A long story

“Let’s stay home” seemed the perfect theme for a project whilst we were quarantined. I won’t repeat myself here but simply refer to my post of July 8th when I began this “quick and easy” (and very small) project. Of course, it turned out to be anything but!

I think I was on my second iteration of houses, having made a real mess of the first lot with my inaccurate cutting and sewing. At least this time, when my intention to adopt the foolproof foundation piecing method was boosted by my friend Marianne’s advice for “freezer paper foundation piecing” the results were acceptable. Yes, still one or two wonky corners but at least everything fitted together.

I heaved a sigh of relief and sewed the centre panel in place, pressing the seams using my steam iron. Can you see what happened? That “cloudy sky” fabric was not colourfast and when I returned to the panel the following day I noticed the patches of blue seeping into the white.

I might have said a few choice words at this point. I might have cried. Not only did I have no more of that white fabric to replace the centre panel, but I really couldn’t think how I could switch out those other white pieces without remaking the whole darned thing.

Shall I say “third time lucky”? I threw away the rest of that blue fabric of unknown origin and stuck to tried and tested commercial prints this time.

The whole of this project has been a test of my ability (or lack of it) to reverse things, to work out which way round a piece goes before it’s too late and the next step was no different. Tracing the letters using freezer paper, then fusible web on the reverse wasn’t easy but by now I knew to check before I cut. I got this bit right first time!

I needed several goes before I got the applique right however, discovering that the answer was to set my machine to the slowest speed, to take two stitches at a time, then stop and work out where the next stitch would form. This was s-l-o-w work.

I had also been sewing with green thread on top and white in the bobbin, but on noticing a slight white point at each stitch where the bobbin thread was ever so slightly visible, I switched to green for top and bottom. Better!

I couldn’t wait to begin the quilting then, especially with my big machine back home and freshly serviced. It has a dual feed to make stitching through several layers of fabric much easier so my #2 machine went back into hibernation and the big one took over. I stitched a kind of “offset” around the letters and left it overnight before making a decision.

The following day, I took it all out again and stitched around each letter on top of the applique stitch. Better but by now I was getting tired of this thing.

Just get it done, I told myself as I quilted the houses by stitching in the ditch. I used what I’d learned previously and took things slowly to get it right first time.

I quilted the centre panel using my quilting rulers and special foot, again taking my time to get it right whilst just wanting to get it done!

It should be - but isn’t - perfect.

It’s good enough, however. Last evening, I attached the binding and heaved a sigh of relief. I can say quite honestly that it is never going anywhere near a WI Craft Judge! I can imagine the encouraging advice that would be offered - about all the tricks and techniques that could be used to facilitate accuracy and precision. Yes, I used them all - and still….

Well, it’s good to tackle projects like this from time to time. It certainly tested my all my sewing and quilting skills and my knowledge and use of my sewing machine. But most of all, it tested my tenacity and patience.

And I got the punctuation right, didn’t I Lesley?! (Here’s the original)