On our annual quilting retreat last week, I decided to make the table topper mystery quilt.  I should know better.  I really like to put a project on my design wall as it progress, sometimes making changes to the fabric I’ve chosen.

At the retreat, I used a focus fabric that was directional – mistake.  When I started to put the project together it was a mess.  So I stopped what I was doing, came home and re-cut using a new focus fabric.  Everything is strip pieced so it goes together quite easily.

I liked the result so much that I ended up making two! I think that the second table topper will be one of my pieces in the craft boutique at our guild’s quilt show next year.

Lesson learned.

The best resource for helpful quilting tips is friends.  At this month’s retreat at Watson Homestead, I was given an especially helpful hint:

• When piecing, an option to spray starch or fabric finish is Best Press Alternative. There is no buildup on your iron or excess fabric stiffness.   Best Press helps the fabric block to hold its shape without distortion. (Thanks Jeanne for the tip.)

I tried it out when making some half-square triangles for a mystery quilt that I started at the retreat.  The resulting blocks were sooooo close to the finished size that in most cases all I had to do was trim the dog ears.

Untrimmed block

Some time the simplest hint makes quilt making easy as well as enjoyable.

There’s always time to quilt!

Well it’s finally done! The borders have been added.  I now have a queen-size quilt.  The original pattern was for a double bed.  I decided to combine pieced and solid borders to add a bit of interest.  Once again I used Seminole piecing for one of the borders.  Easy to piece but the bias edges can cause a problem.  I solved this by using tear away stabilizer.  Make a sandwich of the top border, Seminole border and stabilizer.  Sew with the stabilizer on the bottom.  No stretching and the stabilizer easily tear’s away.

Our quilters’ weekend was over too quickly.  It seemed that we just arrived – and then it was time to pack up and return home.

Arriving on Thursday morning, the weather was quite a bit cooler than normal for mid-October.  Perfect quilting weather that encourages you to spend time inside – and what better way to spend it than quilting!  The day continued to stay cold and began to snow lightly by nightfall.  Yes snow!  Although not unheard of, it’s definitely unusual for it to snow this early in upstate New York.

Friday morning we woke up to a blanket of white.  I couldn’t resist taking a walk in this early winter wonderland.

The entire weekend was filled with quilting, shop hopping, and being with friends.

Fall and Halloween Feet

Handmade Gift Exchange

Quilters at Work and Plays.

Well it’s finally here!  We  leave at 7:30a.m. Wednesday morning for our annual quilters’ retreat at the Watson Homestead in Painted Post New York.  I have my projects ready and have made sure that I have the right thread, tools etc.  I can’t imagine that I’ve forgotten anything.  But if I did, I know that someone else has probably brought it.

My exchange miniature is finished. Can’t wait to see what everyone else came up with for this project.

I just have to remember my suitcase!   A few  years ago as we were unloading our cars at Adirondack Quilt Camp, we heard not one, but two women say, “Oh no.  I left my suitcase at home! ” We are all so intent, making sure that we have the right thread, necessary tools, etc., that clothes seem to take low priority.

In addition, he weather is supposed to be cool but sunny – perfect for a short hike to clear the ‘cobwebs’ during the non-ending quilting sessions.  The leaves should be just about at peak also.

Can’t wait!