Appliqué/Embroidery Hoopless Finish

While on retreat with Central Florida MQG a couple weeks ago, I worked on and finished stitching "Dream Flower Posy", a design by Jo Avery from the February issue of Homespun magazine.

If you're looking for the pattern, I suggest checking your local library. I was surprised to find an E-publication of that magazine issue available through the Cloud Library app on my phone! So, this was a free pattern!

Anyway, since I'd enlarged the design by 20 percent, the piece ended up needing to be finished in an 11" hoop. After checking online and not finding a hoop that size, I admonished myself to "Put on your thinking cap and figure out something you can use that you already have." I'm so glad I pushed myself to do that!

Knowing I'd need something to reinforce and stiffen the embroidery, I went through my bin of fusibles and found a folded-up piece of Peltex (fusible on one side) a stiff Pellon product usually used in bag-making.

With my 11" round acrylic ruler handy (owning a set of Quilter's Rule Nested Rulers - I sure didn't pay this much! - has proven invaluable) it was easy to draw an 11" circle on the Peltex - twice. I used the 11½" side of the ruler to mark the embroidery circle and a fussy-cut circle of Anna Maria print I had on hand (from a fat quarter bundle I'd won at QuiltCon in 2023). I then ironed to fuse a Peltex circle to the back of each piece.

With my sewing machine set to basting stitch length, I sewed along the edge of each circle. Then I drew up the bobbin thread so the edges were taut against the Peltex, and tied knots. 

I clipped the two circles together, put edge stitch foot #10D on my Bernina, and picked utility stitch #19 - set at mirror image - to zig-zag with a straight edge, around the circles. 

I'm delighted with how it turned out - a hoopless finish with a pretty edge stitch.

The hanging loop is a fabric bundle tie from a long-ago MassDrop purchase. (Gosh, I miss that company.) MassDrop is printed on one side of the tape, but I folded the tape in half and edge-stitched to keep the printing on the inside.

See? Being creative.

I like the Anna Maria fabric for the back because I can't imagine I'd ever use such a print in anything else.  

I want to thank my Florida friend, Nancy, for her unique suggestion to finish this piece to hang from the ceiling! I sure didn't think of that! 

So here's my sewing room ceiling. A clear Command hook, and voilà! Linda

Retreat Time

It's been a hot minute since I've written a blog post! Well, eight days to be exact. That's not typical for me, but I've been on the go. 

Does this look familiar to anyone? Yep. It was my ready-to-take-on-quilt-retreat pile.

With 14 good friends from Central Florida MQG, I went to Luther Springs in Hawthorne, Florida for our annual retreat.

The retreat was four days and three nights, and marked 12 years of our chapter retreating (except for 2020) to Luther Springs. It's a great facility, started by the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) for campers (kids and families) that has become a favorite spot for quilters. Rooms are private or shared,  and good food is prepared by Miss Sarah who has run the place since we started going there in 2014.

Each year I coordinate our group photo-taking. We can be serious, but we sure have fun too! This year our fun picture was of each of us "pumping iron." Ha, ha.

I don't have many finishes, but I feel good about what I accomplished. 

Many triangles went with me that I spent hours sewing into half-square triangles (HSTs), pressing and trimming. These are off-cuts from several years of saving triangles from other projects, so sizes aren't consistent.

The top right six piles have more than 200 HSTs measuring 2¼" X 2¼".  I also have more than 100 2" X 2" HSTs (four piles on the top left side). A few other sizes are there too. Once I cut and sew solid triangles to the print triangles (lower right) I'll see about putting all of these into one quilt top.

I finished hand-appliquéing and then embroidering a Jo Avery design that was in the February issue of Homespun magazine. I had admired the design when Jo shared it on Instagram.

Design by Jo Avery

When I found I could access to our public library's digital issue of Homespun, I was all over printing-out appliqué pieces. Like Jo, I used some Fableism woven fabric and embroidered with 12-weight Aurifil wool using a "Jo Avery Sampler Pack" purchased at QuiltCon. I'm not sure how I'll finish this piece. Hooping would be easy, but where to hang it? 

Otherwise, I spent my time finishing Cipher, my paint chip challenge quilt. I did most of the big stitch hand quilting while on retreat, using-up almost one ball of size 8 Spagetti (Wonderfil) perle cotton. On Tuesday I was able to share my finished quilt at Big Cypress Quilters when we had our challenge reveal.

The finished 55¼" X 67" Cipher quilt looks quite a bit different than the quilt top! Slashing through the design nine times, then resewing to join seams differently, made quite a change.

A couple evenings of at-home knitting and I've finished another round loom knitted Tiny Doll. I just love this aqua color that a friend gave me to use for dolls. The pillow the doll is posed on is another Jo Avery design I made.

I've continued to work on the seed stitch poncho that is a little more than half-way knitted on fairly large - size 11 (8mm) circular needles.

I've come to realize that it's good practice for me to knit one side then turn and purl the other side, as I continue to try to perfect knitting the Continental method. This How to Knit Faster: Speed Knitting for Beginners Continental Style Youtube video by Chandi of Expression Fiber Arts was very helpful! My aim is to get comfortable enough to knit a couple summer tops. 

An update on Twistee Treat, the ice cream shop I'm still waiting to see open near me. This was on Instagram, so.... soon!

Linda

Honoring Dad

On Friday, April 10, 16 family members gathered to inter the cremains of Dad who passed away November 5, 2025 at the age 95.

Though we miss him terribly, we are at peace because we know he was ready to go and be reunited with our Mother who died 23 years ago. 

Each of us was touched by the beautiful military ceremony for Dad who was a Marine Corps veteran. Two Marines solemnly unfurled an American flag and remained at attention while a bugler played taps, followed by an honor guard firing three rifles.

The flag was carefully refolded and presented to my brother with a folder and document from the US government signed by our president.

My brother was also presented with a small sack containing nine shell casings that represent "duty, honor, and country."  

Now, at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas, Mother and Dad are together again, and united with our Lord Jesus Christ through the resurrection of the dead.

Leavenworth is a lovely, peaceful cemetery. The stone building at the top of the hill plays carillon music, among the tunes being the Marines' hymn.  

The best part of the five-day trip was spending time with family, including our two teenaged grandsons. If you've been reading my blog for a number of years, you've seen each of these boys, Tay and Aesa, when they were newborns - Tay born in Australia; Aesa born in Kansas City. They're very handsome young men now. 💕

I spent a good portion of 40 hours of car time hand-piecing, and hand-appliquing.

Two more columns of hand-pieced Inner City blocks are now joined. 

I also made a good start on Jo Avery's "Dream Flower Posy Hoop Wallhanging" pattern from the February/March issue of Homespun magazine (Australia publication found in my digital public library's Cloud Library app). 

Jo's design @joaverystitch is on the left, a screen shot from Instagram. Mine is on the right. I'm appliquing Fableism and gradated cottons to a linen background. 

I think Dad would appreciate this blog post. He was a loyal blog follower/reader, and when we talked every week would often comment about something I'd posted. I'm glad you're where you wanted to be, Dad. It was good to be with family; it's good to be home again. Linda

Remembering Dad

On Friday, April 10, 16 family members gathered to inter the cremains of Dad who passed away November 5, 2025 at the age 95.

Though we miss him terribly, we are at peace because we know he was ready to go and be reunited with our Mother who died 23 years ago. 

Each of us was touched by the beautiful military ceremony for Dad who was a Marine Corps veteran. Two Marines solemnly unfurled an American flag, remained at attention, while a bugler played taps, followed by an honor guard firing three rifles.

The flag was carefully refolded and presented to my brother with a folder and document about Dad's service.

My brother was also presented with a small bag of nine shell casings that represent "duty, honor, and country."  

Mother and Dad are "together again" at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas - a beautiful place. 

The best part of the five-day trip was spending time with family, including our two teenaged grandsons. If you've been reading my blog for a number of years, you saw each of these boys, Tay and Aesa, when they were each newborns. They're very handsome young men now. 💕

I spent a good portion of 40 hours of car-riding time hand-piecing, and hand-appliquing.

Two more columns of hand-pieced Inner City blocks are now joined. 

I also made a good start on Jo Avery's "Dream Flower Posy Hoop Wallhanging" pattern from the February/March issue of Homespun magazine (Australia publication found in my digital public library's Cloud Library app). 

Jo's design @joaverystitch is on the left, a screen shot from Instagram. Mine is on the right. I'm appliquing Fableism and gradated cottons to a linen background. 

I think Dad would appreciate this blog post. He was a loyal blog follower/reader, and when we talked every week would often comment about something I'd posted. I'm glad you're where you wanted to be, Dad. It was good to be with family; it's good to be home again. Linda

Moving Right Along

Some of this past week was spent keeping up with Amy's Creative Side Comfort Quilt QAL. Today begins week 4, and I was happy to complete the week 4 assignment on Saturday, during our Central Florida MQG Sew-In. Once a month, our group uses the library community room from 10 am to 6 pm. But as everyone had to leave early (by 2:30), I left too... and continued sewing when I returned home, so as to finish these plus blocks.

Week 4 - 15 large blocks; 25 small blocks.

Cumulatively, I've pieced 38 6" X 6" blocks, and 58 3" X 3" blocks toward a twin-size quilt.

I also pieced backing for the foundation paper pieced quilt top that I'm testing for a designer, and that I can't share until July. I was glad to use up this Amy Butler yardage that I had thought to sew into a dress. The yellow is a bit lemony-bright for clothes, but will be great as a quilt back.

The rest of sewing time was spent hand appliquéing the center circle of my Spin Art quilt to a white background.

I will appliqué these 32 pieces onto the background to get the real spinning effect of Spin Art. I'd prefer to machine appliqué them in place, for expediency, but those points may be a bit tricky. Hand appliqué might look better.

Spin Art, approximately 68" X 68"

A neighbor down the street had his house painted. The workers covered the lanai screens with paper, as protection during painting. I appreciated seeing their message on the paper - a bold proclamation in this cultural climate. I love it!

Linda

Movin' Along

This week I completed steps on a couple projects.

This hand appliqué design was given to us at last Saturday's Central Florida MQG meeting. Beth, our program presenter, designed it à la Carolyn Friedlander. Beth demonstrated several appliqué techniques, but I opted to appliqué mine using my favorite back-basting method. Are you impressed that I fussy-cut Australia in the circle? This is the first time I position the country right side up! You see, I decoupaged the same fabric on my desk (see it to the left of the knob?) and Susan (from Australia) pointed out that I'd positioned it upside down! Then, she allowed that Australia is, after all, "down under." :-)

My "Building Fun" quilt top is complete, so far. The quilt top is 41" X 53" at this point, and the pattern calls for another 3-inch border. I'm still unsure whether I want to add it. I like this quilt, though I'd hoped it would look less child-like. I'll probably give it to a child.

Speaking of child... our six year-old grandson, Tay, who's a kindergartner, participated in a special event at an Overland Park, Kansas high school. The 2016 graduating seniors held a graduation event last Friday morning, and in attendance as special guests were selected kindergarteners from the elementary schools that feed into the high school. Tay was chosen to represent his elementary school because his big sis, Celina, is a junior this year, and next year little brother Aesa will represent the same elementary school for Celina's senior class.

Anyway, they put the kindergarteners on stage, in front of the seniors, and asked each one of them a question about being in kindergarten. Tay was asked what advice he would give to seniors, and his response was, "Stay out of trouble." Good job, Tay!

I can't believe he's going to be among the class of 2028! That sounds like the distant future, doesn't it?

And speaking of graduations, Aesa celebrated his pre-school graduation. Adorable.

I haven't mentioned Hogan lately, but he's doing well!

He has completely surprised us - and our neighbors who know him - by making a full recovery from his December bout with a serious subcutaneous skin infection and bronchitis, compounded by a large lump on his chest that was identified after surgery as soft tissue sarcoma. The vet said she couldn't remove all the sarcoma because it was so invasive, so we expected Hogan's slow decline. Such is not the case! He's been almost acting like a pup again, running around with his dog pals, briskly walking, and insisting on us playing with toys with him each evening. You wouldn't guess he's 12-1/2 years old.

This pic simply shows the odd behavior he's displayed for years... tucking his head under something for security. He does this often, sometimes against a table leg, or my knee, or alongside my hip when I'm sitting on the floor with him. He's awfully precious to us.

Most of the week I've been quilting. Dr. Q.'s quilt is coming along nicely and I expect to finish by Friday. Five spirals of various sizes and overlaps were quilted first, and I'm now custom quilting to fill in the rest of the open areas.

My Pfaff Grand Quilter is mostly working well for quilting. I've had ten unexpected thread breaks on this quilt - does that seem like a lot? - but the skipped stitches are fewer. I talked with a Tampa Bernina/Pfaff dealer for about 25 minutes and he gave me three suggestions for preventing skipped stitches. The two I've tried are: 1) set the machine speed on slow, and then quilt with the pedal to the metal. That seems to be a steadier quilting speed than setting the machine on high speed and trying to keep the foot control speed in the middle range; and 2) use a size 90 jeans needle. When I put in the jeans needle, I immediately had more skipped stitches, so I lowered the needle about 2mm, and screwed it in tight. Better now. His third suggestion is to quilt with cotton batting. That will be in the next quilt.

Today, on my way home in the golf cart from doing Line Dancing for Exercise, I saw this turtle just walking down the sidewalk. I parked the golf cart so I could take a picture. It's a very big Florida softshell turtle! Ugly too, isn't it?

I had just walked back to my golf cart when she decided she needed to cross the street. Yikes. I pulled into the golf cart lane to block traffic, and waved my arm to get carts and cars to slow down. Fortunately, another walker with whom I'd chatted about the turtle, called Community Watch. The Community Watch vehicle arrived almost right away with red lights flashing! Hopefully the turtle was moved to a nearby pond. I've been told this time of year is mating/nesting season.

I'm definitely not in Iowa anymore! Linda