March 2024 – Chopin – A Passionate Quilter From Texas

March 31, 2024

Happy Easter, Slow Sunday Stitching, and A Ruler Tutorial – Post Number 704 – 31 March 2024

Happy Birthday to Kathy @ Sewing, Etc. I wish her a wonderful day as birthday’s are special days to celebrate! (I started this post on the 27th, but the Internet died!).

In my last post I showcased an Antler Quilting Design Ruler to make Flying Geese. There is nothing wrong with the Ruler and I will explain why I like the Ruler as the problem is with the pattern and cutting size of the strips for the Flying Geese.

At that time I had made one Flying Geese and really thought that the Ruler was working great. The ruler directions states to use a full 1/4” but after making the FG there was not enough fabric to square it. So I switched to using a scant 1/4” seam allowance and made 2 complete blocks using the ruler, with a “scant” quarter inch seam allowance. After making the second block, I realized that I would have problems with the Star points when sewing the Center Medallion together!

I thought about different ways to correct this issue and went back to my “add more – trim some” attitude. The pattern called for cutting 2 1/2” strips and sub cut to 2” and 1/2” x 4 and 1/2” rectangles and 2 1/2” squares when making the Flying Geese for the Star Blocks. To test my theory of adding 1/4” to the rectangles and squares to now cut at 2 3/4” x 4 3/5”, I then used the Ruler to cut off the corners at 2 3/4”. BINGO! Success it works great and provides me enough fabric to trim down to the required 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” Rectangles with 2 1/2” squares. This provides me with the ability to now sew with a full 1/4” seam allowance for the Flying Geese also. Here are some visuals of the two different ways I tested.

This is an example of what the 3 pieces look like when I used the 2 1/2” strips to cut the Flying Geese pieces.

This is how the block turned out. The block is off 1/8 of an inch or more.

This shows what the pieces look like when I increased the 2 1/2” strip to 2 3/4”. I had enough to trim the FG down to 2 1/2” x 4 1/2”! Notice at the top of the white piece it is a ‘point’ instead of the way the cut is in the photo at the 2 1/2” strip.

This is how the block turned out with the 1/4” increase when cutting the strips. Please note that for my Husqvarna Designer 1 sewing machine I used the full 1/4” seam for the FG and then when I put the 3 rows together I do a ‘scant’. I do this on all 9 patches, blocks with a lot of seams, and Star blocks. If I would have used the full 1/4” it would not square to 8 1/2”. REMEMBER, all sewing machines are different so be sure to check your 1/4” and ‘Scant” seam allowances. With the changes I have made in cutting the strips, I will now again say, that I love this Ruler for corners and Flying Geese.

Now it is Sunday and yesterday I finished basting the Tulips on each corner of the Medallion. I do not baste my applique, but for this section I had to. Doing applique as large as the Tulips I put the 9 blocks together and will applique them today.

I have also finished Block 8 of In The Garden blocks! Block 8 lacks the flowers and circles, but they will be worked on later tonight or tomorrow night! It appears that somewhere along the way I named the pattern In The Garden, but the name is In My Garden by Dawn Heese in her Quiltmania book Flowering Folk Art.

I wish all a Blessed and Happy Easter, remembering the resurrection of Jesus.

It feels so good to be getting my strength back in my body from the 4 months of sitting and no quilting. Each day my arms are stronger, although I have to be careful 2 more weeks for the Tendon in my right forearm to heal 100%. But life as I knew it before the Thumb Arthritis is BACK! And am I very happy about that. My goal for April is to walk each day (allowing for 2 doctor appoints in April) and be back to walking my 1.5 miles each morning without a short break. I am praying that Clay and I remain healthy the rest of 2024!!!

Hugs,

Nanette

© Nanette Chopin Cook at Doitrightquilter.com 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nanette Chopin Cook and Doitrightquilter.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Linking To: My Quilt Infatuation; Confessions of a Fabric Addict; Finished or Not Friday ; Em’s Scrap Bag; BOM’s Away; Sew Fresh Quilts; Crazy Mom Quilts; Oh Scrap; Scrap Happy Saturday; Slow Sunday Stitching Quilt Fabrication Mid Week Makers; Peacock Party; Design Wall Monday, Scrap Happy Days, Quilting Patch Linky Party, To Do Tuesdays

March 24, 2024

HQAL and My New Project – 24 March 2024 – Post Number 703

Today is Palm Sunday – early Easter this year! Have a blessed day.

Since this is an HQAL update I will start with it. I figured out that I had 2 blocks remaining for In The Garden. I have been working on one of the blocks that only required some flowers to finish it. I did that, but need to applique the 8 circles on the flowers and it will be a finish.

Block 9 is the last block to complete and I will be putting the blocks together and then working on the border. It has been a long road to get to this point, but so happy that I can still applique!!!

Now on to the new project! I started by looking at all the fabric I had left over from my Feathered Star quilt by Marsh McCloskey. I have a lot of her books that I purchased when I first started quilting and 3 books on feathered stars. That led me to my Abigail Blue 1870 fabrics by Mary Koval. Again I was not certain what pattern I would use that would really do this beautiful fabric justice.

Windom had two free patterns on their website using this fabric and I chose the following pattern. I have already started working on it!

Switching now to rulers. In December 2022 I found a new Ruler that works great to make Flying Gees with folded corners. They are made by Antler Quilt Design – check out their patterns and go to Notions to see the Rulers. I tried the smaller one yesterday for making the Stars. I have always used Eleanor Burns rulers for them, but the new rulers help in making Flying Geese with the rectangle and squares. If you are interested, I purchased them from Amazon. There are two sizes – Mini and Larger.

Today I will be making the Flying Geese sections and hopefully get one star made. This evening will be to complete the flower centers on In the Garden block. All in all it is wonderful to be back to blogging and quilting. Thumb works great – now am happy the surgery was done.

Hugs and have a wonderful stitching week!

Nanette

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.
Kathy, Margaret, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Daisy, Connie, and Cathie.

March 22, 2024

Very Happy Friday – 22 March 2024-Post Number 702

Greetings! This is another update and a more positive one from yesterday. I contacted the hand surgeon to confirm my “limitations” with the Tendinitis in my right forearm. Lifting no more than 10 pounds (I may not lift anything over 4 pounds), AND I can use my Ergonomic Rotary Cutter and start quilting. Of course I cannot do my usual thing of pushing through pain, etc, but at least I am able to start REALLY working on a quilt. I will still continue with the hand exercises and try to be more careful and not hurt the Tendon anymore.

Getting back in the groove will take me a few days to actually realize that I can actually start looking forward to quilting, embroidery, hand applique, and some cross stitch in the evening and work on a quilt during the day!

Yesterday I was remiss in not telling everyone how much my husband had to do for me the last 4 months. He never complained about having to do the cooking and dishes, helping me with bathing, and laundry. He was constantly offering help with things that I was having issues with without use of my right hand. We have been together 28 years this year and I do not know what I would have done without him through back surgeries (3) cataract surgery (we both got to do that one) Carpel Tunnel surgeries (2 each hand) and gall bladder surgery in 1998. We work as a team helping each other through tough times and I know I am so blessed to be married to him.

So here’s to Clay, a wonderful caring husband with a sweet heart and my best friend. For a Choctaw/Irish guy he is great. Of course he has to put up with a Cajun/French/Pennsylvania Dutch/Swiss wife which is not the easiest thing in the world to do.

That being said, this afternoon I am going through some Marsha McCloskey fabrics and her books to see if anything strikes my fancy for a quilt.

Have a wonderful day – tomorrow starts serious quilting!

Hugs,

Nanette

March 21, 2024

Almost Back to Normal! 21 March 2024!

What a life! It has almost been 4 months since I had the surgery to repair my Thumb Arthritis. I have kept up with my walking and being as active as I can with limitations of my predominant right hand. Here is a recap – short and sweet of how I am getting through the 4 month Recovery.

December – Thanks to Caremark they kept my mind going with problems, so the first month was not bad not being able to do anything with the right hand.

January – Things began to improve, out of the casts and into a splint. A little boring, but not bad. I figured out how I could cross stitch using my left hand and did read a couple of books (BORING!)

February/March – Things really went to hell in a hand basket. My foot slipped in the bathtub and to balance myself I used the right hand to steady myself and yes, I used the right hand! Well, I lost the use of the right arm. I could not lift it, etc. Long story short – Doctor visit – X-rays, and 3 Physical Therapy sessions and that problem is resolved. BUT then the PT flared the Fibromylgia problem.

I am finally over the negative effects of PT for my arm last week, but ONLY to do more damage by trying to get a Gator Aid out of the plastic holder for Clay. I used my right hand to hold the 6 pack and the left hand to pull the bottle out! If you ask “why not use scissors to cut the plastic ties?” Answer: STUPID IS THAT STUPID DOES!

That hard push has now caused Tendinitis in the Tendon in the right forearm with a possible partial tear in the Tendon. OH JOY! My doctor told me to keep on with my exercises for the hand and use Arnica Pain Relief Gel (I do not like Steroids) and it has worked! The pain is gone and apparently it will totally be healed in a month! I just need to be more careful, but after 4 months of restrictions it is difficult to not just jump in and do whatever!

Before I really messed up I made a small quilt, playing with a pattern from Fat Quarter Shop for a Postage Stamp block. I finished it last Sunday and it was later in the day when I got hit with the Tendon issue.

As I look at this little project, I realized that our moods appear to impact our choices of fabrics and my mood was not that great! I used a fabric line by Betty Chutchian called Eliza’s Indigo. It is a beautiful fabric line, but I am having a difficult time in firguring out what type of pattern to use to make a pretty quilt! The fabric line came out in 2015 and Moda Blockheads had a post on the fabric.

During the 4 months, I did not read posts as I knew it would only depress me more seeing all the beautiful work being done by other quilters when I could not participate in my beloved hobby!

New goals – I will start by reading posts again and responding to all! Continue to baby the right hand and try not to do anymore damage with stupid actions!

Have a blessed day – it is time to quit typing for the day!

Hugs,

Nanette

Nanette Chopin Cook at Doitrightquilter.com 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nanette Chopin Cook and Doitrightquilter.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.