Distracted Sewing

This has been my she-cave situation for more than a week now. I had to move out my Bernina 440 and replace it with my Featherweight. The 440 foot control at intervals would stop working. I think there's a bad connection between the machine's foot control plug and the cord.

Anyway... I keep finding projects I want to make, and add them to a growing list of WIPs (works in progress). (Shh... don't remind me that I want to make a ScrapSnap quilt.) 

Based on comments from other quilters and sewists, I realize that I'm not alone in my inability to focus on one thing. Apparently that's an outcome of the Coronavirus quarantine. While I've always envied those who can start a project, and see it through to the end before beginning another, that's never been the case for me. So apparently my distracted sewing is a way to cope with quarantine.

Nonetheless, I'm justifying every one of my various projects because most of them involve using scraps. It's been a good feeling to sort through scrap bins, cut up pieces and make use of leftovers. Don't we all like to do that? Other than a finished quilt, I don't think any other activity in my sewing room is more satisfying. 

On BluPrint, I watched Christina Cameli's "The Scrappy Market Tote" video to see how she mades fabric from scraps. She calls it crumb piecing. My Featherweight is set up to piece more scrap strips whenever the mood strikes. None of these strips are joined because I don't know what I'm making!

Also, with another new purpose in mind, I dug into this container of seldom-used strips. These are the last long cuts: 1) from yardage; 2) excess cut-away from quilt backs; and, 3) lengths of leftover quilt binding. If the strips were wide enough, I cut them into 2" widths, though I kept the 2-1/4"-wide binding leftovers as is.

Then, beginning with a www.wikihow.com diagram, I started making a braided rag rug.

As you can see, it's a four-strand braid.

Once you turn the first corner, the fourth strip is used to weave new braid through previously-braided strips.

To add-on strips, Wikihow instructions say to either knot ends together, or cut a slit through both strip ends to create a woven join. I tried both methods, but thought they were bulky. So, since I'm braiding while sitting at my sewing machine chair, I have been using a short sewing machine stitch length to machine-piece strips to one another as I go.

Dan walked into the room and said, "That's not a very big rug." Ha, ha! It's about 8" by 14" so far. I have a way to go, and will run out of strips before it's finished. 

But that's okay by me. It's an ongoing project that is achieving it's purpose: 1) to use-up; and, 2) decrease my strip scraps.

Though the Boulder MQG improv challenge prompt was four days later than usual (okay by me!)  I've made the blocks following their "X block" prompt. Since scraps in my scrap bin are getting smaller - I haven't cut into stashed yardage - I improvised. Ha! Improvised improvisation. Two blocks are about 10" X 10". The two smaller blocks will be worked into the overall finished quilt. As my self-challenge, I'm still cutting fabrics only using scissors.

I'm sticking to my daily goal of quilting six blocks (at least) a day on my temperature quilt, aiming for a May 8 finish.

It's extremely satisfying to look at my progress and notice the lovely texture. Wool batting is the best! 

Hours of sewing room time means hours of audiobook listening. Two more finishes brings my year total to 23 books.

Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist is what I would call a summer, beach time read. It's a charming story that takes place in Texas in the early 1900s, about a young and single telephone switchboard operator, and a Texas ranger who comes to town posing as a telephone lineman who is trying to infiltrate and capture a notorious train-robber. As predictable as the storyline was, it was informative too. The narrative included telling about nesting and mating habits of several Texas birds, and explained what a pigeon-shooting tournament looked like, in the days before clay pigeons. This was a light and satisfying read.

Linda's score: 3.9/5.0


Since I enjoyed Diane Chamberlain's book Big Lies in a Small Town, I looked for another of her books and listened to The Midwife's Confession. It's narrated by five women who take the roles of the five main characters. I recognized the voices of two of them from previous books I've listened to.

The story begins with Noelle's suicide, and follows her two close friends and their two daughters. What comes from going through Noelle's effects - finding a partial letter and a name - is that they begin to realize that they didn't know Noelle at all! Noelle was the midwife with secrets, each one nearly as unbelievable as the previous one. I felt smug to have anticipated what was coming, even as I decided the story was a bit far-fetched. But I definitely didn't see the ending! This is a well-written, great read.

Linda's score: 4.3/5.0

Today Dan went to the grocery store and saw that quite a few items are still out of stock: yeast, toilet paper, paper towels. Thank goodness we don't need any of these things. Other items in low supply are tuna and flour. I'm grateful that Dan cooks, and only two of us are in our household. Truly, thank heaven for these blessings. And that I memorized Psalm 91! That's a real achievement for someone my age! 😊 Linda