I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Sunday, January 17, 2016

Pokeberry Quilt Update



Hi! It's snowing!



What a surprise Mo and I had walking back from a long ramble.



I've been working on Pokeberry again. I was going to juggle it with Summertime, but the Pokeberry blocks went together so nicely and so enjoyably that I decided to give this project all my attention til it's done.



I sat outside to finish the hand applique yesterday. The ocean was hypnotic, loooong oh so slow rollers, big waves from far out at sea, ahead of the snow squall. Almost in slow motion......








I had the last three blocks waiting for me, after I put this project aside last fall. Now I'm sure it's just ME, but I couldn't make head nor tail of Jan Patek's instructions or wobbly drawn pattern bits. I decided to take the time to redraft each block on graph paper and I was soooo happy with my results. I think making one's own patterns works so well because as the design is drawn one has to think through the details of the sewing. And this preliminary thoughtfulness makes the actual sewing go much better.


For whatever reason, no one make patterns for me as good as the ones I make  myself. They look pretty! They fit together! Hooray. [colors are a bit off/ washed out in the pix. Indoor winter photos, not great.]



I come from a garment sewing background [though my dad taught me to sew, embroider, and quilt as a young child]---I use scissors and templates and an old 18" ruler, plus a big stainless steel 45" ruler that is the kind used in laying out patterns for production cutting [pre computer/ laser etc.]. These old rulers were supposedly made to exact specs and overseen by the ?? Bureau of Weights and Measures? Back in the day. I got mine from an old timer production guy who taught me how to figure yardages when costing garments. [I always enjoyed the tech side of the ''rag biz''.]
So here we go:
Original pattern photo, for comparison. By Jan Patek.



This beautiful block is called Hovering Hawk. No clue why.


This block was  a church on the original Patek quilt. I made a small beach cottage with a big [little]  flag that I made last summer. My quilts almost always have a flag somewhere.



And this guy was quite a challenge.








The original did not have a smooth edge along the horizontal top of the basket. I redrew this and added the needed the blue HSTs.


Then it was supposed to be appliqued? Nooo. Too hard to fold in all those bulky little points. I made the entire bottom section pieced. Redrew the handle, still wonky,  and changed out Patek's horse applique for a calico kitty.


[inspired by the cat on Lynda Hall's Front Porch quilt. My world does not include horses, though I admire them greatly. Instead this kitty will represent the calico cat and two tabby striped tomcats of my childhood.]


The snow is still falling. I am going to start piecing the sections of Pokeberry and then finishing the appliques over the seams. You'll see I 've circled the set in corners for the final step later.



I had planned to make stuffed cabbage rolls today but I d rather sew. I'm going to try this Deconstructed Stuffed Cabbage instead. You can see it HERE on my Pinterest foodie folder. I'll let you know how it comes out. EDIT Ugh, no! Nasty. Threw it out. A FAIL. And so much work, so many pans---it was more work than simple stuffed cabbage would have been. Poor quality gloppy rice added to the ''ick'' factor.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach~~~~~~~

















PS Today Mo chewed the tube of Lanacane I use on my painful hand. Then he's sad when he gets sick? Bad doggy! He didn't actually eat any but what if! Rush to ER in the snow....bummer.


14 comments:

  1. Poor silly Mo needs something he can chew on, maybe one of those nylon bones? Or can he have those green dental chews? Probably he'd still chew stuff he isn't supposed to, though. Pets are annoying that way. Spook eats ribbons!

    Your quilt is coming along beautifully! I can hardly wait to see it all together, and I love that you're making it your own with small changes!

    We had a dusting of snow a couple days ago and now tomorrow we're supposed to have 'winter mix', ugh. I don't want to go anywhere that involves OUT!

    Thanks for sharing and stay warm!

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  2. I have to agree 100% that as much as I like Jan's designs her block construction stinks! LOL

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  3. Wonderful blocks. I always change something in a pattern. Your kitties are lovely. Had a laugh at your 'ick' food.

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    1. I agree, it s fun adding a personal touch to a pattern.

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  4. You have some beautiful beach beach pictures today :)

    I so like that you changed the church to a beach cottage, and the horse to a kitty! Always impressed with your dedication. Keep on goin' girl!

    Kelley

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  5. Hi Kelley! I m glad you enjoy my beach photos--my beach walk and photos are often the best part of my day.

    Pokeberry has been fun. Tonight I was discouraged because I feel the black flannel of the background is not the beast quality---all that work on shoddy cloth. But maybbe once it s quilted it will be better, who knows...

    Are you having warm days? Sooo cold here suddenly, we do not like it.

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    1. Well, 'beast' quality sounds so much more interesting ;) It'll turn out wonderful.

      Temp just so-so. Low 60's for the most part. Pretty cloudy. Good reading weather. New Sue Grafton this week.

      Take care

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    2. LOL.

      I haven't read Grafton in years, I stopped around J or K. A good series for a Kindle read. 60s sound delightful, I d be breaking out the flipflops, girl!

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    3. Haha, when our temps are in the 50's and 60's and we're bundling up, I often say that people who live in colder climates would be busting out their t-shirts and flip-flops! Puts things in perspective :)

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  6. Snow? I'd be curled up under a quilt...

    It hit 60 here one night and I thought I was going to freeze to death.

    Great quilt. I love your changes. I can never follow a pattern for anything. Except origami. And I hope if I fold enough designs I'll be able to do something original.

    Take care and I miss you.

    Hunter

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  7. I enjoyed seeing your Pokeberry blocks.

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