Yeah, yeah, I know.
It has taken an age. But that’s what happens when you decide to face the edge of your hexie quilt using the angled edges instead of straightening it all up and doing a nice normal binding. Mind you, it looks fabulous.
It’s a fiddly old process. You have to trim the batting and backing so that they sit ¼ inch inside the edge of the outer hexies. Then you have to make and stitch together 4 long chains of hexies to go on the back as facing. You have to stitch together – as invisibly as possible – all the outer edges. Then you have to remove the basting and the papers and pin down the facing onto the backing, keeping everything smooth. Then you have to go all the way round again, stitching down the inside edge onto the backing. It’s a tad mind-numbing. You can’t watch TV while you do it (although you can, and I do, listen to an audiobook. Or two, or even three).
But it’s done, and I’m really pleased with the effect. Now for the hand quilting. That’s going to have to wait till I get back from next week’s forthcoming trip north for a quick break in Cairns.
Next on the agenda is piecing together scrap batting for the second scrappy Sugar Sprinkle pillowcase, sandwiching and quilting. This is the first one, quilted with some moderately wonky-directional lines. I think I’ll do wavy lines on the other one…
I have another milestone to celebrate too, but not quite so decorative. Mouse and I have been gradually building up the length of our morning walks. It has been difficult because of my back pain, but the Husband solved that problem by buying me what’s know as a shooting stick, or spectator seat. When my back starts to hurt, I can stop and sit for a few minutes wherever I am, rest it till the pain eases, and then carry on walking. It has been a total game changer, and doggo and I are now powering through 3 or 4 km a day, something unheard of in earlier times. I’m working up to the 5km mark, and that’ll deserve a proper celebration, don’t you agree?
Whether we’ll still manage it when the hot weather comes is another question; I might have to get up at 5 to walk him, feed him at the usual 6am and then we can both collapse for a bit, rather than feeding at 6 and walking at 7am. But for now, we have cool, fresh mornings, some with a mild nip in the air. The Crush is in full swing, and cane fields all around us are slowly being harvested. The landscape is reappearing from behind its 2m curtain of green sugarcane, and on these winter mornings there is a mist lying over the earth on cold mornings. It’s lovely, and makes walking a real pleasure.
Excuse me now. Mouse is demanding to go out and do zoomies in the back yard, preferable with his rope toy.
Your wish is my command, O Master…
Your quilt is very beautiful. I like to leave the things that need doing by hand for the evenings (my excuse is that the sewing machines are separately housed in a room off the garage and it’s FAR too cold at night to sit there doing machine work).
Good on you for the long morning walks, and for persevering despite the pain. Not always tempting, I’m sure, but of course Mouse will make sure you keep standards up. xx
I’d love to be able to hand quilt this in the evening, but I don’t think it’ll be possible because I need daylight and a flat surface to work on. But it’ll get done, slowly but surely. There’s no rush…
I’m totally blown away by your anemone quilt — just gorgeous! And to Mouse: rope toy zoomies are the best! Georgie used to love zoomies with a toy in her mouth.
It’s nice and vivid, isn’t it? And I think the quilting I’m planning will add a new, puffy dimension to it as well. Mouse is such a lovable doggo: he’ll screech up and down the yard shaking the toy to death, and then drop it and come and stand beside me puffing and panting and leaning on my leg; as he puts it, ‘Toley Zorsted’ 🙂
I’m pleased you are on the improve and just in time for a well deserved break 🙂
I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. The back pain was the chief thing holding me back. And btw, 4kg down since we spoke…
I admire your ability to conjure motivation. No always easy.
In my case, the bigger my arse gets the harder it is to pick it up off the ground and move. So first reducing the arse was necessary 🙂
Bahahah 🤐
I am in awe of the hexie quilt- it’s amazing. What a great idea to take a shooting stick and rest awhile on your walks.
It lets me more than double the distance I can do. Before, I had to time my walks by when it would start hurting, rather than trying to achieve a distance. Now, the minute it starts to hurt, I can rest it before it gets bad.
Your hexagon quilt is beautiful, almost tempts me to try one – almost 🙂 Well done with your walking, it reminded me of a chronic pain management lesson we had years ago as a student nurse – if the pain starts after 20 minutes, stop at 18, rest, then do another 18. I think 5k is definitely worth a celebration.
I’m so glad you like it. Next stage is to lay it flat and start marking up the quilting, but I’m putting it away for a little while. As for the walking, I now sit at the first twinge instead of struggling through and arriving home needing a lie-down!
quilt is going to be gorgeous!
and well done to the husband for finding you a solution to making longer walks with the Mouse.
Glad you like it, I’m really happy with how it’s turning out. As for the shooting stick, it’s a game changer, it really is. I can see it coming in useful in all sorts of ways, particularly if I have to queue for anything.
Really gorgeous quilt! Sometimes every step (and stitch) requires celebration! Hip Hip Hurrah!
My goodness, this quilt would have had a million celebrations 🙂 I’m glad one more stage is definitively finished, and there’s only one (or maybe two if you count making a label) left to do. I’m actively looking forward to getting on with the quilting, but first…. a holiday!
Lots of hard work going on there but, yes, fabulous.
What is 6a.m. like?
At this season, cool, fresh, just beginning to get light, heavy dew on the grass. 7am in the winter is a lovely time to walk around here. Not many people, a few dog walkers, a few early walkers.
Obviously I needed to find out for myself as Madame Flo decided to start banging on the door leading upstairs to our bedroom and crying dramatically because she needed to go out for a pee this morning. It was 6.20 a.m. and another beautiful sunny day had begun. I did go back to bed for an hour or so afterwards though.
Once I’ve fed Mouse I generally read or catch up with the blog with a cup of coffee while I wait for him to digest his breakfast. And hour later, he’s totally ready for walkies and lets me know all about it.
ZOOMIES!!! I used to LOVE ZOOMIES! If I still could do ZOOMIES! I would be right there with ya! Boomer
You can fetch the toy, I’ll just run around you and bark a bit while you do! Mouse
Okay….Then I will roll over and play dead WITH THE TOY! Boomer
Then I will boop you with my cold wet pointy nose :>
Incredible binding finish on that hexie quilt. The hand quilting will be more meditative, no doubt.
Wondering if this is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime-quilt’?
I think it will. Usually I set myself the goal of a row a day if I’m doing an all-over pattern, but I’m not sure about this one. I’ll take my time. I think this is #3 once-in-a-lifetime! The first was the queen size small-size hexie quilt on our bed. The second was my huge Worldwide Friends quilt, both hand-pieced and hand-quilted. It’s work for the long term, but that doesn’t ever seem to put me off!
Beautiful quilt, a thoughtful husband, and good news that you can now walk farther! What more could you ask?
Um… world peace, an end to Covid-19 maybe? I am content, and getting fitter and healthier 🙂
Well, yeah, those too, I guess.Afraid to set my sights too high.
😀
Oh, that does sound fiddly, and not in a good way to my ears. It’s going to be spectacular in the end though. Glad you’ve found a way to manage your back pain. Good on Hubby for the great idea. 😀
It’s pretty straightforward, not as bad as it sounds… But the results are worth the fiddle. And I’m really enjoying my new ability to range further afield with doggo.
sounds like “winners” all round…adding the magic shooting stick to have you have some sense of mobility easier
It’s the ability to get a bit further each day that’s making me happy 🙂
Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous! Since it ids for you, not for sale , it can take as log as it takes and as long as you are enjoying working on it. There are times when I am sewing / knitting / crocheting to get something made that I need and then I just have to get on with it. It often feels like a chore at the end. Other times I am making for the pleasure of making and to have something fabulous which I could never afford to buy. Then when it feels like a chore I put it away until the mood takes me again.
Shooting sticks are fantastic! My husband had one and it saved many a day when he tried to walk too far. I have now passed it to someone else who needed to be able to stop for breath from time to time. Well done for persevering with both the quilt and the walking.
You’ve hit the nail on the head! I’m happy putting it away for a little while so that I can fall in love with it again when it’s time to start quilting! The pleasure of making is exactly it… The shooting stick has both a flat rubber tip for hard surfaces and a spike/disk foot for grass, etc. You unscrew one and add the other. Plus it has a handsome leather seat, but I’m discovering it may need a bit of a quilty cushion because there are some rather firm corners that catch me in uncomfortable places!
I don’t think a quilty cushion will be a problem for you! And it will personalise your stick beautifully.
It will need to be like one of those long oven gloves with a pocket at each end… Something in green, I think, to co-ordinate with Mouse’s walkies accessories 🙂
I love the idea of coordinating with Mouse’s things!
Yes, he approves too, he feels it will be a sort of Staff livery…
very appropriate!
Yes the edging is fab and worth doing.
And I’m with you celebrating your achievement, well done!! 😃 Bad health meant in 2018 I couldn’t walk up and down the garden, last year I could just manage 4 holes of golf and now I’m doing the full 18, steadily, but I’m there! Slowly slowly getty zoomies! 😄
Thank you!
I’m not sure the hardware I carry around in my back will ever let me run, the jolting is painful, but I look forward to easy strides and being able to put on a bit of speed!
I’m not sure what the shooting stick is but if it helps you get your walks, that’s all that matters. The idea of no pain. no gain is ridiculous. Why push to further the injury. You are very wise. That’s quite the impressive quilt. It’s just incredible.
The link shows you. You push the point into the ground, open out the handle into a sort of flat, wide seat, brace your backside against it, and have the effect of sitting, with your legs forming two of the legs of a tripod. It was invented for English country gentlemen, grouse shooting on the moors, and it meant they didn’t have to stand all day waiting for the birds to fly over. There was one in the umbrella stand at home for millions of people because it came in very handy when waiting in a queue!
I didn’t see the link the first couple of times I read this. Old eyes of course. I’m afraid I would just tip over with it but anything that helps is a good thing. I don’t do standing in line very long either. I’m sure they have something like that here. Thanks for helping me see the link.
I am quite impressed with your hexie quilt (fiddly process and all). Not sure if it is the same item; but my mom has a walking cane/stick that can open into a seta platform. Very handy! On another note, I am thinking that Mr. Mouse has become such an ingrained part of your family – like he was always there. That is such a happy ending for all!!!
You can buy canes with a tripod base and a much bigger seat, but they are a bit heavy and cumbersome. This is small and neat, and I feel less ‘elderly’ carrying it! You’re right about Mouse; he’s an integral part of the family now and I can’t imagine life without a shiny black greyhound in it any longer.