A different type of measurement for Trav's Camo.

9.4 pounds.....is that considered heavy????


**wiping sweat from brow**

Whew!

**rewinding 9 hours**

After brunch at 10:00, I headed downstairs to work on Trav's Camo quilt since DH said he would probably be seeing him tomorrow. I figured that was a perfect push for me to tackle the final steps of the quilt in order to check it off the list.

By noon, I finished up the final border placement and was ready to put the backing/batting/top together in a sandwich. I didn't have enough room to lay it out downstairs so I headed upstairs with all the layers ONLY to find out I didn't have enough room in the living room either! So....after some rearranging of the furniture (I moved one couch to the foot of the stairs OUT of the living room) I was able to lay out this 88" x 100" top (93ish x 105ish batting/backing) in order to get the tieing underway.

Three words: "Oh my fingers!" The backing is fleece, batting Warm-n-Natural, and the top....Denim! My right index fingertip is sensitve.....how many words use "u", "j", "n", "h" anyway?!!?!?? ;0)

With DH's help in the final few blocks, I was able to finish tieing the quilt by 4:00 and then moved to the binding, which I did a little differently. I didn't actually use binding; rather I satin-stitched all the way around the edge, trimmed VERY close to the satin stitch, and then did a straight stitch in 1/2" from the edge. This raw-edge appearance looks kinda cool and I'm not worried about it coming undone. A little bit of fray may occur, but I think (for a camo quilt) it'll add to the outdoorsiness to it.

Anyway.....I HAD to try the quilt out to see if it lived up to its anticipated "heaviness" request. OMGOODNESS! I already had an idea of how heavy it was by trying to manuever it while stitching the edges.....and sure enough! It feels like those heavy "aprons" you wear at the dentist when needing to get an xray of your teeth. I LOVE that heavy feeling! I jumped on the scale with and without the quilt just to see how much different there was......and that's where the 9.4 pounds were shown.

I don't usually weigh my quilts so I can't tell you what a typical quilt runs.....but this one is now officially COMPLETE ;0)

Another finish; do I have ONE more miracle in me???

Oh, what a day!!!
Packed full and I'm still feeling like I'm going strong.....
Up and revin' the engine by 8:00; hitting the Statistics books until 3:00. (YUP! 7 hours almost non-stop; it's to be expected by now....How far away is January 21st????)

BUT, at 3:00, I literally went from one table to another.....
the dining room table was replaced with my quilting table.....Jen's quilt was a callin'!

Jen's Diamonds (86" x 96")
My SIL and brother have a queen size bed, so this baby will be just the right size! It's pictured on my king size bed.....freshly laundered and ready for packaging and wrapping.

And here's the backing I mentioned yesterday. I burned through a nice amount of stash for this one. The quilting is VERY simple! Horizontal lines! That's it. My SIL wanted it "floofy" {{lol...still love that description}}, so I used polyester batting and VERY little quilting to keep it "flexible." At least it was a quick one to quilt up.


So, I'm wondering....can I pull off a miracle before next Sunday when we celebrate Christmas with DH's family???

I pulled out the fabric I purchased last month for BIL's (DH's brother) quilt. He made his wishes very clear. Simple. Camo. and Heavy! SO! Heavy denim camo was purchased as well as black demin. This fabric is QUITE different sewing than the typical cotton. I will NOT be loading this top on the frame when I get to the quilting point. My plans: purchase a queen size black sheet, cut batting to fit and TIE this quilt.

I took a personal day tomorrow so I could make Caitlyn's Christmas Program at 1:30; I haven't taken a personal day in quite a while, so.....I don't feel too guilty about this one. {{although my Statistics students were pouting that I'm giving them a test tomorrow---on a MONDAY---and I'm not there to answer any questions they may have.}} Anyway....I'll be up to take Candace to before-school care and then I'll be back home working away on Trav's (BIL) quilt. If I get this top done before I leave for my family Friday morning, it will be VERY likely to be completed by Sunday's celebration with DH's family. I have ALL DAY Saturday with no plans other than relaxing at my parent's house....so....PLENTY of time! :0)

Ooooooooo......I'm liking this week's stash report!

Stash Report: Dec. 13 - 19
Used/week: 14.25 yards
Purchased/week: 0.0 yards

Used/year: 242.146 yards
Purchased/year: 221.736 yards

Net used: 20.41 yards

Happy 5 days 'til Christmas!!!!!!!!!

Ummmm.....WHEN is Christmas???

7:44 PM texting conversation between myself and my BIL on Thanksgiving evening....

BIL: How long does it take you to make a quilt?
Me: Depends on a few things...what you have in mind?
BIL: I need two of them. Make them simple. Just want them warm and big. Like queen size. I will pay you up front.
Me: By Xmas I'm assuming?
BIL: Is that not good?
Me: Just being honest...I can't promise anything, BUT may be doable. Who for? girl? boy? woman?? ;0) color preference?
BIL: For me and Angie (girlfriend). Camo for me; pinks? for Ang
Me: k. I'm shopping at Hancock's tomorrow...I'll keep you guys in mind.
BIL: Thanks!

So much for having some laid back quilting weeks preceding Christmas!!! ;0)
A simple disappearing nine-patch is being planned for Angie, his girlfriend. For his??? golly! Looked around for Camo today and bought some.....he wants it heavy, so I went heavy! Denim-type camo and denim-type black fabric; I'm thinking of simple 8-10" squares with black sashings like lattice strips....

SO...

Went shopping with mother today; took our time; no crazy business; hit the road around 8:00 am and arrived back home around 4:30 pm. Stops along the way: Walmart, Target, Bath-n-Body, a little brunch, Younkers, Menards, Dunham's Sports, and we ended at Hancock Fabrics. Purchased a lot off my lists; THAT feels good! Sorry no pics...my parents don't have wireless and I'm not about to figure out how to upload on their machines....

Yeah...LOTS of fabric purchased, BUT most will be cut up in the next couple of weeks, so...I'm okay with that. I ONLY purchased what I needed for the two new quilts. REALLLLLLY like the colors I chose for BIL's girlfriend! Bluey-teals with a slight bit of orange and splattered with browns.

Anyway....off to peek at Bonnie's part 2!!! :0)

Heading home tomorrow around noonish; should arrive home around 3:00. Unpack, start laundry (news fabs first, of course!!!)...maybe put up the Christmas tree????