at this cutie quilt. Really pretty at first glance. 

But, what the heck happened!!! Some blocks are hand sewn, some blocks are machine sewn.

And the sides of the pretty blue churn dash blocks are these odd tan blocks.

Look at those tiny seam allowances! YIKES!

So, clutch your pearls my friends, because I put it in the washing machine on delicate, cold wash and tossed it in the dryer.  YUP. I figure if I'm going to salvage any of this it has to be useable and that means washable. Well, it washed up just fine, No excessive raveling-no more than it already was anyways.  

SOME of this odd row are really beautifully pieced, but some are awful!

This side row of tan pieces is just falling apart. 

And look at this! Some how they chose to cut a block in half, and add it into the end of a row! What the heck!

And the back!!! OMG!!!!! It's a lot of pieces of old clothing. Which wouldn't be so bad but look at the tucks and wrinkles and the uneven seams and the general badness!

Look there's a pocket on this piece! They didn't bother to disassemble the pieces at all! 

I'm pretty sure this was an apron, the big pink flowers are actually pretty cool, but YIKES! And the lines of quilting stitching which was done by machine are just every which way!

SO I started taking it apart and look how they put the layers together!  They just stuffed the edges inside and sewed it down! 

Oh MY! I think there's a bit of pajama fabric in there too! Maybe a dish towel? It's just really something to see. 

         

I've got the thing all apart, now to decide how to salvage some of it. The sashing is so thin! I hate the idea of ripping out all the stitching around each block, I'll keep you posted. 

And there's a nice flat piece of muslin used as batting. I sure don't know how many people sewed on this, but it's got to be more then 2. 

More Screwdriver Fun....NOT!

So, remember a week ago or so, I had trouble with a screw on Freddie? Well I loaded a quilt and was getting ready to go and guess what? Yup, I hear that scraping noise. GRRRR! Well at least I know how to take it apart and get a look in there. 

I've also got a pretty good method to lift Freddie and put a wood block under her to hold it up so I can see the wheels.  Well, it wasn't the wheels!  

There are these bolts, they hold the carriage to the wheel brackets, and one of them was so loose it was almost falling out! That's what was dragging on the rail!

These are tricky to figure out what to use to screw it down tight! I tried to take a picture and it's impossible to get a good one close up! I used my pliers. Probably not the best, but it's tight now!

SO I got the snowflake quilt loaded. It's a different kind of pattern (to me anyways) here's a link modern handcraft

I updated Freddie to version 6 last time, so I got some new free patterns with that update. This one is called Paisley Popcorn and I like the design a lot.

I need to figure out why my top edge was off a little bit, but no worries, it looks great when it's done!

I'm using a new roll of batting that I got from Linda's Electric Quilters. It's 60% cotton ad 40% poly. I was using Heirloom 80/20 before, but I think I like this better, it seems thicker and smoother. I used it in the mystery quilt and it washed up really nice and fluffy. 

So this pattern is pretty easy, it's just squares and half square triangles. You make 12 big blocks and sew them together!

Here it is outdoors, better color!

The back is a flannel sheet. I got a set at Aldi! 

I put the fitted sheet on the couch to since hubs loves to sleep on the couch in front of the TV! And then I used the flat top sheet for the backing!

For a cheap sheet set, these washed up really nice, so I didn't hesitate to use it on my quilt. I had enough to cut binding too! I'm not sure how flannell will wear for binding, but it's all done now!

Screwdriver Fun

So this guy has been obsessed with doing laundry. OK.  He also likes the hats and gloves in the bin on the dryer....note the  Uncle ben hat! The other day while watching the water run in, he noticed that there are screws on the light switch plate. 

He ran and got the screwdriver and stood on his little step stool and proceeded to take them all out.

We had a discussion about putting them all back in and NO he could not take out the screws that hold the switch in! 

A few days later the new license plate came for Grampa's car, so OH BOY! Another chance to use the screwdriver! 
What a clever boy!
 

Not A Mystery Anymore

 I finished the quilt top for the Annual Bonnie K Humter Mystery Quilt Along.  

This is the top before quilting. 

It came out pretty good. I like the borders the best I think. But I also know that I'll be losing those points in my binding. Oh well!

I got ready to load her up on Freddie, but I had a bad sound when I tried to roll him along the rails. UhOh! 

So I figured it was one of the front wheels, so I called APQS Support, and they sent me an email with the directions on how to fix it. Nothing too hard, really! BUT...one little thing, this screw. There are two screws that need to be removed from this aluminum rail guide, I got one out with no problem, but the other one? NO WAY! I stripped that screw head so bad! 

It's in an awkward place underneath the machine, my drill was too bulky to get a good grip on the screw head, I went on line to see what folks were saying to do about a stripped screw head, and then I ordered a screw extractor from Amazon. It came, and Thursday I gave it a go. No luck. SO I headed to my local hardware store and got a different kind of extractor and new screws. And since I was in the neighborhood, I stopped at Lowes and got a 3rd kind of extractor. 

I tried my best, but gave up and called my back up. Ben. He came over and just like that he got that dang thing out! He's magical. BTW the one that worked was the Speed Out Pro.

Just look at this little bugger! GGGRRRRRRR! 

 Got the wheel tightened back up and Freddie is back in business. 

I didn't have free time to quilt until Saturday, but I got going right away!

I had updated Quilt Path to the new version, so I was hoping all would go well. 
And it did! 

I pieced a backing for it, I LOVE this print fabric, it's by a designer named Sue Penn freespiritfabrics.com/sue-penn-collections/. I've had this yardage for awhile, and knew I couldn't cut it up, so it made a perfect backing!

I just LOVE IT!

And despite the cold I had to get pictures. 

A little above zero now...better than overnight, it was -12!!

These Bonnie Hunter quilts are always so pretty. A ton of pieces, but it always goes together really smoothly. This one finished at about 80" square. 

I used a new-with-the-update design in Quilt Path. Pearls with Loops. 

And here's the back-I love it maybe more than the front!

Dang, I LOVE this fabric! 

I have a couple more pieces of Sue Penn fabric, it might be coming up on a back soon!