And that was the week that was…

Top of the list for this week, after the laundry and such mundane necessities of life, was making a new table runner as the last  requirement for “the book”…

You’ve seen the table runner before. It first appeared on Quilting Arts TV series 1400, then showed its face again on the set of my first DVD… followed by the 2014 Quilt Festival Scene and Modern Patchwork fall 2015.You might say it has been around the block several times!

The original table runner was also in my suitcases that got very wet on their way home from the Caribbean cruise last year . The Michael Miller fabrics didn’t run but the hand blocked Indian batiks in the quilt next to it did…

So it was decided a fresh new one was needed and I set to work. I constructed the top on Monday, quilted it on Tuesday and was just finishing hand stitching the binding on Wednesday when I noticed an ominous mark, right in the middle. Somehow, I had spilt my blackcurrant tea… I tried spot removal, no luck. Nothing for it but to put in the washing machine. It emerged, wet, wrinkled and still stained… (Insert unhappy face)

Really?

Yes, I really did need to make another one! I still had enough of the colored solids but needed to select a different white background fabric. I cut the pieces for a third table runner before I went to bed on Wednesday evening.

I stitched the top on Thursday afternoon and basted it ready for quilting.Friday morning found me back at the machine. Straight line quilting with the integrated dual feed engaged on my BERNINA 740 gave me time to think and reflect as I listened to the awful news on the BBC radio feed on my phone.Another bobbin of 50 weight Aurifil 2021, natural white, came to an end.Never fear. I buy them six at a time these days and I had more!

I changed my needle and foot and added a spiral in the heavier 12 weight Aurifil thread.Quilting over. It was time to trim and add my binding. I cut my pieces at 2 1/2″ and stitched at about 3/8″ from the edge using my 20D open toed appliqué foot and adjusting my needle position to suit.I had spilt the tea while I was hand stitching so I wasn’t going to risk that happening again! I  pressed and basted the binding to the back before heading back to the machine.

Another adjustment to the needle position and some careful sewing… Binding done. Quick look at the back…One last look at the front.

Now I just need to keep it safe until I mail it to photography next week!

Definitely a two steps forward, one step back…. followed by three steps forward, kind of a week. You might say third time’s a charm, if you say that kind of a thing?

Meanwhile the rain on Wednesday night gave us some interesting fungi in the mulch.

The dandelions are doing well too.

I’m heading to the Heart of Ohio Quilter’s Guild in Heath, Ohio on Tuesday morning. We will be learning about Embroidery and Beading for Quilters on Wednesday. Time to get their kits assembled…