Where has the year gone?
I have to admit, though, that my attention has been diverted by what could become a new obsession: Patchwork of the Crosses. I'll blame it all on Teresa at A Quilt and a Prayer. Her POTC blocks are so stunning that I just had to try it. It has been well over 10 years since I last did any hand piecing so it took a while for me to remember the techniques. I need to work on the set-in intersections, but I'm getting the hang of it.
My First POTC Under Construction |
One of Teresa's secrets is fussy cutting the elongated hexagons that make up the block. I knew that Cindy Blackberg has a rubber stamp for these so it went on my Amazon wish list. Cindy's stamps are great because they include both the cutting line and the stitching line.
But I lay awake at night trying to figure out how I could stamp selected motifs accurately when I couldn't see what I was stamping. Teresa to the rescue again! She told me about a similar CLEAR stamp developed by Marita and available at The Quilter's Path in Mt. Juliet. So on Saturday I made a quick trip to MJ (with a stop at Son-2's house to check out their new hardwood floors). After a quick demo I was in business!
POTC Template Stamp Set |
I started with some practice fabric to get the hang of fussy stamping. With a water-based fabric ink, simply stamp the back of your fabric, cut out your pieces on the cutting line, then accurately stitch together on the stitching line.
Fabric Ink Stamp Pads |
I use Fabrico or VersaCraft ink, both manufactured by Tsukineko, Inc. (Don't be fooled by look-alike products -- it has to be an ink that works on fabric!) I hope my arthritic hands will hold up because I really want to have a grab-and-go handwork project ready.
Stay tuned to check on my progress. And let me know if you are caught up in POTC blocks, as well. I love seeing what others are doing! I could use some construction hints, too.
In the stash department I was about to say "nothing in, nothing out," but I just remembered I couldn't leave Marita's lovely shop without indulging in a little fabric fix. So my final numbers for 2014:
Stash Report - Dec 31
In last week: 2.75 yards
Out this week: 0.00 yards
In year to Date: 261.25 yards
Out Year-to-Date: 215.50 yards
Net Used 2014 -45.75 yards
Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.
Hope y'all have a great week and a blessed New Year!