Working on WIPs and Weaving

If nothing else, this interminable pandemic has forced me to consider what-all I have in my she-cave. 

Initially, the enforced time at home felt like a party - a chance to catch-up on projects on a list as long as my arm. Not that I'm a "list" person, 'cause I'm not. But I definitely had time to focus on the most pressing to-dos. As of a few weeks ago, I've felt "done." I can't remember the last time I felt so caught up on my makes.

In the past week I've been considering the long-languishing projects - a few UFOs I stopped counting, and a couple enduring WIPs that I've been in no hurry to finish. Most of them are hand projects, meant as something to do during car trips. Well, that's obviously not happening!

With the continued intention of slowing down quiltmaking, I've resurrected a couple oldies that will be finished in a month or two. 

Finishing the Unfinished

First up is my Moorland crocheted afghan. In February, 2017, a neighbor and I ordered Stylecraft Special DK yarn from the UK to make the Moorland Blanket according to instructions by @attic24 in the UK. I've been working on it only during winter months. 

Thus far it's 44" wide and 49" long, and needs only 20 more color rows and a border. Love those pops of orange!

Second is my "Starfish" quilt. Thank goodness I've been blogging for many years because I was able to search and find my first blog post about it - on February, 21, 2011! Yep, this is a nine year-old UFO. In the way of fabrics, it's not exactly what I would choose today, but because it's bright colors, I think it's redeemable. 

This is a hand-piecing project that accompanied me in March 2011 to Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, where we vacationed when we lived in Iowa. I'm not sure I've touched it since. 

When choosing a hand-piecing project, not only do I look for a design I like, but I intentionally choose one with curved piecing and matching points, as that sort of detailed piecing isn't always successfully achieved on a sewing machine. 

I recall buying this Spinning Star acrylic template from a vendor at an AQS show in Des Moines. Though I initially thought to join the stars with white spacers, for whatever reason I chose Kona Charcoal - possibly because, at the time it was a trendy modern color. 

Along with the partially-pieced top, I found 33 more star blocks already pieced. 

I've begun piecing it again using Auriful 50-weight charcoal-colored thread and a size #8 straw needle. 

When I first taught myself hand-piecing, I made a running stitch from seam to seam. But I later learned that piecing is more secure if a backstitch is made every 3-5 stitches.

So, load the needle, pull it through, and then step back a stitch to load the needle with the next 3-5 stitches.

 

Already I'm seeing progress. Hand-piecing seems to be going quickly. I have to believe that if I was trying to join these curves on a machine, I'd probably be stitching at the same pace. 

It's possible that I'll run out of star blocks and/or charcoal Kona before the top is a usable size. Since I really want to use only stashed fabrics, I'm already puzzling through how I might change-out the gray in-between color, perhaps to Painter's Palette Aluminum (a lighter shade of gray) around the outside. 

Peg Loom Weaving

Using 4/4 cotton rug thread, a few days ago I loaded the warp for my peg loom, and made another small rug. It's smaller because I used all the assorted-width fabric strips I had!

Anything leftover strips from cut-away backing, or binding -  between 1" to 2-1/4" wide - was put in this rug. I joined strips, end to end, with short sewing machine stitches and then wove them directly onto the pegs. 

This 22" X 27" rug looks a little more "rugged" than the first one that was made with selvedge edges, but I'm satisfied. Each time I use the loom, I feel better about how to achieve consistent tension. 

Next I plan to make chair pads for the chairs at our kitchen table. After swapping messages with messaging an Instagrammer-weaver in Scotland, I've learned which warp yarn to choose for a softer seat. 😁 I plan to cut fabric strips from my stash, join them at the sewing machine, and then feed the length through a bias tape maker before weaving on the loom. Will see how that goes! 

Finger Pot Holders

We've tried out the crocheted hot pad (see last blog post), and though it's a little thick, it's a winner. It will probably soften after washing.

Now I've made finger pot holders from fabric and Insul-brite. The verdict is that they are okay, but Dan felt the warmth of the 400-plus degree heat of the pizza pan through the layers. No burn, but warmth.

Additional online reading about using Insul-brite suggests using a layer of batting with the Insul-brite, to protect from heat that's greater than 400 degrees. I'll do that next time.

Book Recommendation

The Better Liar by Tanen Jones is about estranged sisters. When Leslie travels from Albuquerque to LasVegas to track down her sister Robin, and finds her dead, she frantically tries to figure out what to do. Leslie will only receive half of their father's inheritance if both sisters, together, visit the lawyer's office to sign papers. When Leslie meets Mary, a waitress in a dead-end relationship who's been saving money to go to L.A. to become an actress, a plan takes shape that appears to solve their problems. 

This is one of those I-didn't-see-it-coming books with an underlying message revealed at the end. It was worth a bit of extra listening to hear the author's intention behind the book. Good stuff!

Linda's score: 4.3/5.0

The truth will (hopefully) make you smile.

Linda