I'm going to be behind from the go-get, I had a friend come over yesterday so we could discuss and sort out pattern drafting (skirt for me & blouse for her). Today Izzy & I are have a girls day out, I want to get my skirt cut out, and we have to pack for going away tomorrow lunchtime and won't be back until a week Sunday. Hey-ho, we will just have to see how things go. (And my lovely stack of starched fabrics got moved to a safe place & I cannot see them now )

I tried one of those at quilt festival and didn't like the way it felt in my hand. I might check it out again this year. Sometimes you need to try something more than once. I guess it's whatever you get used to.

I don't hold my rotary cutter with either the index finger on top or the thumb holding any part of the cutter. I have a Martelli rotary cutter and it is designed so that you wrap your middle, index and little fingers around the handle and the handle stays snug against the palm of my hand. I'm not using my fingers to push the rotary cutter forward--all the pushing action is coming from the palm of my hand. As a result, less pressure on my joints and I can plough through several layers of fabric without pushing down hard because the palm of my hand is pushing the rotary cutter forward. This is part of the reason my blades last a whole lot longer too. I tried both the Dritz and Olfa cutters but LOVE my Martelli. Of course, if you are not familiar with it, this rotary cutter also does not look like a conventional one. However, it is the design of the rotary cutter that makes me not use my index finger on top of it.

I don't. I also am very double jointed and would not have as much control either.

Is there anyone else that does not put their index finger on top of the cutter when rotary cutting and why is it important to do it that way? I tried it but didn't feel like I had as much control. I've always cut with all fingers underneath the cutter and the thumb to the side. It's too late to change now. I think my finger would start hurting pretty quickly and maybe I'm slightly double jointed as the tip of my finger turns up when cutting that way.

I'm liking your fabric choices so far. Keep them coming.

Lois what a great looking pile of fabric on that clothes line. I can't wait to see what you do with them. I am sorry to hear that you were lonely in your sewing room. I would be happy to come sew with you anytime if I wasn't so far away. I can't believe that there aren't loads of quilters living around you in Pennsylvania. I mean, your are in quilter country for goodness sake. Isn't there a local guild? And if not, maybe you could advertise to form one? But maybe you don't have time for that. It was just a thought.

Got my nine-patches done and now ready for next weeks block. I think the idea of pinning either side of the seam is a good one as it stops the little blighters from shifting as you sew. I am using lots of FQs from my stash so this will be a scrappy quilt, which I like.

Hi Marianne - I use anywhere from a 65 to an 80 for piecing (I haven't used a 60 just because I've never happened to have a 60. I'd use it if I had it). I don't think I've ever purposely gone above an 80, but probably have accidentally. I've never had noticable holes in the piecing, so I think these sizes are fine. I use a universal or a topstitch needle, just depending on what's at hand. I'll usually go universal if I'm pulling out a new needed specifically for piecing, but if I have a topstitch needle in the machine or on the pin cushion next to the machine, then I'll use that. I haven't noticed a difference in the result, but I'm also not especially picky in my piecing.

I know what fabrics I'm using for my quilt so guess I should try to get started tonight. I'll decide how the fabrics go together as I go along, so could have an interesting result! But that's the way I roll....

Nancy

Marianne, for piecing I use a universal needle either size 65 or 70 (depending on what I have on hand). I use the small needle for the same reason Sally Collins suggests--it leaves a smaller hole in the fabric--and because I use 50 wt Aurifil thread for piecing and size 65 or 70 is perfect for that weight thread. I could use a size 60 needle but with my particular sewing machine, the automatic threader will work with every needle size except size 60 (lazy me... ). Frankly, I don't see why a size 80 topstitch needle would not work but for me it is overkill for the job: topstitch needles are more expensive than universal. However, the size 80 would probably not be too terribly big for a 50 wt thread. The best thing to do is try both and see which you (and your sewing machine ) prefer.

I love your choice of fabrics, Lois!
I have been ironing my fat quarters (oh dear, that sounds a bit - well not quite right ) but gave up on starch because what I had gave my husband a migraine so will go and get some cornflour tomorrow and try my hand at making my own non-fragranced starch. I just could not keep myself from cutting a couple of strips for the 9-patch so will set up the machine tomorrow and see how I fare. I re-watched the Sally Collins video while ironing. She talks about using a small sharp needle size 60 or 70 and Laura Nownes mentions a top-stitch needle size 12/80.
Has anybody experience with either for piecing. I have always used a universal size 70. Something else to experiment with.
I also cut my cutting mat into 3 pieces today. It got warped when we moved recently. I have kept putting off buying a new one because we have known for a while we would move and last time we moved my then cutting mat was rolled! The company we used this time took really good care of this one but the lorry must have gotten hot at some stage and it got a dent. Good excuse to go shopping, I think!
Marianne

Lois, they're gorgeous! I keep mixing and matching and changing my mind... will you pick my colors for me? Enjoy your dinner date!

I did it! I spent the afternoon in the sewing room choosing fabrics for this project. I need another project going right now like I need a hole in my head. But what can I say? I am a quilter. The fabric is starched and by morning it will be ready to press. I have a date with my husband for dinner so I will not be tempted to press the fabric dry. Here it is. We'll see how this goes. I may want to choose something lighter for the background. Right now its the sort-of solid light green. Might not be showing up in the picts. It's not. Oh well. You'll see it later.



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PosyP wrote:
Thanks, Rosemary, for the heads up!

Whoo- Hoo!
They've managed to find the pdf's with the cutting instructions, time to get slicing & dicing...

loise98 wrote: And encourage you to spend money on more stash - for the good of the local economy of course