Happy Labor Day in the United States and Happy September, everyone! I have a lot going on right now and my Big News (which I shall reveal towards the END of today's post) is going to dictate which projects and tasks take priority this month.
Stonefields Quilt
First, let's talk about my Stonefields quilt, because I am delighted with this project so far. These blocks have been such a treat to work on! All 13 of the blocks from Month One are now completed and on the design wall. All blocks will finish at 6", but the applique backgrounds were cut oversized and will need to be trimmed down. Because I use starch and glue in my applique preparation methods, I am thinking I might wash my applique blocks before trimming them down to size. The serged edges will prevent them from fraying whether I hand wash them in a little dish pan or -- gasp! -- put them in a lingerie bag and run them through the washing machine on the Hand Wash Delicates cycle. Honestly, that is probably exactly what I will do, because I know the washing machine will get all the glue and starch out very efficiently and I am more curious about what will happen in the washing machine than I am worried about what will happen in the washing machine.
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| Stonefields Blocks 1-13 Completed, Appliqué Blocks Need Trimming to Size |
My Sawtooth Star blocks were foundation paper pieced on the sewing machine, most of my applique blocks were stitched by hand, but the final Posy Pot block is a mixture of some shapes stitched by hand and other shapes stitched with my Bernina B990 sewing machine:
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| Stonefields Block 13 "Posy Pot" |
I am absolutely delighted with my customized invisible machine appliqué stitch and how closely I got it to resemble the look of my own personal hand stitching.
