July part 2: the things I made…

You might imagine that I spend every minute I have at home stitching. that would be great but I have to admit that it is just not true There are lots of reasons, not all connected to being busy with cooking, cleaning and doing laundry. I have worked out ways of getting all those done as quickly as possible but the draw of the not quite so small screen is real. I don’t have a TV in my sewing room. I can’t watch a movie and machine sew at the same time…

But I love making things. Creativity feeds my soul, and sometimes I just need to get started.

Cue my first project. I bought a couple of rope bowl kits from The Mountain Thread Company. You can buy them direct from them on their website or your local quilt shop can now get them for you from their regular quilt supply wholesalers.

I have made lots of fabric covered rope bowls over the last 20 years or so. I demonstrated them on Quilting Arts TV with Pokey Bolton on series 1300. So what’s so different about the Mountain Thread ones? I think it’s the thread. They have their rope specially made in North Carolina and it’s so much better than any other rope I have bought.

I started with the Bowl With Handles. I decided not to use any fabric strips and stitched with neutral thread. The instructions were straightforward and simple to understand. I used the wider stitch width that was recommended. I have used a narrower stitch when I have wrapped with fabric in the past. There are links to videos if you need to watch them.

I made a bowl in less than an hour.

The handles came out lovely and even, just following the instructions. I finished the bowl with a coil which I made by starting a new center at the other end of the rope and glued it with Elmers white glue. A Clover clip held it in place while it dried.

The handles.

And the final coil.

I have four shows on the calendar for the second part of the year, all with multiple classes and classes mean kits. I need to assemble lots of kits.

Time to make the mini fabric postcards for my Beading With Fabric classes. All sewn with my own fair hands!

Just sit and get them done…

People do like choices!! And I love to be liked.

Enough for now.

What next?

I had lots of stitched sashiko samplers that needed finishing.

Four on light color backgrounds.

And three darker ones.

Looking good?

I had another rope project calling my name.

How about the Set of Coasters and Basket kit?

About an hour and a half for this one.

I liked the neat finishing suggestion for the coasters. It’s difficult to keep the end tidy but I did OK with these?

I have plenty of rope to make some more…

And then there was the wax fabric jelly roll I bought at Quilter’s Trunk. Could it be more than an ornament in my sewing room? I think so.

Lots of stitches later…

It’s a little wobbly around the edges. I couldn’t wash the fabric strips and they were mostly, but not all, quite stiff. I might not have concentrated a couple of times during construction.

I added lots of straight line quilting.

I threw it in the machine once I finished and it’s even wobblier now. I think the strips shrank more than the Kona cotton binding. Maybe a blast of steam from my Laurastar will help. Or maybe not. I like my little throw. It’s about 42″ x 54″ and will brighten up any room by it’s mere presence.

And that was July.

I currently have classes open for registration at AQS Quiltweek Lancaster (September). Quilt Festival in Houston (November) and Road to California (January 2025!). Numbers are very good. If you happen to be in the area and you want to join me take a look at the websites. Links are on my calendar page. If a class is showing full do add your name to the waiting list. Spaces open up. People change their plans!

And don’t forget the February Cruise. I have to make lots of kits for that one but it’s going to be so much fun.

I hope your summer is going well. We will be traveling this month. Always an adventure!