A little let up and a little let down, that’s how this week is progressing. I didn’t finish the Enchanted Stars quilting in time for the gifting. A substitute was made and everyone was happy. I was a little let down, but it really would have been a push to finish it, and I am glad I didn’t force myself. Creativity as well as process suffer when forced, not to mention things like wrists and thumbs. My mouse set up for my longarm system is not really ergonomically set up. The pad is on a cabinet and I use the mouse while standing in front of the screen. With this quilt design I have to manipulate each piece to fit in its spot. Map out the specific area, rotate/flip the design, increase or decrease size, link them, order them and finally stitch them. The largest compass has thirty points, but it’s done now. I have thought about doing some of it manually, like the points that have a quick V shape in them. Those are easy to do with a ruler, but the curlicues are hard to make look the same consistently. The quilts construction with all its intersecting seams and seam allowances is also countrary to smoothness. This quilt is mine, it will be displayed, eventually, in my house, and hopefully I’ll finish it soon.

Today the heat wave we’ve been experiencing has broken. We had a similar one in October 2024, a week of 90+ degree days. The AC was running all day and night, and it was conducive to indoor activities like sewing.

I have been steadily working on the Thameside Ramble quilt top. I got the four small and one large (34″) compasses done. The technique and ruler system is easy to use and putting all the points and angles together is easy-ish. There are no inset seams, and the units go together because they are all cut to the same size. No paper foundations to tear off, even though it looks like they are PPF pieced. I ended up ordering another piece of pink/blush colored print for the center backing behind the main compass. The pattern calls for a piece that is 42 and ½ inches square, my piece is 36 inches by 42 ½. The fabric print really pulls the piece together, and I thought I could substitute with a different one from the Original Morris line. It is a little too wimpy looking though, I found another, called Small Pimpernel, which might work better. If it doesn’t work, I may do an insert of a 6 ½ inch wide strip. I think I can do it with the fabric from the center of the square, since it is cut away from behind the compass. I’ll cut two pieces shaped like square “U”s and join them with the 6 ½” strip at the legs of the U. No one will ever know, lol.

Lobster sweater number one is coming along, the raglan shaping was slow going, but now the body and soon the sleeves will be done. Hands and thumbs are okay with knitting, when I get tired I stop for the day. The last time I picked up the piece to knit, I noticed about ten purl stitches that had snuck in there, I must have dozed off and made them, because this piece is all knit stitches (in the round) my unconscious self switched to purl for variety I guess.

I keep meaning to add photos to this post, but life has been busy lately. I am going to post it as is, otherwise it will always be a draft. Plus I have made a little progress on these projects.

Be Kind.