Not a lot happening in the Mixed Media household this week while my foot is still bruised but I have managed a little gentle sewing today courtesy of my left foot. Kate's instruction for November for the Stay Home Round Robin was to attach 2 blocks of differing lengths to the top edge.
These are the two blocks I made. The lower block includes a snowball block, the first time I have made one of these. I have a feeling the triangles shouldn't be quite so big but I'm happy with it. The topmost block is made with free cut curved piecing again and I have tried to echo other colours and shapes in the rest of the piece.
This is how it looks now with the two blocks added. I am so enjoying this monthly project! :)
I am probably teaching my grandmothers to suck eggs but I learned something at Sheena Norquay's workshop that may save my thread box from descending into a tangled mess.
We are all familiar with this type of cotton reel (above), but did you know they did this?
No, neither did I! The end pops back in to hold the thread secure until you need to use it again. Who'd a thunk?!
18 comments:
Funnily enough I only found out a couple of weeks ago at my LFS
Gill
I knew there was a little niche you could wind the end into but didn't know the end of the spool popped out. It's the rayon ones which are so slippy that I can't control. Love your patchwork. Hope your foot is improving.
Beautiful blocks and a handsome 'muppet' bird you've got there!
Can't figure out how you manage to sew with your left foot - but where there's a need, there's a way ...;-)!
All the best for you and for the right foot, dear Julie!
And now I'm on my way to have a sharp look at my cotton reels ...
I think I need you to give me a few lessons on quilting - never had the heart for it but can see it would be so useful! Love your work. x
OOOOOOOOh pretty, love where this is going. Yeah, I found out about the end when I looked at one, after picking it up at the store and the end was tucked under the pop out part. I won't even tell you how long it took me to figure out I was supposed to pop that open. :)Bea
I've just come from a blogger with a broken shoulder and you are suffering too.
Do you know I have never realised how the thread works before so thanks for that.
I love the piece and I did not know that the top popped on and off to hold the lose thread! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart
This sent me flying to my work box. Well I never, it just shows you can learn something new everyday. Thanks Julie.
The blocks look super - really bright and lively. I have never looked at my cotton reels in that way I feel an investigation is needed! Take care x
Your patchwork is gorgeous Julie...such a great choice of colours.
Great tip re: the thread too....I'm the same as Heather; knew about the groove but didn't realise it popped out :-)
Hope the foot is improving - I did the same thing in the summer. You have all my sympathy!
XX
Your Round Robin is looking lovely bright and cheerful.
That's a great tip about the cotton reels.
Hi Julie, finally made it over here! Sorry it's taken so long. Thanks for the comments on my blog.
Did you also know that it pops right out and if you have one of those really large cones that won't sit on the spool pin properly, you can use the popped out bit to stabalise them.
Right I'm off to read a bit more of your blog and to find out what it is you have done to your foot! Hope it's better soon anyway.
Thanks Julie! Do visit Oxford (v busy in the summer!)maybe on the way to St Ives?
Lovely bright colors in your block. i don't have any of those reels! Really, I'm more interested in the beautiful surface it's sitting on in the pic ;)
ps, might join you in Kim's free photoshop thing!
Well blow me down with a feather! I had no idea those reels did that. What a muppet. I'm off to pull my reels apart right now.
Hi Julie, what a lovely patchwork, the colours are so sunny on a really dreary morning.
I shall now go and try out your thread tip, I didn't know the end puled out either.
Thanks so much for dropping in on my blog
The round robin is going well Julie. Glad you are managing to use your left foot to sew, just make sure that you don't get mixed up when you are driving!!
What a great tip! I've always used the little notch around the base but that doesn't always work and now I know why!
Your blocks look great and I'm glad you haven't let your poorly foot get in the way of some serious sewing :o)
xxx
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