Quilting Favorites

I’ve now been quilting for three years and three months. It’s been a HUGE stress relief for me — especially hand quilting/piecing. It keeps my brain busy while keeping my hands busy — something no other hobby has been able to do for me. During These Pandemic Times, quilting helps to pass the time. Here are some things that I use all the time. P.S. Support your locally-owned quilt shop (I mostly buy supplies from Twisted Sisters in Alcoa, Tennessee)

1. Thimble — I’ve only gotten into using a thimble this year. I use a Dritz soft comfort thimble (small) for piecing/pushing the needle through, and add in Colonial Thimblepads for quilting.
2. Thread — Oh boy. Thread was hard to find this spring when everyone and their brother descended into the sewing industry. I usually use Coats n Clark hand quilting thread in natural. I’m putting a toe into the water of different brands — like Gutermann — but haven’t used them yet, I only panic bought the spools last time I was in store. For machine sewing, I use Coats n Clark all purpose.
3. Needles — I have no opinion yet on needles for the sewing machine. I’m still trying to figure out when I need to change those out and differences in the sizes (honestly I’m such a noob I haven’t noticed a difference). For hand sewing, I prefer Colonial (NOT John James) betweens in size 10 along with Bohin needles. Thankfully I picked up a pack of Bohins in March at Quilt Fest in Pigeon Forge. Both Bohin and Colonial are a joy to sew with. I do not like J.J. big eye or Clover black gold — those are too hard to thread or don’t pull through the fabric smoothly.
4. If I need a thread conditioner I use Thread Magic. I heard it was disappearing but I saw packages at JoAnn’s during my last emergency run. I also heard Kwik Klip was being discontinued, but I still see those everywhere (yes I bought one and haven’t used it yet. Basting is my LEAST favorite step!!)
5. Fabrics — My favorite blenders are P&B ramblings. I’ll buy something if it’s in cheddar, but besides that I’m still learning about all the different types of fabric. For now I prefer Bella Solids over Kona. Kona frays too much for me, and I’ve learned that’s a pet peeve.

I currently have four or so quilt tops ready to be quilted. I *thought* I would search out a new longarmer after ‘Rona calmed down, but now I’m not sure what to do. My machine is a Brother LX3125, so not exactly a machine that’s ready to take on quilting any size top.

August Favorites

1. If you’ve seen my Twitter account lately, you’ll know — WSM AM radio. Since The Pandemic started, the radio has been a constant companion. What I love about WSM is that the commercials are not “commercially.” They’re for chicken, a store and a funeral home. Since Bill Cody and Eddie Stubbs voice most of them, they’re not overly loud either. I’m still adjusting to Jeff Hoag’s new schedule — and missing The Week That Was on Saturday nights. Jeff’s shows are like comfort food at your grandmother’s. You don’t know what’s coming next, but dadgum it’s gonna be good.
2. The recipe blog Chocolate Covered Katie. I keep coming back to her desserts. The recipes are easy to follow and everything I’ve tried has turned out well. Favorites so far are the lemon loaf, and the peanut butter chocolate chip bars.
3. My sweet little quilt shop in Alcoa, Tennessee. (Twisted Sisters) All the quilt shops that have the fabric styles I prefer have closed here in the Bay Area. So I’m supporting TS online. TS is my favorite shop in Tennessee and I can’t wait to visit it again once Life As We Once Knew It can happen. Also it’s just a stone’s throw from the Smokies.
4. After a year and a half of complaints, my apartment complex replaced the air conditioner unit. Now instead of waking up to an 83 degrees apartment at night/the afternoon — THE TEMPERATURE STAYS A STEADY 75. It’s amazing. I highly endorse air conditioning.
5. Applique quilts. I’m getting a bit better at appliqué. My stitches are still pretty huge and noticeable, but it’s no longer a chore like it was when I first learned. I want to get better at basting, which I think will help. Still, I very much enjoy the effect needle turn appliqué gives, and I’m pondering doing a lap quilt with four big (like 24 inch) blocks. If I don’t like doing it, one block can turn into a wall hanging.

Goodbye, my darlin’

Writer’s note: I wrote this in the aftermath of Grandma’s death back in 2016, possibly in September of that year. In 2020, I edited out an unfinished thought at the end, added in the soup memory, and added some pictures.

Hello, my darlin’!

Grandma always started conversations and visits with that particular hello. And she gently pulled you in for a kiss to the cheek and a hug if you cooperated. Many a times I’d walk around unknowingly with lipstick on my cheek.

She unknowingly was the stoic one. Over her 93 years of this mortal life, she buried two husbands, two daughters. Lost her mother before she turned ten.  Raised three girls as a widow for years. Survived the Great Depression in a place that is still “the sticks” all these years later.

Grandma was always an example of whatever you have is enough. The food will stretch. Work will keep you busy. Fun can be simple.

I remember playing with the green plastic strawberry baskets, soap bubbles and just following her around the farm. One summer we rode through a mild hurricane out there. I still remember being disappointed we couldn’t get anything on the old black and white television. Another strong memory is me spending the night out there with just Grandma and Grandpa. She protected me from the little-girl-eating cows while Grandpa called the babies to the feed. They let me pick out alphabet soup at the grocery store.

She had a heart of gold. When I was having troubles, I just remembered how much tribulations she made it through and made it to the other side with a joyful heart. Ok, truthfully, she was stubborn too. But I’m pretty sure that’s how she survived as well. It’s how I survive.

It is said that wealth never survives three generations. Three generations can also be seen as one getting out of poverty, one to accumulate the foundation and the third to have the luxury of pursuing their dreams.

Grandma, while never wealthy in the bank, was wise with farm knowledge. Manure tea recipe and all. I know how to save thread while hand sewing, my gut tells me to keep everything besides the kitchen sink in my purse, and stay away from the electric fence.

This mortal life was a mix of hard times and good times for her, I know that. It’s like that for all of us.

 

 

 

 

What I Read: Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King

This paperback was my flight companion for the last few years. It was a tough read for me so that helped when I needed to concentrate on something during takeoff. I knew I wanted to finish it this spring.

It focuses on the involvement of Thurgood Marshall with the Groveland Four. (The Four  made news again last year when Gov. DeSantis officially pardoned them) For me it was hard to keep up with the lawyers names — trying to remember who worked for who.

Also it was hard to remember that my grandparents, my parents were just a few counties over at the time. It all wasn’t that long ago.

I learned a lot from this book.. how after the house explosion the victims had to drive themselves to the one hospital that they knew would be safe for Blacks. How we should never complain about jury duty since that justice was shut out to so many for so long.  I do recommend the book. Again, it’s not an easy read, but Dr. Angelou says reading should be hard.

August

I checked Ancestry.

Looking at the dates my kinfolk died, I saw none of my direct ancestors were lost in the pandemic of 1918.

I wonder, how it impacted them? Did they lose loved ones? Did they stay home more? Did the great illness shake them?

And then I sit, listening to the WSM AM radio, sewing scraps into quilt blocks. I can’t help but think that’s what Ma Stevens would have done too.

Still here

Here’s what’s changed:

I moved to Florida.

I got a new job in said Florida.

I cut my hair.

 

Here’s what’s the same:

I still work overnights.

I still want to spend more time quilting.

I still struggle to eat more than one meal a day (combination of stress and wacky hours)

I still struggle to write in personal time, since I spend 9.5 hours a night writing.

The end

Last July, I began quilting. It was a way to get back into creating something just for myself, and a way to honor my Grandma.

I have officially finished the blocks for my first quilt. 15 blocks. The next step up is 24 and I don’t want to push myself to speed through it — because the entire point of this is to slow down, let my brain and hands wonder and focus on one thing.

Quilting gives me permission to be imperfect. It gives me the creative outlet that has been empty since I stopped painting (which I need to pick up again). It gives me joy and accomplishment, when so many of the tasks in front of me repeat themselves day after day.

Quiltfolk

(Not to be confused with the magazine of the same name that I just ordered as a reward for “finishing” hours of computer work)

my first quilt block

 

Somewhere along the past year, I’ve morphed into a quilter. One of the best and worst things about me is that I am passionate… obsessive even. When I had eggplant parmesan for the first time in college (I grew up in a small town, ok?) I ate it for lunch and dinner for two weeks in a row. I grasp onto a thing or topic (Queen Victoria) and cannot. let. go.

And so it was and is with quilting. Hand quilting to be precise. It is one of the very very few things I’ve found that can keep my brain and hands busy. So I keep making itty bitty stitches as Grandma said. I even think of people in quilt form. She’s a red and white Irish chain. He is a deep blue and green log cabin. I am a scrappy postage stamp.

Right now I’m working on Dutchman’s puzzle. Triangles give me grief, so it takes more time. But I love the concentration it seeks.

We start out walkin’ and we learn to run

 

I’m still here. The car is newer, but we’re still hitting the highway. From Asheville, Greensboro to Shiloh and Corinth. Gatlinburg is our comfort.

Work all night, (try to) sleep during the day.

But the breeze is starting to whip around again.

Watching for signs along the way. 

 

Currently Reading: 

• Caroline – Ma’s viewpoint of the Little House story.
• Becoming Queen Victoria – to go along with the one TV show I can keep up with.

Scenes from Richmond

Confederate White House

Historical marker close to the site of Chimborazo Hospital, where my 3rd great grandfather died.

Chimborazo visitor center

View from Hollywood Cemetery

Coca Cola sign in downtown

Maymont