I’ve been working on the railroad all week, specifically on the island of Sodar. So many hours spent with Thomas and friends during my children’s early years. Hours spent building and playing with track layouts and watching the animations. I did finish the large panel, and mounted the other two quilts side by side. The split nine patch has a simple train panto, but the “This Way” quilt has some train borders and fussy placement. I sew a bit on each one, and advance the quilts, it’s a little slower than what I usually do – quilt a panto row across both. I do save time though, as I only have to load it once, one backing and batting. I did finish the Halloween wall hanging first 🙂

I signed up for this winters Krista Moser quilt, Winter Visit. I did the Poinsettia one last year, I even bought the kit for that one. It was made for a gift, I think I may keep this one for me, like I need another quilt. I want to use some well aged Cherrywood sueded cottons I have in the stash. They are left over from a huge Poinsettia quilt I made about 10 or 12 years ago. I don’t think I have a picture of it, it was a pattern that I saw at RD2CA one year and got the great idea to make it with Cherrywood. I am still afraid to wash it, it has a buttery yellow background and all those deep red petals. I have never been one to prewash fabrics, and I can’t remember if I did with this quilt. Anyway, it is usually on the guest bed for Christmas only.

I speed-knit this Monarch wing hat yesterday. It was very easy, especially with a color chart, and worsted weight yarn. I may make another for a one year old I know, but use sport weight and smaller needles. I used 7’s for this, as the Ravelry reviews said it knitted up tightly with the recommended 5’s for the ribbing. I may make another adult size, as I did buy the beautiful Malabrigo yarns. I used Cascade for this one, and a remnant white acrylic I had in the bottom of my bag. I still have a bit of duplicate stitches to do, as a sort of blending between the oranges.

The Country Christmas/ Plaid Pines quilt is coming along. I got the 25 tree blocks done, and the pieces for the log cabin blocks done. Lots of chain piecing and it’ll come together quickly. I don’t think I have mentioned the Extra Large Stripology rule I got recently. It is quickly becoming a favorite, it is a bit faster than the Accuquilt cutter, and much easier to set up and use. It has made the cutting for this quilt go so fast. The layer cakes I ordered for the Evergeen quilt came in. I need to check and see if I can use the 108″ snowflake fabric I have as a background. I bought a bolt of it last year, thinking I would use it for the custom order I had. The Client didn’t like it, so I need to use it up.

In other thoughts, I had to buy a new standing steamer, I tried to use my current one when I was loading the train quilts, the lights went on, but no steam. The new one specifically says to use distilled water, maybe thats why my old one didn’t last. Although I think it was over five years old – it was lightly used.

Today I want to serge three little dresses I have cut out and ready to sew. I really enjoy sewing with the L890, after years of struggling with three other models. Its is so easy and rewarding to have a finished project that looks like ready to wear – but better.

Be Kind.