So, I mentioned that I got sucked into the hexagon thing.
Really, I’m loving it so far, and have just started hand quilting the hexies in the doll bed I’m making for my daughter with the .75 in hexagons. Figuring out the hand quilting has been a trip though.
They (hand quilters) have this magic rocking thing they do to make perfect stitches. Me, not so perfect.
I tried it, and realized quick that I needed a thimble so went back to the store for a couple of different types and settled on a nice clover coin thimble. It’s mostly working well, except that first stitch in a set is a doozy.
I did a search on youtube to find some examples of hand quilting in action, just so I could get the rhythm. What I found was so much fun! At first there were just a few videos of old women chatting and not very closeup videos of their hands. Few more clicks, and a little better, then I found this woman’s vlog. From what I can tell, she’s an 80ish year old woman who is just finishing up a quilt that she started with the leftovers from her 6 previous quilts, something that she has done 3 times before. And not a little throw either, but a huge at least queen size. And she set it up on her frame and hand quilted the whole thing. All the while videoing herself, editing them quite nicely and adding music etc. (She probably has a mac!) And what an interesting woman! I’ve subscribed to her stream and plan to go back and find out more about her. I hope I’m as witty and insightful when I’m her age.
Anyway, I’ve backed my hexie quilt with some white Kona muslin and am working my way around the thing and maybe it will be done for Christmas. La La has seen it, so its not a surprise, but she doesn’t know what it is.
Meanwhile, I’ve been laid off from my job (outsourced, really) so I’ve been working on Christmas presents for the kids. Y and M’s mom mentioned that the dolls I made for them last year are still very much played with, and that the kids would love some more clothes. So that’s what I’m making – lots of clothes. A & B’s mom gave me some hints too, so they are also getting more clothes, but someone might be getting an American Girl doll from Santa, so really instead of 5 dolls’ worth of clothes, I’m making 6. A’s clothes will be half for the new doll and half for the old. Maybe a couple of matching outfits for both, if I can hack it. So far, I’ve made some pretty adorable flannel jammies, a purple outfit for one doll, 2 pair of overalls for the boy dolls, and one pair of jeans. Next up will be some t-shirts, which should be interesting, since I’ve not really sewn knits before, at least not successfully! But since I knew that, I bought plenty of extra yardage of the knits, just in case. I don’t think I’ll have to wait til after Christmas to post photos, but I haven’t taken any yet. I don’t think the kids read my blog yet ;-/
When I have a few completed outfits, I’ll post. Sadly, I don’t have an AG doll to try out those outfits, so I’ll only be able to have a model for the Wee Wonderfuls dolls.