Sew & Tell ~ 10/31/2022

What???  Here we are ready to turn the page of the calendar to a new month... Time marches on and waits for nobody!

Last week everyone entertained me quite well as I limited the use of my right arm...

Kim at the Purring Cottage shared that she was making two quilts that she was using as a leader/ender project.  

Frederique at The Quilting Patch showed us her collection of International Sisters blocks.

And last, but not least... Brenda at Songbird Designs announced her Monday Musings Linky Party.  Feel free to jump over there and link up... and spread the news!

I grew bored of binging shows and decided that I could take advantage of some of the "down time" and write some stories and posts for the future... I quickly found out that the small motion of typing was nearly as aggravating to my arm as the embroidery or hand-sewing. **sigh**

I figured that if my arm was going to get tired I should make it tired in my studio. I started with small sessions... an hour in the morning, followed by a rest and then an hour in the afternoon... again followed by some down time as I read a book.

With each session, I was slowly able to get all 12 of my Flittering Leaf blocks made for the Pieces in the Garden Row Quilt.

By Friday I had the row sewn together and added to the quilt top... AND a narrow sashing border around the entire quilt.

After staring at the top on the design wall for hours trying to decide on borders, I had decided that a very narrow strip (flange) of bright pick offered a much-needed pop to frame it along with a solid teal.  Even Dave commented on it as he retrieved something from the guest room closet (it currently resides on the guest bed as it awaits quilting...

I even managed to get it sandwiched!  

I will be doing a large-ish clamshell quilting design on it.  

My choice of batting is Hobbs Heirloom Fusible batting.  It has been my go-to batting for years.  It is repositionable so if I end up with a small wrinkle in the backing as I fuse it, I can simply lift the fabric and smooth out and re-fuse it into place.  As an added measure to make sure nothing shifts, I do pin it every 9-12 inches or so.

I am anticipating that the quilting on this will be slow going.  I'll need to set a timer to force remind myself that I need to take a break.  Or maybe I just need to quilt one row of clamshells and then take a break... go sit and read or do something that doesn't require use of my upper arm muscles. 

I think I will make it November's One Month Goal.  Watch for the finish!  

What have you been sewing?  

Time to show your Sew & Tell..  Link up or leave a comment.  

Keep Piecing!

Melva

PS... did you happen to see Patricia's Wrench blocks?

Linking with:

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

This & That at Days Filled with Joy