March 30, 2013

Hello! It is a gorgeous Spring day today. It is almost the end of the month and Easter is tomorrow. This year is flying past way too quickly. I know that my busyness is making it seem that way. I have finished so many projects since moving here to Bullhead City in November. But pretty soon the "snow birds" will be returning to their permanent homes for the summer and the activities here in the community will slow considerably. Our next door neighbor will be here all summer. Steve's parents will be, too. One of my quilter buddies will be here as well, so she and I may get together and continue working on projects we have already begun. That would be great because that would allow us to both start the next winter session without any pending projects. As to the knitting/crocheting, I can continue that without any problem no matter the heat or cold. Actually that will be very nice for "a stay in the house because of the heat" projects. I am currently knitting the 10th square of the Learn-to-Knit Afghan, but I still have 53 to go. Then I have all the squares to make for the Learn-to-Crochet Afghan when those are completed. So I will stay plenty busy. I have fabric for sewing some skirts and blouses for myself, too, that I could pull out and sew. Whew, maybe I won't be as project-free as I was supposing by the time the "snow birds" return.

I went to Wal-Mart and purchased the buttons for the birthday purses. I found several that I liked, but wasn't really impressed by then. Wal-Mart didn't have the magnetic snaps required for the purse closures either, which meant I needed to stop at JoAnn's Fabric & Crafts anyway. So on the way home, I stopped there. I found the cutest buttons that far more pleased me than the ones at Wal-Mart and they were on sale at 50% off. So I bought them and the snaps. This of course means returning the others to Wal-Mart and I really hate doing that. But I don't need those buttons, so I will return them at my next trip there. I need to pick up a prescription I left there today on Monday, so I will "kill two birds" at once.

Speaking of knitting...did you notice my ball of yarn earrings? I purchased those from Jessica Knits & Crochets in Scottsdale, AZ. I wanted something to commemorate all the Tuesdays I spent there with my knitting group. The yellow ball is so bright and I like the way it looks - very Spring-like.

I haven't found any earrings that represent quilting yet? But I am sure there are some somewhere. Maybe some cute little sewing machines, or a quilt that is finished. Who knows?

Knitting is still my first love for now. So those will need to wait.

Steve is gone to his father's place to help him with a project, so I am going to go sit with his mother and sew-on some buttons and snaps. See ya later!!!!

Purses are complete and ready to mail. All snaps and buttons attached. I had a little trouble with the snaps, requiring pliers to insert and attach. Those were not fun. Then the buttons were sewn on top of them to hide them and that was a major ordeal trying to get the thread through the buttons with a very hard snap underneath it. My fingers are complaining because of the pushing and prying, but I got the job done.

Notice the snap on the top inside.
Notice the button on the bottom outside
Notice the pockets with buttons on the inside.

Rachel's

Emma-Leigh's

Jenny's

Vickie's

March 29, 2013

Woohoo! Except for the hardware (the buttons and the snaps), all four purses are done. I recut the binding and added an extra inch for the other three purses and the handles inserted much, much easier. After that, the rest of the sewing was a breeze.

Emma-Leigh's Purse
Those colors hopefully will match her school colors.
Doesn't that just "pop"?

Jenny's Purse
Jenny's favorite color is purple.
I blended lots of blues and pinks with the purples to give a brighter look.

Vickie's Purse
I wanted bright colors for Vickie.
Success achieved!!!

Rachel's Purse
Her favorite color is pink.
Can't go wrong with these selected fabrics.

I will take the purses with me tomorrow and match the buttons. Once sewn on, then off to the post office to make their way to Kentucky to celebrate four birthdays.

March 28, 2013

I have been very busy yesterday and today quilting the purses. Yesterday I spent the afternoon cutting out the fabric for the pockets and the binding. I helped Sharon Phieffer, one of my friends here in the community, start the fabric strips for the purse she is starting. She was also working on the table runner pattern that I did for Fall, which she is making smaller to use as a place mat instead.  It was fun working with her together on our projects.

Today I continued sewing the pockets onto the purses. I completed all four purses and then began sewing the binding onto Rachel's purse because it uses only pink thread, where the others use the blue/purple thread. So I decided to work ahead to the finish on it. I gathered the top edges, which was extremely burdensome for the sewing machine due to the heavy thickness. I changed my needle to a 110/18, which is the hardiest of all machine needles. I lengthened my stitch length to 6, which is the max my machine will allow. Still the machine bogged-down with the effort. But I finally finished the binding, sewed the side seams, finished the bottom seam so the purse had a square bottom, and then was ready to weave the handle through the binding casing. The binding was too snug and nothing I did would work. I tried using the bodkin. I tried using a safety pin. I tried stitching a heavy cord to the end of the handle and then using my darning needle pulling the handle through. Nothing, nothing, nothing would work. The binding is just too tight. So.....I will remove all the stitching tomorrow (yes, tomorrow because my frustration level was too high to start then and dinner was pending) and cut a larger binding. Hopefully this will alleviate the struggle to weave the handle through the casing.

Here is what the pockets look like.

Pink on pink is a little difficult to see. The folded back edges represent each of one pocket. I will take another photo of a different purse with a darker background, which I hope will be easier to see.

This is a better view of the pockets. The stitching lines sewn vertically are the bottom of the purse. The horizontal line is the center, which divides the pockets to make four. The folded back edges are the openings of each pocket.

This photo shows the interior of the purse with two pocket openings.

This photo shows the purse with the sewn sides, the bottom edges/corners sewn, and the binding just teasing me without cooperating. So close to finishing, but not close enough.

I may remove the stitching tonight so I can begin again fresh tomorrow morning. The quilters all meet together on Friday, and I don't want to begin with a frustrated attitude. Steve says he would like to try to weave the handle through the casing before I remove all the stitching. I will let him try. Sigh! I hope this doesn't cause further friction or more re-doing on my part. Seems a shame to not let him try.  Who knows, he might succeed and save me all the hassle. <fingers crossed>

Moments later....
Hooray, hooray, hooray!!! He did it. He used some kind of cording. I stitched the cording to the end of the handle. We (yes I helped) used a pencil to keep the end opening open. He used a zip-tie alongside the cording and carefully pulled them both through the casing. It was VERY tight but both handles are now through the casing. I still need to stitch the ends together and then add the buttons and snap before the purse is finished. But that is another day.

See the cording is stitched to the handle. The ends are tapered.
A successful ending to a tight situation!!

March 26, 2013

Well I have been quite busy and forgetting to capture my progress with my Learn-To-Knit Afghan. Since my last blog I have completed three additional squares.

Square 6
Twisted and Crossed Ribbing

In this square you can see that twisted ribs look like tight little braids; crossed ribs are looser, though not so loose as plain ribbing. Working a stitch through its back loop causes it to cross at the base. The strand on the right-hand side of the stitch passes over to the left-hand side of the next stitch above, and vise versa. Whenever it is desirable to keep stitches from looking too loose and open, working in the back loops will help to close them up.

Square 7
Garter and Rib Pattern

This pattern is an excellent illustration of the difference in fabric width between Ribbing, which squeezes, and Garter Stitch, which spreads. Each block of Garter Stitch (shown by 4 horizontal ridges) looks wider than each group of 5 ribs above, below, and to each side of it; yet there are only 7 stitches in the Garter Stitch block, and 9 stitches in the group of ribs! Notice, also, how very far out of the vertical line the continuous ribs are forced to curve, as they are alternately pulled by the Ribbing and pushed by the Garter Stitch. The important lesson taught by this square is that different patterns can create very obvious differences in gauge (number of stitches and rows to the inch), even when worked with the same yarn and needle size.

I really enjoyed working this square. It was fun, fast and fascinating.

Square 8
Rose Fabric

Rose Fabric is loose, fluffy, non-curling and has a lot of lateral spread. This pattern calls for knitting a stitch in the row below. At first this was difficult to see, but is especially easy to understand when the previous row has been knitted. You just insert the needle from the front under the horizontal "purl strand", from behind which the stitch on the left-hand needle emerges, and knit. Knitting or purling in the row below always means that you draw the next stitch from one loop lower than the loop that is on the needle, so there are two strands caught in the completed stitch instead of just one.

I have always wanted to try this technique and even bought a book of patterns just for it, but I haven't used it yet until I made this square. It really was simple once the technique was started.

These 8 squares complete the first section of the total eight sections in the book. This first section features Knit-Purl Combinations of stitches. The next section will focus on Mosaic Patterns. Mosaic knitting is a new, easy method of working in two colors, by using only one color at a time and forming designs with slip-stitches.  I have begun square 9 and will feature it later when I am finished.

Well, while waiting for Steve to arrive home from his trip to Las Vegas and back, I finished square 9.

Square 9
Horizontal Chain
Right Side

Square 9
Horizontal Chain
Back Side

This is a simple but very effective pattern of interlocking dark and light motifs, shaped in bold blocks connected by horizontal bands. This pattern teaches slip stitches and stranding. Stranding is when the yarn is carried or stranded across several stitches, as shown in the back side photo.

Well, Steve should be home soon, so I am going to stop this blog now and post it. Catch you later.

March 23, 2013

I must start this blog with a great big Happy Birthday to my oldest granddaughter, Rachel. She is 19-years old today. I was there when she was born. Today she is in college at Western Kentucky University. Time has flown.

I left on the 20th to drive to Lake Havasu City, AZ to meet Steve after he finished the tour to Phoenix, AZ that day. Early (and I mean early) the next morning we picked-up a group of singles and carried them to Palm Springs, CA for a two-day tour. I really enjoyed being with Steve and the group he was carrying were delightful. I took my knitting with me and was able to complete three additional squares for the Learn-To-Knit Afghan. Some squares I really enjoy knitting. Some I dislike. The 5th square was not enjoyable for me at all. I don't mind knitting ribbing but this particular pattern was a diagonal, which means the stitches shifted one every fourth row. Either the directions were incorrect or my stitches were. I re-knitted rows 9-16 several times and I'm positive that I didn't get it correct still. But I went ahead and finished the square and it is what it is. I may change my attitude later and redo it. Especially if it continues to look wrong to me and mars the looks of the finished afghan.

Square 3
Basketweave

Basketweave is a classic fabric for all kinds of knitted articles. It doesn't curl, looks very attractive, and is easy to work.

Square 4
Lattice with Seed Stitch

Between the vertical knit ribs and the horizontal purled welts in this pattern there are blocks of Seed Stitch, a popular basic knit-purl fabric created by a "k1, p1" that reverses on every row. Like Garter Stitch, Seed Stitch will not curl and is useful for borders.

Square 5
Diagonal Ribbing

There is no specified right or wrong side for this pattern, because it looks the same on both sides, except for one circumstance that appears, at first glance, very curious indeed. On the side that has the odd numbered rows, the diagonal ribs slant upward to the left. Flip the knitted square over and you will see that on the even-numbered side the diagonal ribs slant upward to the right.

Diagonal Ribbing makes a pretty variation on the conventional k2, p2 ribbing usually seen in sweater borders. It may be used also for an entire garment.

March 19, 2013

Well, I have spent some time today knitting squares for the Learn-to-Knit Afghan. Completed two already and have the third one half finished. I figure that 4 a week will be required in order to complete the afghan in the time allotted. These squares are very simple and quickly knit, so I think this is doable. But I must remember that the knitters learning to knit may be much slower.

Square 1
Striped Garter Stitch

The Garter Stitch is the basis for many different kinds of patterns. Note: On the right side of the work, where the colors changed every other row, the stripes are sharp and clear, while on the wrong side they blend together. This shows that whenever working with two colors, the first row of each new strand should be knit on the right side for a sharp stripe.

When Garter Stitch is worked in one color only, you can't tell the right side from the wrong side because both sides look alike.

Notice, too, that the Garter Stitch square is square because it has exactly as many 2-row stripes as the number of cast on stitches. This means that each stitch is as wide as two rows are high. So any piece of Garter Stitch worked to the same number of 2-row ridges (that is, twice as many rows) as there are stitches, will be a square.

Garter Stitch lies flat, doesn't curl, doesn't require pressing or blocking, and therefore is very useful for borders, collars, cuffs, button bands, and other portions of garments where a non-curling fabric is needed.

Square 2
Striped Stockinette Stitch

This is the basic sock-and-sweater fabric. The stripes are clear on the right side, blended together on the wrong side, just as in striped Garter Stitch. But Stockinette Stitch looks different on the right and wrong sides, even if it is worked in a single color. The right, or knit, side is smooth; the wrong, or purl, side is bumpy, showing little half-moon-shaped loops for every stitch.

The Stockinette Stitch curls - toward you at the top and bottom, away from you at the sides. Even blocking and pressing will not fully control this tendency. That's why garments made of Stockinette Stitch always need borders of some non-curling fabric at their exposed edges.

I also finished sewing all the fabric tubes for the four purses.

Vickie's

Rachel's

Jenny's

Emma-Leigh's

Still lots to do to finish these purses, but they will need to wait until next week. I'm joining Steve tomorrow for a couple tours. I won't be able to sew until the weekend.

But I can take the knitting with me and continue making squares for the afghan. I love working with the Caron Simply Soft yarn. It is soft. The pattern uses knitting needles size 6, which is a nice easy size for me. I like the smaller size needles best.

Gonna sit and knit for a while before the day ends.

March 14, 2013

I finished the front of the fabric-strips sweater this morning. I now need to cut-out the skirt and sew it together to complete the outfit.

But first I want to finish the purses, since Vickie (my daughter) has her birthday tomorrow. I did order something on-line to arrive on her birthday so she has something to help celebrate her special day; but I just couldn't get the purse done quick enough. So for the rest of the afternoon I will be sewing the tubes together. So far I have 5 tubes completed - 9 yet to finish.

I finished sewing all the fabric/batting tubes for the purse body and the two for the handles. I have zig-zagged the remaining 12 tubes together. Tomorrow is the time set aside for quilting in the RV park so I will complete the other three purses up to this point then. I really like the combination of the colors from the jelly roll pack I just finished.

Now I will sit down for the rest of the evening, watch TV, and begin knitting the squares for the Learn-To-Knit Afghan project I hope to teach next winter.

March 11, 2013

Well, I received the book, Learn -To-Knit Afghan Book by Barbara G. Walker. So I made the trek to JoAnn's Fabrics & Crafts and bought the yarn necessary so I can begin tomorrow when The Needlers meet.

Color A = Cream
Color B = Soft Green
Color C = Aqua Mist
Color D = Brown
Contrast Color = Multi

March 10, 2013

I have completed the back for the fabric-strip sweater last night. I worked pretty consistently to see if there was going to be enough fabric strips to make the complete sweater. I rolled the fabric into two balls containing half the fabric in each. I finished the back with one ball and some leftover. Whew! That means I have plenty to complete the front and finish the sweater. Hooray!!!! Here are some photos.

I started with this fabric.

I tore the fabric into 2-inch 6-yards long strips making two balls, each with one half the fabric.

This is the ribbing using a size 11 needle. The sweater is knit in a stockinette  pattern using a size 13 needle.

This the back neck and sleeve. The body is 14-inches long. The sleeve is 9-inches long. The neck is round.

The completed BACK of the fabric-strip sweater.

Steve is taking a high school group to Disney Land today for a competition of some kind. He will be bringing them back to Lake Havasu City tomorrow. I will be leaving for church shortly. It is a beautiful day and I plan to enjoy it. I plan to prepare packages to send to my grandchildren. I've sent them one in January and February. Now it is time for the one for March. I purchased the last of the supplies yesterday for the interactive activities I have planned. <grin> We will be making hot chocolate together-long distance. I will send them the ingredients for making their own hot chocolate from the mix I prepare. Then they will get to use chocolate-coated flavored spoons for stirring and also some chocolate covered marshmallows for stirring. Should be fun. But I have lots to do to get everything ready. And of course I will tuck-in a chocolate covered marshmallow rabbit for Easter celebrating. What Gramma wouldn't?

Needed lollipop sticks, which meant going to JoAnn's, so while I was there I went ahead and bought the yarn I want to use for making the crocheted blocks for the afghan projects I plan to demo and teach for next winter during The Needler's group meetings. I need the summer to prepare the blocks. I already have the crocheted afghan pattern. I ordered the book with the knitted afghan pattern. Still waiting for its arrival.

Color A = Bone
Color B = Wine
Color C = Teal
Color D = Multi

Gotta go. Catch you later.

Finished all the preparations for the hot cocoa mix and the stirrers. Wrote my monthly Gramma Letter and have everything ready to mail. Will wait for Steve to come home first, so he can see and share everything. Then we will mail the packages together.

Gonna sit and knit for a while.

March 8, 2013

Yesterday I went to the Bullhead City Quilter's Guild workshop. The project for making was called the Sunset Runner. I previously purchased the fabric but knew my choices were wrong the moment I saw the finished table runners displayed. The object of the design is to showcase the center with dark fabrics and to edge the sides with light fabrics. In choosing the jelly roll and charm pack that I did, I matched colors rather than darks and lights. So I stitched the charm pack squares together to form the borders and then went to JoAnn's Fabrics & Crafts afterwards and purchased different fabrics for my center. Because the border squares were all prints, I chose only solid colors for the center. I finished sewing the center strips together and then attached the borders. Not as pretty as the design pattern, (my opinion), but still a very presentable (and different) runner for this pattern. Truly, whatever is created is fine because there are no specific rules that apply. As long as I like it, that's all that matters. I can use whatever colors, fabrics and changes to any design, because I am making it. It is really amazing to see how one pattern looks so different with all the choices made by each maker. One MAIN lesson I am learning is to purchase only the colors that I like, not necessarily what the pattern design requires. That is true for yarn in knitting and crocheting, too. Finishing a project that I don't like is too expensive.

As you can see, the colors in the center are also in the border squares. The borders go from darker colors to the lighter ones, so I reversed the center panel by placing the darker colors in the center. Today I will prepare the batting and the backing, hoping to attach both. I will cut-out the binding and maybe get it sewn on today, too. There is an appliqué that is sewn on opposite sides at each end of the edging. I hope to get that cut-out and attached, too. May be too much for one day. Especially since Steve will be arriving soon after the quilting group ends. He will be here for five hours and then leave again. So probably, this project will still takes several days before completion. That's okay!

While I was still at the guild workshop, I went ahead and started one purse after I finished the squares for the table runner. I learned how to make the fabric/batting tubes and stitch them together. This is a gorgeous design. I bought jelly rolls for each one, but I really prefer the way I saw two other purses quilted by two guild quilters. They cut their strips from matching fabrics, not from jelly rolls. Then they used the strips in a light to dark pattern (one design) and with matching handles and pockets. My designs will be good, too; but not the same. My strips are color coordinated and will blend beautifully. When I am done with the four already prepared for sewing, I think I will make one for myself using the dark to light design. We'll see.

The fabric and batting are folded to the centers and then stitched to form a tube. Then each tube is zigzagged to another one until a solid rectangle is formed.  

I just asked the ladies in my quilting group which appliqué method they would recommend for my stem and leaves on the table runner. Should I appliqué then quilt, or should I quilt and then appliqué? The overall consensus was to appliqué first and then quilt. Although as I stated above I can do whatever I want. The reason to appliqué first is that the stitching won't show on the backside when the quilting is finished. So that is the next step. Here is what the table runner looks like with the pinned appliqué attached.

Now to the stitching... No wait, Steve just arrived. All goes on hold NOW!!!!!!
Such a wonderful visitation with Steve. Just too short. Too late today to do any further sewing. Will sit and knit. <grin>

March 5, 2013

Another lady in the park, Cathy, joined Wendy and I for The Needlers. She was working on quilt pieces. She was making yo-yos and adding them to each piece. Then she will sew the pieces together for the quilt top. Wendy is embroidering and I cut out the batting strips for the purses. I also added the elastic to the Sasha skirt. Now I will wash, dry, wet and shape it.

Completed Sasha Skirt
(before washing, drying, and shaping)

Since I have the Sasha skirt done, I must decide what the next project(s) will be. I am still working on the tank top but I will continue it now only at home. Because I am still designing it and keeping all my notes in one place, I don't want to carry it anywhere. I think I will begin preparing for this next winter when all the snow birds return after summer. I would like to teach knitting and crocheting. To do that I will use the block(s) system. Each block will involve learning new stitches and techniques. Then when all the blocks are completed, they can be combined to make an afghan, a vest, a skirt, or whatever. I need to get the blocks done now so I can use them for display and demonstration later.

I changed my mind! I went through my stash yarn and couldn't settle on any I really wanted to use for the demonstration afghans. This would mean that buying more yarn would be necessary. Well I don't want to do that right now. So I went through my pending projects and decided to start the vest that is knit with 1/2-inch fabric strips. I cut one non-selvaged edge every 1/2-inch and then tore the fabric for the six-yards making long strips. Then I stitched each strip together overlapping the ends. I rolled the strips into two balls - 1/2 for knitting the front and the other for the back. Now I'm ready to begin.

Fabric before making strips

1/2-inch fabric strips rolled into a ball for knitting a vest.

Well, I just took the Sasha skirt out of the dryer. It is VERY soft and drapes beautifully. BUT I don't like it now. I loved knitting the skirt and am kinda disappointed that I don't like it. It really looks good for a younger person, but on me, it doesn't. So I guess one of the granddaughters will receive it now. Sigh!

No regrets, however. The joy of knitting is the experience, first and foremost. The wearing is just "icing on the cake".

Drove to Kingman, AZ today and sat with the "Wednesday Purls" at the knitting shop The Spinster. There were about 2-dozen ladies sitting around in a circle knitting and crocheting. I was welcomed warmly and everyone was interested in seeing my fabric-strips project. The woman sitting next to me on my right is named Happy. She was learning to knit. There were two sisters sitting next to me on my left. The one closest to me is a children's book author. She has written a book about a cat. She and her sister were knitting tiny mouse bookmarks to sell with her books. They were very cute. The little mice, I mean! The sisters were cute too. Ha!! The rest of the ladies were a mixed set, from young (one with her baby) to old. I was very pleased with the meeting and I think I will give it my best to attend each week. I asked about the group that Robin, the owner, had previously shared with me who meet weekly in Bullhead City. But she still didn't know any names and the other ladies didn't either. It takes almost 45-minutes to drive there from here but for right now it is the best and closest weekly meeting to me.

I just watched a video excerpt on Facebook about Beyonce's demonic possession and the name of that demon is Sasha. Surprise! That is also the name of the skirt pattern I just finished. Yuck!!! I may throw away the skirt just for that reason alone. I don't want ANYTHING associated with demonic forces in my life.

March 4, 2013

Hooray! The quilt has been delivered to Hilda Reck for the final quilting on her long professional quilting machine. It was really neat to meet her and to see where she lives. She has her commercial long-quilting machine set-up in her garage with a large cutting table and lots of storage shelves. Because she has several projects current and pending for the "snow birds", who want their projects done before they return to their homes between now and the end of April, she probably won't have mine ready until May 4th. So it will be a while before I can surprise Bruce with his gift.

She explained several neat items for me.
1.  Push - don't pull the border fabric through the sewing machine when stitching it to the top. Reason: the fabric stretches otherwise and then bunches when quilted. She said I did a beautiful job and she didn't expect any problems with mine.
2.  The different brands of batting. She showed me several she would never use. Then I explained I only liked the natural fibers. She recommended Quilter's Dream Cotton that can be ordered online. They carry the 100% cotton and also 100% wool, which either can be ordered in varying weights and sizes. She also said that JoAnn's carries Warm & Natural, which is a comparable brand and doesn't need to be ordered.

Went to JoAnn's and got the batting I will need to make the purses.

Carolyn (her and Nancy went with me to my first guild meeting) came by so I could assist her in completing another microwave bowl holder. She finished one and the second one didn't look right to her. We fixed it and drew the measurements for the darts on a third one.

I finished the Sasha skirt with the exception of the elastic in the waistband. I will finish that tomorrow.

March 3, 2013

I went yesterday and purchased some more fabric to make additional microwave reversible bowl holders, the project that the Quilting Guild did last Thursday. I liked it so well, I want to make several more to give as gifts. Steve really liked the holder and chose the fabric he wants me to make for my kitchen. I had a lot of the 100% cotton batting and thread leftover from the two I completed, so this will be a good way to use those.

Choices for gifts

Steve's Choice

I also got the fabric that will be used in this Thursday's project. It is another table runner but quite a different pattern. The pattern is called "Sunset Runner". It introduced me to "Jelly Rolls" and Charm Packs". Jelly Rolls are packages of pre-cut 2 1/2" strips. Charm Packs are packages of pre-cut 5" squares. Each package uses fabrics that blend well together.  I hope my choices work well together since I didn't exactly choose the same patterns in each package. The colors look compatible to me, but the proof will be with the finished project. <grin>

I also bought fabric to make Vickie and her girls purses. The pattern is a little more advanced than what I might be able to do but I'm going to try anyway. It is called Bailey Island Hobo from Aunties Two Patterns. It features batting stuffed fabric strips. <yikes> I will make the small one.

I'll post photos when I complete these projects. <fingers crossed>

I bought the remaining fabric needed to complete the backing for Bruce's quilt. I will prepare it tomorrow and then see about getting it to the quilter. Then I will need to prepare everything for Thursday's Guild class. <whew>