Thursday, July 14, 2011

Half Way to a Top






Here is half of the Triangle top. I’m determined to finish it before switching to or starting another project. I’ve been very tempted to make some basket blocks, but I’m resisting. They can wait. I already have most of the hst made for the rest of the quilt so I’m hoping to have it done by the end of next week. I like to set target dates, but I’m very flexible about meeting them!










I’m pressing the seams open and have been doing this for the past year or two. Do you ever do this? I remember they used to say to press toward the dark fabric. Has that been ignored for a while and I’m just catching on? I like the way my blocks look when the seams are pressed open – they lay flatter and go together much easier.


I’m looking forward to the last Harry Potter movie. I’m not one to see it right away – will wait until the crowds thin out a bit. I just love these books and movies – read and watched them all more than once. I think J.K. Rowling was just so creative with this series; especially with her characters – love their names! I can’t wait to see Mrs. Weasley get her revenge! One of my favorite lines is toward the end when Dumbledore says to Harry “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” This won’t make sense to you if you haven’t read the books, but it is so Dumbledore!

Can you believe it is already mid-July? My daughter has been in Japan for over a month – she returns early in August and will have just a few days at home before returning to school. Last week we Skyped with her and her host family. She had to translate and it was neat to hear her speak Japanese. She has been studying the language for 8 years.




See Penny behind the chair - keeping out of the way. She and Duke were just groomed.













I hope you are finding time to stitch! Enjoy the weekend!

11 comments:

  1. I wonder about the reasoning behind pressing seams "to the dark side" (sounds rather Star Wars-ish). Years ago I recall being told that a big reason for doing so was becasue otherwise the batting worked its way up between the seams as the quilt was used and you had this "bearding" effect--little wisps of batting wafting up through the seams. Battings have come a long way since then, so I wonder if that counsel could now be considered obsolete?. I'll be interested to see what others have to say.
    The quilt looks scrappily fantastic!

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  2. I was always told to press toward the dark side so your seams wouldn't shadow through on the light fabrics. Your half square triangle quilt is just gorgeous. I am seeing way too many things tonight on blogs that I'd love to start.

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  3. I still press to one side, but then I press open as needed also. I use my pressing to help my blocks "lock" together, and then I use Jo Morton's technique of collapsing the seams. I am a little old fashion in that way, but know many wonderful piecers who press open all the time. It is working for you...your quilt is stunning.

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  4. I love your hst quilt!! I press seams open quite a bit depending on the block.
    Skype is so cool! How nice to see your dd although she is so far away.

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  5. Maureen.....your quilt is wonderful! And I press open seams depending on the block. Sometimes it just 'needs' it! But most times I am pressing to one side. And I remember ages ago someone saying that pressing to one side made the seam stronger, but I think the strength of a quilt is going to be determined by the quilting and the fabric used....so who knows! Do what you like to do....it totally works on this one! Its gorgeous!

    And how did I not know that you were a Harry fan, too! Cripes, we could have spent that whole afternoon just talking Potter! lol Can't wait to see the movie, but we wait as well....I hate crowds!

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  6. what a great quilt! I love diagonal furrows.
    OH, your pups are zoo cute!

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  7. Your HST quilt top in progress is looking wonderful!!! I always press to one side, so I'm fairly traditional like that, I suppose I feel as if the seam were stronger that way and not reliant on just the thread to hold it together without fabric under it, I guess it all depends on how dense you intend to quilt it. I also use the Jo Morton method of collapsing the seams in the centre of four pieces to lay flat! I probably wouldn't use the open seam method myself!
    Love the pic of your dogs too, yes I have one that loves to be groomed and one that loathes it LOL!!!

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  8. I like to iron my seams open, especially when there are a lot of them. Your HST quilt looks wonderful.

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  9. Having just finished a HST quilt, I wish I had pressed the seams open. I was taught to press to one side and have just always done it that way without considering the possibility of change. What is the Jo Morton collapsible seam method? Sounds intriguing. I'll have to google that.

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  10. your quilt (half) looks gorgeous there hanging in the tree with the dappled light falling on it~!!~

    the seams open v seams to one side is an interesting conversation to read . . . i tend to iron mine to one side but sometimes choose open in order to reduce bulk.

    :-)
    libbyQ

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  11. WOW! I just love the little triangle-top!!!!

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