End of September: Yardage Tracking, Books Read, and a Quilt Finish

After August's abysmal fabric output (.69 yards - sheesh), I am patting myself on the back for a more productive September. 

Incoming fabric totaling ¾ yard is for a modified version of a Clarissa Clutch that I'm pattern testing for a friend. The bright print will be the bag exterior; the tone-on-tone white print (it has Christian crosses on it) will be the interior. This picture is of my shop purchase including interfacing and machine needles. 

More than 10 yards used - out of my cupboards! - is a satisfying total. I'm counting it as good!

Those 10 yards included making the 65" X 70" Filmstrip Quilt top. (See previous blog post.)

I also finished this charity quilt. Between the scrappy pieced quilt top, and the pieced backing, making this 49" X 61" quilt used 4.2 yards of fabric. 

I quilted it with an all-over swirl hook design (see the design here, on Esther's I Patch and Quilt website), and used a diagonal black and white stripe for binding.

After making it with Big Cypress Quilter during an along, I learned the pattern is free on the Moda website. It's a jelly roll design called A Garden for Harper. My version looks much different because I didn't use a jelly roll, and I didn't arrange blocks as shown in the pattern.

This will be a nice donation to Children's Home Society of Florida. 

I also pieced eight more Posh Penelope blocks, using 2½ more yards of fabric. Whew, but these are tedious to make! Lots of steps for each block, so I've learned that assembly, factory-style, is the best way to tackle them.

At the rate of eight blocks a month (I need 16 more blocks) I should get this finished before year's end. 

Book Recommendations

I listened to 10 audiobooks in September. 

These are the scores I gave each, with 5.0 being the highest. 

• 4.5 - All We Thought We Knew, Michelle Shocklee
• 4.3 - I See You've Called in Dead, John Kenney
• 4.3 - If I Were You, Lynn Austin
• 4.2 - She Didn't See It Coming, Shari Lapena
• 4.1 - Hidden Nature, Nora Roberts
• 4.0 - The Girl I Was, Jeneva Rose
• 4.0 - The Lawyer and the Laundress, Christine Hill Suntz
• 4.0 - The Inn at Hart's Haven, Patricia Davids
• 4.0 - You Belong Here, Megan Miranda
• 3.4 - Martin Misunderstood, Karin Slaughter

All We Thought We Knew is a story that jumps between the mother's history in 1942, during WWII in Tennessee, working at a military base/illegal aliens camp, and 1969 when her daughter, Maggie, has returned to the family horse farm because her mother is dying. It's a good story with US military actions running through it.

I See You’ve Called in Dead is a humorous read alongside nuggets of thoughtful truths about our attitudes toward death. The premise is that an obit writer composes his own outlandish obituary on his employer’s syndicated news site, and inadvertently publishes it. So begins his experience being dead in a company that can’t fire him until the company technology makes him “undead,” and his own introspection into death by attending the funerals of strangers.

Just as soon as I swear off books on the topic of WW II, I find another one I really like. If I Were You is about Audrey, born into England’s aristocracy, and Eve whose mother is Audrey’s mother’s personal maid - upper class versus working class. The girls are the same age, and each admires what the other has - money, and confident courage. They become unlikely friends, enlisting to become wartime ambulance drivers. Years later, Audrey learns Eve has gone to the US, and lied to Audrey’s in-laws, claiming she (Eve) is their daughter-in-law. Eve steals Audrey’s identity. I found myself sympathetic to both women. I also appreciated the author’s inclusion of several character’s conversations about faith and Jesus. Not one swear word in this book.! 👍🏼 Also, a minor character in the story is Linda. I think this is the first book I’ve ever listened to that uses my name. 

She Didn’t See It Coming is a good mystery thriller. I had no clue who the killer was, and I fell for letting the author lead me to the wrong person. I can’t get my head around how an author can come up with all the misleading information, facts, and convoluted character storylines that make for a good murder mystery. 

About a couple other titles…

I’ll just say that the Lawyer and the Laundress was a pleasant, but predictable story.

Same for The Inn at Hart’s Haven about a pregnant young woman who runs away and hides in an Amish community. Childhood memories of visiting her Amish grandparents makes her determined to stay and become one of them. 

Karin Slaughter’s book is a short story, a little more than a two hour listen. All I can say is, disappointing, for an author of her stature. (She wrote all the “Will Trent” books.) I think this was supposed to be satire, but it didn’t work for me. 

I hope a couple of these books will appeal to you. Linda

JAX QuiltFest

Though I attended QuiltFest JAX in 2024 (Jacksonville, Florida) this year I did not attend the show which was last weekend. 

I entered two quilts in this non-juried show, both in the modern category.

My friend Candi, who is also the quilt show chair, sent me a picture of Party Time! hanging. This is a quilt made through two different improv workshops, in 2023 and 2024, with Cindy Grisdella.

Having seen me post Instagram pictures of Party Time! in progress, in February while at QuiltCon Phoenix, Cindy asked me for permission to include Party Time! in her new book. It's soon-to-be-released: Freehand Curve Quilts: Improv Techniques for Creative Play and Bold Expression. What an honor for me! 

What was also fun was seeing Turnabout hanging at the show. This is the appliqué and big stitch hand-quilted piece I designed and made earlier this spring for our Big Cypress Quilters Paint Chip Challenge.

Do you see it with a ribbon? It's for "Judge's Recommendation."

The quilt show judge, Sandy Gard, had nothing but complimentary things to say about both quilts. But the positives that put a big grin on my face were about Turnabout:

• All elements of your design are thoughtfully put together to create a magnificent piece.
• All techniques are exemplary.
• Big stitch is amazing.

Wowsa! I'm accustomed to less complimentary remarks about binding, or machine quilting. This sure makes my day!

I like how the commercially-made ribbon was enhanced with fabric.

I also enjoyed the ways my friends from Central Florida MQG recognized Turnabout! These are pictures they shared with me. 

Sandi and Gwen

Dee and Barb

Sharon

Thank you friends for making me feel special. I know the best people! Linda

Well That Was Fun!

My Scanfil Thread blog giveaway closed Sunday, and I'm happy to share that I have a winner.

Though only 34 people commented, according to Blogger 4918 people viewed the blog post!

I'd guess that many blog-readers were from countries outside the US and Canada, so they didn't comment. 

To pick the winner, I cut up identical sizes of scrap paper, wrote everyone's names - include the "name" of one Anonymous commenter...

...folded them in half, and put them all in a basket.

Hubs drew the first name. Believe it or not, it was "Anonymous." I'm so sorry, whoever you are!

He drew a second name, and my local friend, Donna @donnapquilts is the winner. She selected the three-pack called Stormy Greys. 

It was nice of Scanfil to let me host this giveaway, and introduce many of you to a new thread to try. 

While the giveaway was open, I worked on my Filmstrip Quilt. I cut another 31 yard fabric reel - 1½"-wide strips sewn end to end. 

I continued to piece with Scanfil thread, starching and pressing open each seam as I went.

I finished the Filmstrip Quilt top Sunday afternoon. Do you like it?

It finished at 65" X 70", and used 106 yards of 1½" wide fabric.

Not being a mathematician, I worked out that the 5" difference in the dimensions means that the 5½"-long strip I started with.... that however long that first piece is becomes the difference between the quilt's width and height. Don't I feel smart?!

It was fun to host this giveaway, and fun to work on such a scrap-busting quilt. My September fabric-tracking outgoing total is going to be very satisfying! This quilt top used approximately 3⅞ yards! Linda

Thread Giveaway!

BLOG GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Do you remember the good old gays of Blogger, when you came across a giveaway every month? Well, it's been much too long since I hosted a blog giveaway, and am delighted to offer one now.  

Scanfil Thread Company has graciously offered to give away, to one of my blog-readers, a three-spool set of their wonderful thread. 

I can say "wonderful" with sincerity because I have begun using Scanfil myself since discovering it at the company's vendor booth at QuiltCon 2025 in Phoenix. 

Scanfil Thread Company

Scanfil is made in the Netherlands by a family-owned company that began in 1970.

Scanfil is organic cotton thread.

Scanfil 50-weight 2-ply is fine, light-weight, strong, and is my favorite thread for piecing.

I've been using it to piece my scrappy Filmstrip Quilt. 

My piecing stitches are so fine! (Bernina 2.5 stitch length.)

I especially appreciate that Scanfil thread doesn't pigtail around my sewing machine needle (like another brand). 

A happy bonus is having this used-up wood spool. Can I get a refill? Ha, ha! I'll be keeping these spools with eyes peeled for a project in which to use them. 

While I've only purchased the 500-yard spools (thus far), I've got my eye on a 5000 yard cone (or two).

5000-yard cone shown: color Safari, #4853

Scanfil also makes a 30-weight, 2-ply thread that I definitely want to try for domestic machine quilting. 

The Giveaway

• Everyone in the United States and Canada is eligible to enter. (Apologies to blog-readers in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, and France.)

• Comments/entries open Thursday, September 18 through Sunday, September 21.

• One three-spool set will be sent to the winner. Choose a color trio AND the size you'd like!

BLOG GIVEAWAY CLOSED

• Tell me your views about thread. For example:

• What makes you buy the thread you do? 
• Strength? Fineness? Durability? Color options?
• What do you most use thread for?
• Piecing a quilt? Quilting? Clothes sewing? Doll-making? Handwork? All the above?! 

• How do I reach you?

• Many commenters are "anonymous," or "noreply-commenter" so I don't know who you are, or how to communicate with you.
• Be sure I know who you are, and/or how to email you.

Scanfil is offering a discount to my blog-readers who are first-time buyers.

Pick 12 spools of thread. 

Use code WELCOME2FREE to receive two of those spools for free! 

SHOP HERE

Best wishes, friends! You're all winners in my book! Linda

BLOG GIVEAWAY CLOSED

I've Been Sewing!

After August's sewing lull, and our eight day trip, I have plunged back into regular activities with a vengeance! 

One of the first things I did was make another scrappy 1½"-wide fabric reel to add to my Filmstrip Quilt. This reel is 40 yards, and used-up about a 1½ yards of scraps.   

As I've been working on this, I know that the larger it gets, the longer it takes to add a new strip along a side. 

Making progress with care, I've been pinning each strip to a side. Then cut the strip at the corner.

After piecing, I step to my ironing table to press open each seam alternately using Niagara Spray Starch and a water-mister. My process is making a positive effect as thus far the 43" X 48" quilt top is completely flat. 

I also pieced the last blocks to complete this quilt top we're making among Big Cypress Quilters.

The design is by my Big Cypress friend, Debbie. She suggested using jelly rolls to make it. But since I've never bought a jelly roll, and didn't want to add to my fabric stash, I pieced each block from individually cut scraps. 

My quilt top is 49" X 61", so I pieced a scrappy 54" X 65" back. I'm ready to sandwich them and get the quilting done... hopefully by next Tuesday, as that's when everyone will be sharing their creations. 

I plan to donate mine to Children's Home Society of Florida when we host our annual baby shower for them in November.

I also finished another Cupcake Skirt Doll using Denise's YouTube video. They're friends!

I've found a home for Pink Skirt Girl (a friend's granddaughter), and I will donate Purple Skirt Girl. But before giving away Purple Skirt Girl, I first have to remove the buttons on her "shoes" - no embellishments permitted for where she's going. I'll replace buttons with some satin-stitching, using yarn. 

As for my poor amigurumi teddy, I'm still working through my crocheting issues with him. Though I received excellent guidance from my friend Winnie - how to properly make a magic ring, and place a marker to count stitches - when we were both at Boomer Loomers last Saturday, the problem that remains is my own - tension. 

These are supposed to be teddy's matching legs. Deformity? Darn. I'll be crocheting another leg and hope it's at least similar to one or the other!

Keep on keepin' on. Linda

Away to Georgia and Ohio

Hubs and I returned Wednesday afternoon from an eight-day 53rd anniversary getaway.

We'd seen a program on public television about Northern Georgia and decided to visit.

We first went to the town of Blue Ridge, Georgia. This area is considered the beginning of the Appalachian Mountains.

While there we wandered the small town, got a cupcake from "The Sweet Shoppe of the South" whose owners were Cupcake Wars Champions on Food Network... 

... and took a four-hour excursion on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad.

We opted for seating in an open railcar, and had gorgeous weather.

Traveling at about 15 mph, we spent an hour going out... and an hour returning, enjoying lovely scenery along a river. We can only imagine how stunning the fall colors will be in a few more weeks.  

The train left us for two hours in Copperhill, Tennessee. We walked back and forth several times, from Georgia to Tennessee, as we browsed shops. 

We continued to Ohio where we stayed for several days with my cousin and his wife who are always the consummate hosts, and friends with whom we share laughs, viewpoints, and stories. They taught us to play the card game "Thirteen."

Meeting-up with other cousins. I delighted in the opportunity to play my ukulele. We sang 60s and 70s songs, with cousins occasionally joining in with dancing. 

On our return trip, we again traveled through part of the Appalachian Mountains to Northern Georgia where we stayed in Dahlonega, another charming historical town mentioned in the public television program we'd watched. These Georgia wines came home with us.

Of course, cross-country travel isn't complete without several stops at Buc-ees! 

We came home with Beaver Nuggets, and too-good Praline Pecans and Pecan Pralines. There is a difference!

This Buc-ee's in Richmond, Kentucky was the busiest one I've ever visited, though that's probably expected on the Friday of Labor Day weekend. This one has 120 gas pumps. I read online that each Buc-ee's averages 4,000 visitors a day!

On the Quilt-y Side

I took two more quilts to Ohio for my cousin. That makes a total of five quilts I've given them to use in the dorm rooms where grandchildren stay when they're visiting from California and New York.

I made this "No-Name" quilt in 2022. It's pieced with solids and linen, quilted with 12 spirals, and was a QuiltCon reject.

 

In the photo below you can see the quilt I just gave them that's on the middle bed. It was made in 2012 for the first Instagram along I participated in - the Great-Granny Along. I've never used the quilt, and it suits the room with it's other two bright quilts.

The quilt at the top is Satisfaction, from a foundation paper piecing along with Amy Friend; the quilt at the bottom is Bonnie Lass, a scrap quilt pattern by Jen Kingwell. 

It does my heart good to see my quilts on beds, being used and loved.

It's good to be home again, digging into to-dos like: 

• writing the Central Florida MQG September newsletter
• dealing with customer service about that problematic "Ocean" diamond painting kit
• finishing a scrappy quilt top along with Big Cypress Quilters
• working on my Filmstrip Quilt
• meeting-up with a friend to get help with my failed attempts at crocheting an amigurumi bear
• having an overdue FaceTime chat with a good friend
• a quilt shop-visiting day with friends
• attending a Central Florida MQG Executive Committee meeting
• testing a clutch bag pattern for a friend
• preparing a mid-September blog giveaway (TAKE NOTE!)
• anticipating/preparing to teach a day-long domestic machine quilting workshop
• laundry
• housework
• exercise 

Does Calgon still do that "take me away" thing? Linda