DWM and Year-End Stash Status

Where has the year gone?

Once again I am ending the year in the midst of a Bonnie Hunter mystery.  When will I learn?  I made absolutely NO progress last week, what with holiday shopping, activities and such.

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

Here the third round is ready to sew on, and I'm auditioning choices for the 4th round.  Any thoughts?

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!