Spray starch and a not so terrible mistake.

Last weekend I tidied up my sewing area and put away the girls quilts, I don't know what is up with me and making progress on their quilts. I need get serious about them in the new year.

What I'm working on now:
Chris printed out the instructions for Fat Quarters shop Deck-ade the Halls  last week and we picked out the fabrics for each block and away I went. I pulled out my never used spray starch to see if it helped with accuracy. Best decision ever!!

I started with the gingerbread men. Something wasn't right, the heads were noticably different sizes. I had noticed the strip was 2 inches longer on the first before joining them together but thought I cut the white wrong. Nope! That said, Chris's initial impression was I cut the second too small. We both agreed the oversized head was more gingerbread'ish so I measured the original to figure out what went wrong and recut the second  and then the third to match.

I do find the fabric a bit busy on the first (I guess I don't need to mention thats middle one above), the bow tie and buttons get lost and may remake him but the decision doesn't need to be made until much later. Theres going to be plenty of leftover fabric.

I've been brain burned after work lately and have picked up my hexies while watching tv in the evenings. Not sure what I'll do with these but just enjoying it.

One last thing to share - for over a year I've drooled over a quilt at the local quilt shop. I happened to ask if there is a pattern for it when I was last in, they had sold out but ordered it for me. While I have seriously contained my shoe fetish the last 20 or so years, this will be a quilt just for me.

Your Powerquilter has arrived

Less than a week after we ordered the machine we got the call saying it was in. Chris was already out so he went and paid the balance and picked it up. We had it set up by lunch time. I played around while figuring out the tension issues (nested threads on bottom). Free motion is sooo much easier on this machine. I still have lots of practicing to do but I really love this machine. In my limited playing I found the speed that works for me (very slow), the biggest issue is my own jerky motions.

I had made a few black on black with white thread for play and testing. Then I started on the printed halloween placemats I bought a few months ago. I made the decision that if they tuned out a a mess that's OK but they have a ready made pattern to follow working on control.

There are a few little hiccups but overall I'm pretty happy with how the placemat turned out. I love this machine!! Chris is asking for his turn so I need to make something up for him to give him a chance to play as well.

This has given me a renewed surge. I've put the girls quilts away for now, I want to start on Fat Quarters shop Deck-ade-halls. I doubt I will have it done by Christmas but no harm trying.