Quilt as Desired: My Favorite Flower Basket

Basket top c. 1940, Quilter: Karen McTavish, Two Harbors, Minnesota.  I love the rope motif that fills the sashing between the blocks.  

Learn more about Karen on her website McTavish Quilting Studio.

Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Thread Thursday: Superior Thread of the Month Club

Not too long ago I signed up for Superior Thread's Magnifico Thread of the Month Club.

The best part about the club, other than amazing thread in the mailbox every month, is that I can add other things to the order and save on shipping.

This time, I got these fun colors of Magnifico as part of the Thread of Month Club.

I also got these fun samples of Fantastico.  These samples are part of the sample colors they have available.  Some of these may not be offered as colors in regular production.  I just like the fun colors.  I don't even mind that I don't get to pick these.  I like the surprise!

Like I say, I haven't met a Superior Thread I don't like.

Wardrobe Wednesday: Adventures in Knit

I'll admit it.  I buy patterns simply because they are cute and on sale.  That's how this one managed to follow me home.  I couldn't resist the playfulness of it.  I couldn't resist the price tag.

This post will be quick, since I didn't over-burden my camera with photographs for this project.  I decided on my size and copied the pattern onto my giant graph paper.

I fought with the knit until I managed to cut out all the appropriate pieces.

Except for a neck binding, that I ended up doing without a net.  I cut a strip at 2.5" wide by the width of the fabric.  I pressed it and applied to the neck edge before joining it in the back.  I really should have pulled the binding tighter, but this is part of the learning process.

As you can see, it looks like the neckband is stretched out.  That's because I didn't pull it tighter while attaching it.  It isn't fancy, but it is a finished knit project that I can at least wear around the house.  Maybe next time I'll pick better fabric.  Well, better isn't right.  Ipicked a very lightweight knit that proved to be more troublesome than I anticipated.  Just getting it folded properly to cut it I was close to pulling my hair out.  I think I'll try making the tee again, but will likely forgo the ruffled bottom.  Yes, it's cute.  I just don't know that I'd wear it out of the house.

Otherwise, I'm really pleased with the results I achieved with the cover-stitch.  I attached the collar with a four-thread over-lock.  After pressing, I went back over the seam with the cover-stitch to give it that finished look.  I think next time I'll move that center back seam to one of the shoulder seams to make it less obvious.

Do you work with knits?  What helped you overcome your fears?  I'm not giving up on knits.  I'm just going to be much more picky about my fabrics in the future.

In the Mail Monday

Every once in a while, I decide I cannot resist a grab bag from the Fat Quarter Shop.  Yes, I know, I do not need any more fabric.  I do, however, love fabric.

They have this awesome deal where you can get 12 pounds of fabric for a reasonable price.  This is quality fabric that is end-of-bolt that they stack up in a box and make available for great prices.

The estimate is that this comes out to somewhere around 20 yards of fabric.  That works out to around $3.50/yard of fabric.  Not that you get a yard of anything.  I think the biggest piece I got this time was about 30" wide.  The smallest was about 4" wide.  This means I've added so many wonderful pieces to my growing stash of quilting fabrics.  Since I recently pulled the backing for a throw quilt from my stash, I don't think this is a bad thing.

Are there any online deals you can't resist?