Dear October,
You're looking to be another fairly quiet month with just enough "fun stuff" to keep it interesting! (Not the least of which is delivery of a new refrigerator!)
Rusty & I are planning a quick weekend get-away (we're getting good at that) to the U.P. The weather looks a bit iffy at this point, but I'm hoping we can get outside to enjoy a little hiking, lots of lakeshore(s), a sunset, a couple of waterfalls. We're pretty good at indoor stuff, too, though! The resort cottage looks cute and I'm looking forward to checking it out. My favorite part of the description of the general area is that there's "an ATM machine and a gas station." Yep, that's just my speed for a U.P. vacay.
Tumbling continues every Wednesday through this month and then it's over already! It's so much fun to watch Junebean progress each week, and I love having a little one-on-one time with him.
I did a better better in September than I did in August with the 1 Second Everyday thing, and here's to a better October!!
From where I'm sitting, I think that my Arrow shawl could be finished by month's end. I have wound a pink & green Crazy Zauberball to make a helical-striped hat for Gin (a.k.a., portable knitting). I've also pulled a few projects from the depths and need to make some more decisions!
One of those things is this Log Cabin Throw that my mother was working on. She didn't make the top; I'm pretty sure it was acquired at an auction. It was in a bag with another, much larger white piece of fabric (backing), and a package of lightweight cotton batting. Was she hedging her bets?
I don't know much about it (or quilting in general), except that it appears it was made by sewing the strips onto another piece of fabric. I assume that Mom bought the backing fabric, and that she had begun to sew, but only just -- one of the tiny red center squares has been stitched in the ditch (by hand). And that's where it's at. There's no batting, no obvious (to me) plan for binding/finishing.
The backing has been basted to the front with blue thread in one direction only. I'm not sure of the course or how to proceed.
What do you think? It's so cute and I've always loved the Log Cabin design... it would be fun to finish it somehow. Carry on? Start over? Use batting?
Well, anyway, I'm looking forward to a fairly quiet month because once November rolls in, it's going to be GO-GO-GO until the new year. It's all good -- excellent, in fact -- but GO.
Love, Vicki
That quilt top is beautiful! My mom had a couple of quilt tops that her mother had pieced but never backed. Although I sew, I don't quilt and didn't want to tackle them. So my mom found a quilter who was willing to take the projects to completion. I'm so glad my mom had them finished! Now, my sister and I each have a finished quilt, pieced by our grandmother (who was gone before we were born).
I'd be intimidated to finish the quilt on my own, but I'm betting you could find someone to help you with it. (Of course, I can also imagine you just jumping in and learning all about quilting to do it yourself, too.) XO
Posted by: Kym | 03 October 2017 at 07:33 AM
After all of your Alabama Chanin hand sewing, you can absolutely do this. The top is beautiful and I think you'd be glad you finished it. Although it isn't exactly the same style, "big stitch quilting" is all the rage, as is mixing traditional and modern styles. Look for a few videos or tutorials on that style of stitching and I think you'll see this as very doable. I do recommend working from the center out since it is only lightly basted. Plus, it will be a nice cozy project for these cooler months as you sit under that quilt to finish it.
Hope your getaway is loads of fun.
Posted by: Robby H. | 03 October 2017 at 07:42 AM
I know very little about quilting (I've only done placemats), but that quilt top is definitely worth finishing somehow. I would remove the basting and then carry on with batting, but that's just me. Whether you do it, find help, or someone else does it, I think it would be wonderful in the end. Anybody that is as proficient at AC as you are and can bling a fish can quilt!
Posted by: Bonny | 03 October 2017 at 08:17 AM
Beautiful quilt top and, like others, I'm betting it wouldn't be that difficult for you to complete. Or, get someone else to do it (a lot of folks around here have their quilting done by the Amish). Enjoyed your September video - fun!! And your UP weekend get-away sounds wonderful.
Posted by: Vera | 03 October 2017 at 09:18 AM
The quilt top is beautiful. I would also take out the basting and add the batting (providing it's thin) and backing. You can sandwich it all together using larger binder clips (I use my dining room table) and then pin the three layers together. They sell special safety pins for this that are sort of rounded on the opening side so that they easily can be used. At this point you can do some basting from the center out or just manage with all the quilting safety pins. It would be fun to hand quilt on cold evenings. It' won't take long and you have great hand work skills with all your Alabama Chanin work. There are Youtube videos showing how to do the sandwiching using the binder clips.
Posted by: Ann | 03 October 2017 at 09:35 AM
Batting in the quilt will make it warmer and more snuggly. You can also use flannel for batting if the widths work out (no seam needed for the flannel). I would bet there's a quilt shop in your town that would have some ideas for you. Lots of online resources for the quilting portion as well. You can absolutely just follow the seams on the front, or stitch near them, or make circles or whatever you like. That's the fun part!
Posted by: Margie | 03 October 2017 at 10:31 AM
If you want to take on the project (we know you can do it) then go for it, but if you feel it is another thing that will be set aside, find a quilter willing to help. You'll have having a finished quilt no matter who you proceed!
Posted by: margene | 03 October 2017 at 11:36 AM
I'd treat that quilt top like a traditional quilt top and sandwich it with cotton batting and the backing piece and just go ahead and machine or hand quilt it. I wish I lived closer - I'd come right over and show you how!
Posted by: Carole | 03 October 2017 at 11:56 AM
Gorgeous quilt and getting to that stage took a lot of planning, time and needlework. I agree with putting batting inside, wool batting is light weight and quilters love to quilt it. The needle slides through easily. It's cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I'd check with a quilter if you are not going to hand quit it, just to be sure you choose what they work with best. Also a machine quilter needs extra in both length and width of the batting and backing so they can attach it to the machine. When it's done being quilted you'll have to bind it but you have those skills. It will be a treasure when you are done and wrapping up in it will feel like your mom has you in her arms.
Have fun in the UP, we are going up again next Monday to see the color that wasn't there last week.
Posted by: Barbara | 04 October 2017 at 06:29 AM
Your October sounds like the perfect deep breath before the end of the year fun beings. I have nothing to offer about that quilt top except to say I love it - and I hope you find a way to turn it into something you can enjoy!
Posted by: Mary | 04 October 2017 at 09:52 AM