Finishes

It's been a while. In fact, so long, I have two quilts finished.

Firstly, the proverbial quilt featuring the lyrics from one of my favourite The [Dixie] Chicks songs. Coincidentally, the words kind of go with the big lockdown of 2020 when I put this one together.

Being shot cotton and hand quilted with a wool batting, it is super soft. While I remember, this quilt contains little bits of 'other' blue gingham, as seen in the G above, given to me by my Gran's cousin. She passed away in March 2020.

Even more recently, like this weekend, I have also finished my other big make started in February last year - the Free Wheeling Single Girl quilt.

It's a big one. About two metres x two metres. Again it is hand quilted with a wool batting. I splashed out on a wide backing for the first time. It weighs a tonne. This one is destined for my cousin. The first on my Mum's side to turn 50. 

I like both of these quilts very much.

Days 23 and 24 | Still locked down

Meeting, meeting, school work, gingerbread making, school work.

Sewing and reading.

Day 22 | Time is flying

Hurt knee - no running, school work, meeting, school work, sewing, school work, reading.

Day 21 | First day of learning at home

Alarm, run (broken knee), meeting, meeting, meeting, school work, sewing, school work, tv and heat pump.

Day 20 | The day before school re-starts

Run, rain, school work, quilt making, found missing slipper, reading, quilting the woolly mammoth.

FWSG | Day 4 and The Proverbial Quilt | Day 5

I forgot to record yesterday so I am merging Day 4 and Day 5.

Yesterday started with my little run. Man, it was hard! The data from my Garmin confirms it was hard. My average heart rate was approx 15 beats per minutes higher and my high heart rate was higher too. Maybe on days when it feels hard, I will run as far as I can and then just walk. I think also I won't run every day just Monday - Friday.

I took a couple of photos of my Free Wheeling Single Girl to show progress. It was a beautiful sunny morning. It's a little wrinkly after living folded in the hot water cupboard for a couple of weeks!

After my scrambled egg on hashbrowns lunch, I had a siesta (maybe that's why the running was hard - I was tired) and spent the rest of the day watching movies on Netflix.

Last night at sunset it looked like the forest had been strung with Xmas lights the way the orange sun set was hitting the top of some of the trees.

This morning my run felt better. It was hard, but not as hard as yesterday. I saw 10 walkers this morning, two dogs with walkers/runners, and two runners. There was a lot of on and off the footpath for me. I like running on the road. It was not as quiet on the roads as Sunday morning. I then checked in with my school email and google classroom. Even though it's the hols, a couple of learners are doing some work and like to ask questions. Then I did a group exercise class via Zoom at 9.30am. I have spent the rest of the day, making words and letters for my proverbial quilt.

The proverbial quilt is very economical in terms of fabric. You don't get much waste. I am making words as I go, rather than 13 x A, 5 x B, etc. 

Progress on the FWSG | Day 3

These pieces have been cut out for a few weeks. In the last few days I have been very easily distracted by the Proverbial Quilt, but not today.

There are just three wheels/sections to go which is probably about three days work as it takes a while to pick the fabrics and cut them. Sewing them together is probably the easiest and fastest part of the process.

Onto lockdown news - today started with Coach Corrina's circuit at 8.15am. Grateful the neighbours are in their other house as we are fenceless at the moment and their lounge looks right into my deck. That would not be a pretty sight for them. Grateful also for the equipment I took from the school gym before we closed.

Later this afternoon I went for a walk. Since the Botanic Gardens are closed, I did different route. A route that featured a very angry rottweiler! I was on the other side of the road and it was still very angry. Fortunately, it was behind a fence, but I won't be going that way again. Walking in the afternoon is a PITA - too many people out and about also walking (easily a dozen people), so you have to make an effort to avoid/social distance them. Everyone was very friendly. The 7.15am start is easier!

Strangely, I still haven't found time for any of the housework jobs on my list yet - other than sweeping the floor.

Free-Wheeling Single Girl. Half Way There.

When I say half way, I mean half way through constructing the top. This quilt requires a bit of planning and thinking so I end up with 'spaced out' colours. On the upside, most of the time my ring matching is getting better.

Free-wheeling Single Girl. A Start.

I have had my eye on this pattern for years. Thanks to a QAL last year, I came across some versions I liked and that left out the million pieces in the rings. I particularly liked Isabel's (https://www.instagram.com/lambandwolfie/) version.

I expect this to be a big project. Even bigger than I anticipated, now the first block is made. They are huge!

I struggled with trimming the blocks. Trimming is on my dislike about quilting list. Consequently, my rings don't meet perfectly.

Denyse Schmidt and Sewtopia put me onto a 'how to trim' video. Let's see how I get on with block two.