This week most of my work on the longarm has been put on hold as I've been nursing a back problem that pops up from time to time.
I have managed to get a bit of sewing done as I'm ok in a seated position :)
First up was sewing one of the final borders for Down the Rabbit Hole. I held my breath as I pinned it onto the quilt, wondering if it would fit. Luckily, Sarah Fielke designs a pretty good pattern....
This morning I appliqued the final leaf to Down the Rabbit Hole!!
I also finished my Magnolia Mystery offered by Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs. This is the second mystery I've done thru' Meadow Mist Designs and Cheryl does a wonderful job!
I am going to hold off on quilting this one until I have the time to really have fun with all that open space.
I've also sewn my blocks for this month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge....what a lot I've accomplished while off "sick"!
Here are my Squared Away blocks...
The block at the top of the picture actually makes my eyes glaze over a bit because of the fabric choices....but I'm leaving it in.
I also have my three birds done for the month....except for their legs, those will come in February hopefully....
Aren't they adorable!!
I do hope to get back to the longarm today as I'm actually working on one of my own quilts, Happy Days, which was the BOM offered by Sarah Fielke in 2016...
I hope my back continues to improve as I have signed up for the Robbie Burns 8k, which is run this Sunday. I have so looked forward to this race (maybe because I get to wear my kilt, or maybe to start the race to bagpipes?).
Here I am running in my kilt in the Caledonia Race in the Fall which was a warm, muggy day. We were encouraged to dress with a Scottish theme, but I think there weren't more than ten of us that did!
....and such a special feeling crossing the finish line with a good friend, which doesn't happen often...
Today I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? and with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Fridays.
I am also linking with Sandra at Musings of a Menopausal Melon for TGIFF - Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday, and with Angela at So Scrappy to see what others have been working on for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
I'm finally on the last applique border of Down the Rabbit Hole!
Only about 55 leaves to go...
Many times on quilty Facebook groups the question is asked if one should trim the background away from behind appliqued pieces.
I thought I'd chime in here with what I think. Keep in mind that in the end it's up to you, it's your quilt...to each his own.
When I have applique in a quilt and I know it's going to be quilted on the longarm, I leave the background intact. There is no reason, in my opinion to snip it away. The added "bulk" is next to nil and the longarm will have no problem whatsoever quilting it. I may trim a bit if there are multiple layers, but I can't say I remember ever doing this.
On the other hand, when I'm doing a quilt that I know I'll be hand-quilting, such as Down the Rabbit Hole, I will trim the background away....so as to make hand-quilting a little easier.
Here is a bit of applique from this week....
...and here is the back...all trimmed....
I like the small Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Curved Scissors for the trimming. Can you see the little bit of curve? This is to make it easier to trim without snipping into the applique itself.
I've tried a pair of the scissors with the "duck-bill" look to them and found them awkward to use.
No affiliation here....just letting you know what I like.
There's also a theory that you should leave the background intact so as to lend stability to the quilt. I tend to think that once the quilt is all quilted it will be pretty stable.
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Is anyone looking for new projects to start on? I'll give you two suggestions (which I first read about over at Kathy's Quilts...I think she and I share the same "Quilt Along Addiction"!).
The first is called It's a "Wild" Life hosted by Sew Incredibly Crazy....just a block per month....do-able, right???
The second is found at From My Carolina Home and is called Square Dance. This is a mystery and offered in many sizes. I am going to pick the table-topper size....just so I can have fun playing along!
Today I am linking with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday, and with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?.
