My Mother’s Featherweight

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Quiltobsession

I remember this little beauty being set up in the breakfast nook of our house when I was growing up but do not remember my mother ever using it. I had totally forgotten about it until about 15 years ago when my cousin, who is a quilter, reminded me that Mom had a sewing machine and informed me that it was a Featherweight.

Having not taken up quilting at that point, I had no idea of the significance of something called a Featherweight and didn’t even really look for it. A few years later, when I did begin quilting, we went through the storage locker and there was the little black carrying case in which the Featherweight had been for at least 35 years, untouched. Off it went to a Singer repair shop to have a good going over and I’ve been rather happily using it, on and off, ever since.

It is in fantastic shape. I really doubt it got much, if any, use at all when it was brand new. In the carrying case, there was a receipt from a repair shop Mom had taken it to at one point. I wonder if she got frustrated by whatever the problem was and it languished in its carrying case. Whatever happened, I am very grateful that she kept it all those years.

It was a very strange weekend. Friday it was very hot, with humidex readings around 30C. Saturday morning we woke up to rumbling thunder and lots of rain. While it was warm during the day, the temperature at night dropped to about 14C. Summer seems to not want to grace us with more than a tease or two of nice hot weather. Usually by this time we’ve had at least a few days, here and there, of nice hot humid weather. Not this year! I hope August is better than July has been so far. I barely feel like we’ve had a chance to thaw out from winter yet!

Smudge, curled up with the leather jacket teddy bear:

And Lester snoozing on the windowsill:

Patchwork of the Crosses – Block 32

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Quiltobsession

The second-last block done. It’s a funny feeling being almost done with all but the surrounding cream hexagons. I know I’ll make at least two more quilts using this shape, probably more. There’s something about working with this long hexagon that is absolutely fascinating to me.

I’ll be digging out more stripes and directional prints for the big quilt. My goal is to make some blocks that are much more like the original Lucy Boston blocks with their amazing effects from fussy cutting. The back of block 32:

Wednesday was sunny but still rather cool. By now we should be having at least a few heatwaves, but not this year it seems. Tuesday night was so chilly I was half tempted to turn the heat on for a few minutes. I resisted that as we have the heat on for so many months of the year. I’d rather put on a sweater at this time of year than put on the heat.

Smudge found a cozy spot to sprawl out.

It was Lester’s turn to curl up in the kitty bed.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Block 31

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Quiltobsession

This one is, I think, close to my favourite — so far, that is. I realized Tuesday night that I have used purples in a lot of these blocks. I love how rich it makes a block feel. Once I’ve got the 30 blocks that will be used in this quilt top done and at least 3 or 4 of them surrounded by the cream hexagons I’ll start auditioning a fabric for the connecting squares. Given the predominance of purple in the blocks, I’m thinking a purple/mauve batik may be the right choice for that. But that’s a decision for after this weekend.

The back:

My linen arrived on Tuesday for the Mary Wigham sampler. As my eyes are somewhat tired from reading and reading and reading the 900 pages I referred to yesterday, I’ll wait until Friday or Saturday to get started. Following the chart would be, right now, a bit too much!

It has been quite cool here this week. Tuesday neither cat was the least bit interested in windowsill time. Instead they found cozy spots to curl up. Smudge in his kitty bed:

And Lester curled up in the chair. This photo makes me smile — his head resting on a hind paw while a front paw holds on to that rear leg.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Block 30, Sampler Beginning

Posted on July 7, 2009 by Quiltobsession

While this is the 30th block, I am going to make three more as three of those previously made are not going in this particular quilt top. One may become the label for this quilt, one is destined to be the beginning of my take on a grandmother’s flower garden quilt using this long hexagon and the third may be the beginning of a teddy bear quilt.

The back:

The first block for the Inklingo Sampler is a LeMoyne Star block. I used the free downloadable Inklingo collection to make four of the 4.5″ LeMoyne Star blocks and joined them. The idea of making a sampler of various blocks made using all the various Inklingo shapes appeals to me. I hope to use mostly all shabby chic fabrics for these blocks. This may be a real challenge for me as there are a number of blocks that will be faster/easier to make by machine. Perhaps this will be the beginning of becoming more comfortable using the sewing machine for some things.

I thought this week was going to be rather slow, but it turns out that I need to read close to 900 pages by Friday. So I shall be glued to the computer for long hours over the next three days.

Lester looking, I think, quite regal and majestic as he keeps watch over the roof garden:

Smudge also keeping watch:

Patchwork of the Crosses – Block 29

Posted on July 6, 2009 by Quiltobsession

This is one of the few blocks I’ve done with no directional prints at all. I quite like the look of it, although for the big quilt I won’t be using any blocks that haven’t involved some fussy cutting/printing.

The back:

Thirty blocks will be my finishing point for the lap quilt. I will probably have to make 33 blocks, though, as there are two that I know will not play nicely with the others and there’s a third that will be the beginning of my flower garden POTC quilt. Then comes the endless adding of the cream hexagons to each block. I probably should have done those as I went, but it’s nice mindless stitching that is perfect for a hot summer evening, which I think we’re supposed to be getting later this week.

A lot of windowsill activity this weekend. Lester, very intently watching something on the roof garden:

There were some children playing out on the roof garden Sunday afternoon. Smudge was quite interested. I love the reflection of him in the window.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Block 28

Posted on July 3, 2009 by Quiltobsession

Perhaps I’ll call this one Candy Cane? Naming the blocks is just adding to the sheer enjoyment of stitching them! Any other ideas on a name for this one?

The back:

This has been such an odd week. With Canada Day falling on the Wednesday, Thursday felt like it should have been Saturday rather than a work day. Today I’ve got a fair bit of work to get through. The plus side of that is that as soon as I’m finished the work, I’m taking the whole weekend off. Haven’t done that in a few weeks. It will be wonderful!

Maybe I can get Smudge to show me how to completely relax!

This has to be one of my favourite pictures of Lester. The richness of the colour of his fur against the green leaves is, I think, fabulous. This picture was taken with Mr. Quilt Obsession’s camera. It’s a very thin digital camera that I have a lot of trouble holding still enough to take photos. But when I do, I’m always amazed at the richness of the colours compared to the other digital camera that I normally use.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Block 27, Inklingo Blogs

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Quiltobsession

This is, without a doubt, my favourite block of the week so far. There’s something about the fabric I used for the centre pieces that absolutely fascinates me. Wendy at Ivory Spring has suggested naming some of these blocks. I love that idea but haven’t a clue what I’d name this one! In some ways, the centre makes me think of butterfly wings.

The back:

I’m really excited about starting the Mary Wigham Sampler from Needleprint. As soon as my linen arrives, I’ll make the final decision on thread colours. Right now I’m leaning towards a monochrome effect but that could change. Terri at Purple and Paisley is going to be stitching too!

As of July 1 there are two new Inklingo-related blogs. One is Inklingo Sampler which will have a block every week that can be made using the various Inklingo collections.

The other? The other is Linda Franz’ new blog. Linda is the inventor of Inklingo and the author of the Quilted Diamonds books. Her blog is called All About Inklingo. She has a great sale on right now on one of the instructional DVD’s she has made.

Smudge in what appears to be his favourite place, the chair. He was playing a lot with the straw, the new favourite toy, but there’s no way we can get a picture that isn’t blurry as he’s moving very quickly!

Lester enjoyed some sun on the windowsill before the next big clouds moved in.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Block 26

Posted on June 30, 2009 by Quiltobsession

I think this must be the most subdued of the blocks I’ve done so far. I quite like the fabrics but wonder if this may end up not used in the eventual top — well, the first top — but set aside for another project. Yet another good reason to keep going and making blocks as long as I wish. I may end up with enough for a couple of quilts at this rate!

The back:

Monday was a very cloudy, stormy day. Neither of the kitties were hanging out on the windowsill. Smudge stretched out on the couch:

And Lester curled up in the cats’ chair. It actually is a really comfortable chair for us too – but they seem to have it more often than we ever get a chance to sit in it!

Patchwork of the Crosses – Block 25

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Quiltobsession

I’m finding it rather hard to believe I’ve already got 25 of these blocks done! Every one of them has been an absolute joy to make. This one was no exception.

The back:
Two decisions made. First of all, I’m going to keep making these blocks with these types of fabrics until I have … well, I don’t know how many blocks. They’re so much fun to make and will make a really colourful quilt. I will do another with more fussy cutting/printing to get the special effects as in the original.

The second decision? I’m going to start the Mary Wigham Sampler, found at Needleprint. I ordered my linen on the weekend and, as soon as it arrives, will be ready to go. I’ve ordered a cream linen, and am thinking of doing all the stitching in a Wedgwood blue. That’s still a tentative idea, though. It may well change by the time the linen arrives.

It was a rather odd weekend as far as weather goes. Sunday it kept threatening to really pour down, but never quite did — at least not until later in the evening. The sky at sunset was an odd orange colour, not a normal sunset colour at all. I later heard that there were funnel clouds spotted in the surrounding areas.

Saturday was rather nice, albeit a bit cooler than last week. Lester was enjoying the windowsill.

Smudge, on the other hand, was relaxing in his favourite chair.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Block 24

Posted on June 26, 2009 by Quiltobsession

The pieces with the blue stripe had been printed for a while and I kept playing with them with different fabrics. I finally tried them with the black and block 24 is now done:

The back:
I may keep making more and more of these blocks and turn this into the larger quilt. That decision will be made once I’ve made a few more blocks. Making other blocks with a lot more fussy cutting and more directional prints is something I want to do but I love how colourful a quilt this would be with the blocks I’ve made so far.