Postby Harriet » Thu Dec 21, 2023 11:43 pm
So good to hear you are carding and spinning again, Nancy. Not many people know how to do it, so that makes it really interesting. I hadn't thought about it being relaxing.
The sunflower hot pad looks great. Thick, very cute. If anything, too large, but for all I know they will want it for under casseroles or will hang it. I'm waiting on the disappearing marker marks to fade. Supposed to be between 48 and 72 hours for that to happen, so there should be plenty of time. Tracing a jar lid arc around each "petal" was fast to make a quilting design around the sunflower pattern that looks good. At first, when I realized it was going to need more machine quilting than I'd bargained for, I didn't know how I could do something quick. Glad to think of that cheap, quick way.
It's 3 layers of cotton batting, which is a lot, but my sewing machine handled it. I basted the front with one layer the same shape and 2 layers slightly smaller so I wouldn't have to sew through so much at the edges. Then put right sides together with the back-to-front and sewed around all edges. Because I'd pieced the back, I'd left a 4-inch space unsewn and turned through that. A little hand sewing to close. Quilted with a plain stitch, just a longer stitch length.
I asked ds tonight what are ddil's hobbies so maybe I could give her little presents that made sense and were personal. He thought and thought and says she really doesn't have a hobby. He said he's going to have to help her take some time for some fun. She is always working and rushing around with the children, etc.