Sunset - June 2, 2020

Sunset - June 2, 2020

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Backing up/reverse sewing...

Years ago when going through both knee replacement rehab, one of the tasks I was instructed to do was walking backwards on the treadmill...disconcerting to say the least but eventually the strengthening and balance results were apparent...
I can only hope I will become a stronger quilter after completing this reverse sewing and picking out endless free motion stitching that just did not please me at all...the section I stippled took maybe 2 hours and it took 5 evenings to undo everything...
A machine quilter I am not! I can follow a straight line fairly well, but anything else leaves much to be
desired. Partly due to the stiffness of my hands, even wearing those little gripper gloves, it is hard to manipulate the quilt sandwich satisfactorily. In the past, I have taken classes from some very talented machine quilt instructors but always felt I belonged in the remedial section.
When all the threads were picked out, went back to the machine and did straight lines, put the binding on and can now call it Done! (It really does lay flat despite the wonky look on the clothesline)

I thought the lines in the border fabric kind of said...how about trying mitered corners, so that worked ok. For my first venture into working with wool applique, thought the pumpkins and leaves turned out all right too.


It has been years since I made a Fall/Halloween season quilt, and this one will go up on our hallway wall for the season for a fresh look.
Here we are into September and the days go by at Taylorsoutback with visible changes taking place here ...our fields are filled with color - goldenrod is in full bloom...

...and here and there one can spot a maple tree with a few leaves turning. Crows are calling from the woods and a continuous chorus of crickets are saying summer is at an end...the nights are cooler. Mr. Outback is busy cutting up the remnants of our old cedar deck & we have plenty of kindling & firewood to take us through the next 2 winters before we seriously think about converting to a pellet stove. Cutting up 100” length logs has lost its charm after 40+ years of heating with wood although sitting by the fireplace in the evening certainly has its merits.
There have been celebrations - our 52nd Wedding Anniversary and Mr. Outback’s 75th birthday with a made from scratch carrot cake (his favorite)

... dinners out and lunches with friends. Our daughter-in-law & I enjoyed a treasured Saturday together shopping...did I count how many weight watchers points??? Nope!
My little sign in the kitchen is a daily reminder...

Wishing each of you simple things to cherish...
Pat

15 comments:

  1. Happy Anniversary ! We celebrated 47 last month.

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  2. You can try straight stitching with one of the fancy stitches on your machine. Enjoy your Autumn.

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  3. First of all. Happy anniversary! Secondly, your yard and gardens are lovely. The signs of fall are becoming more apparent. Thirdly, bummer about all the reverse sewing, but there's no sense leaving it in if it would bug you always. Your straight line quilting is perfect. It fits the style of the quilt. Strict with works for you. It looks great.

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  4. What a beautiful Fall quilt. I think your straight line quilting is all this quilt needed. And your mitered corners look excellent.
    The wool pumpkins are a nice touch.
    Congrats on your anniversary! The carrot cake looks very yummy!

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  5. Such a lovely post and a great finish! Love the way your quilt turned out. Nice mitered corners! I love this time of year. Your fields look so beautiful. We used a wood-burning stove for years but now it's only on the weekends. Happy 52nd Anniversary!

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  6. Happy Anniversary to you both! Your quilt is a perfectly lovely finish. I feel your angst about machine quilting, though I do it just to be able to finish some quilts, I'd much rather be hand quilting. Your wool appliques are a perfect touch for this quilt, and I love that black border fabric. Blacks with a tiny print always seem so perfect for a border.

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  7. Boy can I relate! I cannot free motion quilt for beans so I stick to straight lines if I am going to shove that thing through a sewing machine. I'm sorry for the hours of agonizing unsewing, but it was worth it as this is a real beauty! Happy Anniversary and enjoy the upcoming Fall weather!

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  8. Such a sweet post... Happy Anniversary to you and Mr. Outback! Loving your fall quilt, straight line quilting and all. Those mitered corners are impressive, and the wool appliques add a warm touch!

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  9. I have always loved this quilt pattern and yours is no exception - it's beautiful. That cake looked pretty yummy too - perfect for all of your recent celebrations.

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  10. First off....happy anniversary. Sorry to hear that you had some ripping out to do, but your straight line quilting looks great. I yearn to get back to my sewing. So I will live vicariously through your accomplishments however frustrating they may have been for you.

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  11. new to your blog but love your style.colors too. I am on FB but no longer blog. I am making the quilt CAMP REVEILLE from Higdon Camp and was looking for some input on construction. thanks

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  12. I can not free motion so when i machine quilt I do straight lines only. Congrats on your anniversary and cake looks delicious!

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  13. Your Fall quilt is beautiful! Such lovely, warm colors, and cute pumpkins. A belated Happy Anniversary to you and your DH, and a belated Happy Birthday to him. That cake looks so yummy, carrot cake is a favorite around here too. I just ordered some Valdani thread to start my first wool applique. Wish me luck!

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  14. Still working on camp Revelle quilt, want to ask if you sewed the seams to the background of the flag? I am ready to applique flag to background but think the flag with puff out? Help? Feeling insecure here, 🙄

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  15. the star quilt is very special with your unique treatment of "background".

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