Weekly To-Do #30 Listing
This is our 30th edition of our weekly to-do list. I have always been a list-maker, and I love checking things off. I would call this week a success. ~smile~
To-Do Tuesday for the week October 30th through November 6th:
- Sew block #18 in the Grandma’s Kitchen QAL – √ done
- Block #9 in I Wish You a Merry QAL – √ done
- Finish six microwave cozies – √ done
- Select a cross stitch pattern for the Christmas stocking – √ done
- Continue the Evening Star project – √ done
#1
Block #18 in the Pat Sloan Grandma’s Kitchen quilt along is called The Fridge. It was a very easy block to piece and it is back to the 12.5″ unfinished size. I am partial to plaids so it was fun to use in this block. This was also a test piece for my quest to test press-seams-open versus press-to-one-side. Here’s the back with all the seams pressed open.
I am not really happy with the iron we have now. If I continue pressing seams open, I definitely need to get a different iron. If anyone has some iron suggestions, I would love to hear about it in the comments!
#2
Block number nine in the I Wish You A Merry quilt along is called Reindeer Games, or Rudolph in my mind. I am conducting an informal experiment to test the theory of pressed open versus pressed to one side seams, and which is better. If I can determine that – there really isn’t a ‘better’ for every occasion. I’m using this block as one of my experimental blocks because several people on Facebook said this block was challenging. I didn’t find it to be all that challenging but I did carefully read and follow each step individually as I sewed this together. I think Rudy’s nose is too big . . .
#3
Six microwave cozies seemed to be a bit ambitious when I looked at this week’s list on Thursday, since three weren’t even together yet. Fortunately, it rained on Saturday so I didn’t have to work on my outside chores. ~smile~ Pulling out the tomato plants can wait one more week, I guess. Truthfully, I was wondering what would happen if I left it over the winter . . . but then who would want to start out the Spring that way?! Hmm. Anyhoo, here are six cozies waiting to be shipped to my sister-in-law:
#4
This sounds like a snap; an easy to cross off item or a list gimme, if you will. Right?! We actually do put a lot of thought and consideration into the pattern selection so that it makes sense with what Mom and Dad’s stocking show. The whole family should have a theme or commonality to their stockings. We did pick the design, but I can’t share it yet – Dominic’s mom reads this blog sometimes, and so does Helena from Dad’s work! They might spill the beans; but here is the stocking all ripped apart so I can make it a quilted stocking (thank you Peggy Cooper for the suggestion!). Also, you can see the embroidery floss colors being used in his design:
#5
The fabric finally came from the Oshkosh shop on Monday – way too late for an October finish. You would think that I would have all the pieces together that we already had cut out, wouldn’t you? Umm, no. I did select all the nine-patch blocks to be included in this quilt top. A final layout still remains to be determined but now there is a new month with 30 days to figure that out. Right?! So our official November OMG is to piece the quilt top for Evening Star. Finally, I have started sewing the star points together again.
Extra:
Sue’s Mom, or GG to Dominic, did not have a baby quilt. What?!?! How did that escape us? So there is an urgent need (!!) for her to receive a quilt, STAT. The quilting on one of the animal panels has jumped to the front of the list.
November OMG Goal:
- Complete the Evening Star quilt top – all 20 blocks sewn together
To-Do November 6th through 12th:
- Sew block #19 in the Grandma’s Kitchen QAL
- Block #10 in the I Wish You A Merry QAL
- Finish six more microwave cozies
- Start quilting GG’s quilt
If you would like to join in on the T0-Do Tuesday link party, it can be found on Christine’s Stitch All the Things website. Our other Linky Parties can be found by clicking the link for more quilting fun – check out what our friends are up to. Like/follow us on our Facebook page and you can share your photos of what you’re working on. We would love to see them!
Great achievements this past week. Rudy looks good, I guess maybe she patterned his nose large because his nose is meant to shine out! Your open seams look good, you are almost pushing me along to do it, maybe I will on my next scrappy one, although I actually find it harder to nest the seams when they are open!
Hi Kathryn,
I understand what you mean about the nesting seams. I recall pinning when doing clothes construction – a skirt in junior high – and it was actually matching up the stitches of each piece. Whatever floats your boat – I’m not totally convinced yet. ~smile~ Roseanne
Wow what a list to have completed! Way to go! Yay for getting your fabric in from Oshkosh. Woo hoo!!
I always press my seams open with quilting, unless I’m doing paper piecing and am forced to press them to the side. I just love how they lay flatter and I don’t have any “seam bumps” when quilting. I am still searching for a good iron. I am using a Rowenta now, but still have to spray a tiny mist of Best Press over the block and then press for them to get super flat.
I can’t wait to see the finished stocking, I love that fabric! The animal panels on the baby cute are so adorable too.
Hi Christine! Having enough of the RIGHT fabric is just great. And so is pressing the seams open it seams (couldn’t help it!). I really like how the blocks look so far. I have heard great things about Best Press . . . but haven’t succumbed yet. I just may have to. ~smile~ Roseanne
You have been so busy, I keep meaning to make some of those microwave cosies, such a greasy idea. I hate buying irons, I bought one recently online, great reviews, all the features I wanted, it was mainly the auto switch off I wanted, it came and, I hate it, to cumbersome, too heavy, I ended up giving it away. I will be buying my next one from a shop. So I’m still carrying my only iron up and down the stairs between the kitchen and sewing room, sigh!
Hi Kate,
I did update my cozy tutorial since I’m in the midst of making them – I had to include some pictures with the laser light. Plus, no marking of the lines makes it go so much quicker. Uggggg, irons. I hate to even think about finding a new one. Waaaa. At least the Black Friday sales are coming up! I can get one cheaper than usual, and I don’t those are ‘hot’ items so to speak. HAHA! ~smile~ Roseanne
I love GG’s quilt. It looks so happy. Cannot wait to see how the stockings come out. I know they will be beautiful.
Aww, thanks Peggy! The stocking is all you, baby. I never would have thought of taking it apart – I unstitched during Hawaii 5-0! ~smile~ Roseanne
So glad you could use my suggestion.
Sounds like a successful week! Lots to do and lots got done! Great job!
Hi Nancy,
I hate to say I was hoping for bad weather, but it sure didn’t hurt. HAHA – I am thankful it wasn’t snow. ~smile~ Roseanne
A good iron is hard to come by. Mine kept breaking so I switched to a cheap $15 one from walmart. It doesn’t get as hot as I would like though. But at lease when it breaks I can afford to replace it.
Hi Shannon,
Who would have ever thought that a good iron was so difficult to come by?!! I like how you think – $15 sounds like a fabulous price to me. I can get 13 (!!) of them before they equal the cost of that darn yellow one. ~smile~ Roseanne
I love using my mini steam fast iron and the strip stick to press seams open-http://www.thestripstick.com/. I love my Rowenta for normal usuage, however that said, they don’t tend to last too long for one reason or another. But I am pretty hard on my irons as they stay on a lot of every day. You know I have never made a bowl cozy! I really need to get on that as I could use one.
Hi Vicki!
My friend Carol told me I needed the strip stick a LONG time ago. I was stupid and didn’t get one. I wish I had it now!! Thanks for reminding me the name of it – all weekend I was saying I wish I had that wooden stick thingy. It’s hard to search for an item when you don’t know the name!! I think when your shows slow down, you have to make a cozy. I NEED to update my mini tutorial on making them – the laser light means no-none-nada-zippo marking. SO much quicker. ~smile~ Roseanne
My oh my you were busy! Way to go for making sure that Dominic receives a baby quilt. Good luck with your search for a new iron. Wondering what you think of pressing your seams open. 🙂
Hi Cindy,
I do lean toward thinking pressing the seams open are more accurate. It is a PIA with this iron mostly because I like all my digits and do not enjoy burning them. The piecing went together PERFECTLY – every single thing matched up. I think every thing else was equal – same thread as always, same presser foot, same needle setting. I didn’t shorten the stitch length when I remembered to do so. Thanks for asking! I will keep up the experiment for a bit longer. ~smile~ Roseanne
Good to know. 😊
Hi gals, we go through alot of irons for various reasons, but one that is a real work horse is our black + decker quick press. It heats up fast and gives us great steam. I also keep my clover mini iron by my sewing area when I want to press seams open. It really gets in there.
Happy Quilting!
Hi Ellen,
Just what I need! Exact brand names and why you like them – perfect. I appreciate the recommendation. I am SO disgusted with the yellow one I have – not saying their name because I can’t remember it (HAHA) and they don’t deserve a mention. ~smile~ Roseanne