Meandering Thoughts of a Quilter

I decided that for my second blog, I would set up a structure so my thoughts didn't go meandering somewhere (for those who don't quilt, a meandering stitch is a series of large, loosely curved lines that don't overlap and sort of wander around the quilt...much like I am doing now!!!!!). Okay, back to structure.

So the blog is shaping up something like this: 

• A weekly rant - something small that peeves me and is somehow related to quilting.
• A fun fact or two about quilts or quilting–possibly something historic
• An update on whatever project or projects I was working on

Here is the test drive. If you don't like it or want me to blog on something else, let me know.

The Weekly Rant

Why, oh WHY didn't I pay more attention to geometry in high school??? I am bad at math so why did I pick a hobby that involves things like half square triangles, rectangles, parallelograms....measuring them, cutting them, sewing them, lining them up, not having them match, cutting off the little points, throwing a hissy fit, convincing myself that no one will notice the bad piecing job....

Fun Facts about Quilts and Quilting

Connecticut is, of course, known for its tobacco, grown and used for cigar wrappings. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, cigars were not sold in boxes but in bundles and tied with silk ribbons branded with the company's name.

Women in those days collected and traded the ribbons and showed off their collections by making quilts and pillows from them–usually Log Cabin, Grandmother's Fans or crazy quilt patterns. They are very beautiful in colors of red, gold and green.

My Project Update

I usually work on two or three projects at once–one hand project and one or two machine projects. Hand projects keep me occupied at football games and competitions when my daughter is cheerleading (go !) This time, the machine project is a scrap quilt made from all the strips I had from leftover projects.

The hand project is a Drunkard's Path made from eight different batiks. I am debating hand piecing the blocks as well. The last project is still in the design phase–I am still debating the pattern, but I am leaning towards a Log Cabin variation called Chinese Lanterns.

That's all for this week, remember–people look at my quilts, NOT my housework!