Drum Roll, Please...

Presenting...

Grandbebe Quilt Number Four!

In Blue and Red vintage (mostly), fabric collected (mostly) by Dearest Sister.

Embroidered by DSis.

Patches cut and assembled by the both of us.

9-Patches machine pieced by me.

Handquilted by me.

Supervised every step of the way by Boy Kitty.

Quality tested by the Cousins.

Made with all the love grown-ups have for their little ones.

Found Objects

Back in the day, way back, I took my first (and only) quilting class at a local quilt shop on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Mo, called Quilt Country.  It is no longer in business, but I learned much in those six weeks back in 1977.

Kansas City and quilts are linked together historically in the patterns published in the Kansas City newspapers through the first half of the 20^th century.  One of the newspaper artists responsible for the publishing of these weekly patterns was Ruby McKim.  These patterns were collected by many quilters.  I am sure many were used in quilting, but I am positive they were collected.  In the stacks of magazines Dearest Sister forwarded to me from her finds that I have been going through, I have stumbled across two groups of these collections.

One group is about 2 dozen of actual newspaper clippings of the mid-70’s reprints of the original 1930’s publications.

The other group is a partial collection of about 35-40 patterns, copied, as in mimeographed, collated, stapled, and then offered, if you send a SASE to a woman at such and such an address in Cherryvale, KS. So did she collect them, copy them, and sell them to those who didn’t receive the paper?  I am wondering about copyright issues!

I have read that Ruby McKim was a newspaper artist and not a quilter, at least at first, and often the designs published were not exact, perfectly sized, and template ready.  Sometimes, the space allowed for the weekly pattern was smaller than the weekly pattern, and adjustments had to be made. I also know that the women, mostly Kansas women, who were receiving the paper, were an adaptive group, and that didn't stop them.  Quilts were made from these patterns!

Back when I took my quilt class, I started my quilt book library with, among other books, Ruby McKim’s 101 Patchwork Patterns.  Unfortunately, it and several others were on the bottom shelf in the basement when the waters rose.  Fortunately, I found a copy at the Friends of the Library booksale a few years back.  More fortunately, I found another copy for Dearest Sister at another FOL booksale a few years later!  I replaced in the same way a copy of Marguerite Ickis The Standard Book of Quilt Making and Collecting which I had also lost at the same time.

Then something jogged my memory this past month of another book lost.  I bought it right after I finished the class.  It was relatively new, all color, and therefore, expensive.  I may have spent $8.00 on it, so it took some considerable rationalization at the time.  I could not remember the name, just what I have already mentioned, and that it was paperback, and the cover mostly blue.  I was successful one other time finding an out-of-print book at biblio.com so I went there and searched with tags quilting, patchwork, and a publication date from 1970-1980.  As the titles came up, I went to Amazon to check out the covers, as biblio.com didn’t have many of them photographed.

Well, I found it.  Primarily Patchwork, by Marjorie Pucket.  I just love it when I am have carried off a successful plan!

Speaking of Progress

Once I made a statement.  I stated that the grandbebe quilts weren’t ‘late’ until after the grandbebe’s were two years old.

Well.  Fine.  It’s not like either the quilt or the grandbebe’s are going to go sour!  And there is nothing like a deadline, or past due date to get me moving.

Anyway.  Grandgirl Four turned two in December.  Therefore, I ramped up the quilting in January.  I have made grand progress.  Truly. In the  four short weeks since really starting to crank it out, I am almost past the point of being able to use the hoop and will be moving to the outer edges for quilting.

I am pleased with my technique (mostly), and really pleased with Dearest Sister’s embroidered parts, and super pleased with our choices of materials and patch selections.  We definitely will have to do the same team activity for Quilt Numero Five.  (See here for the down-low on that one.)

Anyway #2. As part of the Great Closet Clean-Out, I came across a stack of old quilting mags DSis came upon through some "opportunity", and gave to me.  And because of this recent quilting time, I have been thinking that maybe I can diversify and/or upgrade some of my piecing/quilting skilz along with my other fibery interests.  Therefore, I have been perusing some of these old ‘zines. I have remembered some things that perhaps I knew and forgot, or perhaps I didn't know at all.  I am not sure where I will go with my new ideas, but do believe technique will be improved in the piecing of the fifth quilt.

Anyway #3. The Boy Kitty thinks the quilting is the best thing since canned cat food.

These are not constructed or posed photos.  I am constantly removing him from the quilt. Fortunately, he does not shed, and I like to think he has excellent discernment.

Quilting Business

I have completed the piecing of the quilt top for Grandbebe the fourth, who turned one year old around Christmas time.  I don’t consider it late at all.

Yet.

And continued, diligent efforts this past month resulted in finishing up the outer sashing, piecing the back, and sandwiching the quilt.

It was basted with help from the Boy Kitty. (not)

Dearest Sister’s efforts in embroidery continue to amaze.

We were able to put together the nine-patches together, during her all-too-brief overnight stay last fall.

There is always a kick when in all comes together so well.

The quilting has begun.

By the by, there is another grandbebe due in May.  And it’s another girl! And Dearest Sister has already planned out and started the embroidery panels for that quilt.

Always behind I am…

(don't forget to click for big...the embroidery details shine)

Why, No...

I am not dead.  Thanks for asking, though.  Summer has had it's way with me.  I certainly feel worn through.  Leaving yoga last night, it was noticeably darker, and the light in the morning has a different slant already.

Gah.  But enough with the whining.  There is plenty of good without feeling the need to complain about the change of the seasons.

First off, the camera has been sent off, repaired, and returned.  Halla-freaking-lujah.  So that's one extended warranty I am glad I was persuaded to purchase.

I have finished and mailed off two pairs of socks.  I got photos of one pair and forgot to photo the other.  The tiny camera...it makes me forget things.  Wisest Sister has promised to tie up the photo loose end for me.  However, the unphotographed socks apparently fit.  The vote is still out on these...

Water Fall Rib, from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks, out of Lonesome Stone's Mountain Feat.

Many and other items of note have been happening here at Chez Irons, little of which I have photographic evidence of, and literary descriptions will have to wait....because what I really want to show it this...

Done and ready to send off for arrival by Grandbebe the Third's second birthday (which was my goal).

The quilt she is finished...

And photographed...

Embroidery by Dearest Sister...who already has the panels for Grandbebe The Fourth's quilt done, and is talking up Number Five...which isn't even...in the planning stage yet...the bebe that is. Obviously the quilt is...

Clicky for biggy...these are fun to see up close!

Quilt ended up about 62"x62"...more or less...

Machine pieced. Hand quilted. All of it...quilted and bound by hand...



Fabric mostly vintage, supplemented with some reproduction.



Material is sorted for Number Four.

Quilt Progress

When moving the hoop again, I assessed how many blocks have been quilted.  I am about halfway there.

With the blocks and inter-pieces.  After that, the sashing and binding will remain.  My hope is that Grandbebe The Third will have her quilt by her 2nd birthday, end of summer. I don't think that is so terrible.  It's not like it's her 21st birthday...

This time, instead of quilting til I drop, I am shaking it up a bit with some spinning in the evenings, and knitting at lunchtime.

Keeps Iron Needles from becoming a dull girl.  Or, at least, bored.

And I think that this is the crux of the matter...to feel that I am a knitter, a sewer, a quilter, and spinner.  All of that, equally...in no particular order.

Not that I am a knitter who sometimes sews, and has a quilting project that she is trying to finish.  When I think of it that way, it somehow is more burdensome.  It somehow takes time away from other things.

But really...the quilting doesn't.  I like the quilting.  I have some ideas for some projects.  I have another grandbebe quilt to work on, too.  And lawd knows, Dearest Sister is already making plans for quilt numero cinco.

Since the first of the year, I have been breaking up my evening down time with spinning or quilting, occasionally knitting (Remember, I knit over lunch..). It's not a marathon, nor a chore.

It's just part of what I do.  I quilt.  I sew.  I spin.  I knit. (and garden...and prep fiber...and felt wool...and dye yarn...)

Quilting? or Knitting?

Or both?  Both, I do believe!          

I have made good on my commitment to myself to make real progress on Grandbebe the Third’s quilt.  That is good.  Because Dearest Sister is about done with her part of Grandbebe the Fourth’s, and just asked the question about how long do we suppose we have before the next?  Which, to my mind, she is saying…do you think we should start planning another?

And that freaks me out just a little bit.  While I have made good progress on this third quilt, over half remains to be quilted! Then it will need to be bound.  While we have the fabric for the fourth, it will need to be cut into nine patches, and in-betweens, and all that, and sewn, and sewn, and more sewing, then the basting, and then the quilting!

Please no!  No fifth quilt just yet…just a brief respite…

But on the other hand...this red and blue fabric does look mighty enticing!

While the quilting has been going on in the evening, during lunch at work, there has been some knitting.

Short-row scarf (rav link), of my handspun hand dyed Corriedale.  I tried to initially dye this shades of yellow, but it turned out pretty muddy, so I overdyed with a bit of teal, and got this variegation of grass green.  A very nice color to knit with during those sub-zero temps we had last week.

(Now I am knitting on a hat of mystery...)

Another Oklahoma Thing

There is an event, both Fall and Spring in Oklahoma City called ‘An Affair of the Heart’.  It is one big old craft/antique/got all the sparkly/cutie pie stuff you ever hope to find event that takes up five (5!) buildings at the Fairgrounds.

Yep.  It’s quite an Event.

This was the second time we had the chance to see what there was to see, and really, we did manage to find a few things to store away in the ‘Christmas Closet’.  There was a lot that we passed by, but almost without fail, my SIL and I gravitated towards the booths with antiques.

When my MIL had decided it was time for sitting a spell, and Wonderful Guy had gone to fetch the car for us, SIL and I dashed into ‘one last building’ for ‘just few more booths’.

  And there I found this.

A quilt backed with flour sacks.

Pieces….pieced.

Really fun patterns.

I had to leave it with SIL along with the postage to ship it to me.  We flew and had packed to the max for the weekend.  It will be a special treat when it arrives, all delayed gratification, and all.

Quilt (and Others) Update

The quilt is pieced, sandwiched, and quilting has started. Progress is not only being seen, but is finally being shared.

Now that this puppy is sandwiched, a few good knit projects are hitting these Needles of Iron. I am starting with a couple of BSJ’s, and going from there.

Because, you see, I have new yarn. Yes, yes, I succumbed, but oh what a deal! 50% off Mountain Colors! I could not walk on by.

Also, I have this, gifted to me by the generous ~Wunx on the occasion of our meeting, on the occasion of Grandbebe Bean's early birthin’. Reach through the screen and pet. Pink and cashmere it is. Sillllky cashmere!

And this is the vintage cashmere and lambswool I recently received from Martha at Q is for Quilter. Lovely, lovely soft stuff, with these great vintage pattern books to go along.

Yes. I have me some knitting urges and there is only one way to tame them. My deal with myself is once the quilting started, I get to start knitting, too.

Also there will be…actually there IS….spinning! I think I might try the Yarn Harlot’s philosophy to set aside one day for spinning. Not that I get to do this sort of thing daily, having the mundane routine of a job and all, but for instance, if it’s Tuesday, or Wendnesday, or whatever day I set aside as ‘Spinning Day’, and I have the opportunity to do ‘something’, then I spin. Because, you see, I went to Alpaca on the Rocks and purchased more of what I already have, but which I could not resist. (But Liz bought some, too!) Dearest Sister has an idea of what I might be able to do to support this deadly habit I have.

Anyway. I think ‘spinning day’ might work. I certainly think it might be worth a try, now that the weather is turning. And turning it is. Oh, we will have more warm days, but this past week we were reminded that Fall. Is. Here.

I spun on this on Saturday.  Not sayin' that Saturday if for spinnin'.  Just that maybe the alpaca fumes got to me!

P.S. I am not ready for fall.

P.P.S Neither are my tomatoes. Of which I finally have some.

I wonder

..why these things are sitting here, not being used...


Because Grandbebe Two's quilt?


She is so done!

My head spins at the very idea!

Gratuitous shot of roses...

Technical (but not so much really) shot of embroidery (Dearest Sister's) and quilting (yours truly).

Best lobelia I have had in years. Also...the quilt...

I believe I will go to the farmer's market now...