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Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Leaders and Enders

It’s no secret that I love working with leaders and enders.  It may have been around for a while, but I got the idea from  Bonnie Hunter, who likes to have a parts of a project sitting beside the machine ready to sew, such as two patches, while you are stitching your main project.  When I first started sewing, I used a ratty piece of fabric to start and finish the sewing sequence, but now I use this other method.  And before you know it, there is a whole lot of little pieces stitched together – something for nothing, and with very little effort, I always say.  This is my latest leader and ender -  a small cot quilt for a little girl.  In the box are cut 3in squares which I put under the needle at the start and finish of other seams.  Then four of these are finger pressed and pinned together, waiting for the next stage.

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Leader and ender pieces prepared and waiting

Doing this project as leaders and enders, it doesn't really matter how long it takes, it will get there in the end, it is a secondary project, after all.

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And some four patches stitched together

Another project assembled in this way is this little boys quilt of farm machines.  This was a panel which I cut apart, and added borders bit by bit.

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Another leader and ender project

This is now assembled, layered and pinned, ready for machine quilting, so I’ll be working on this over the next week.

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Next machine quilting project

We awoke to quite a frosty morning, cold and chilly.  Thank goodness for my selection of nice cozy wool socks to keep my feet warm.  I love my hand knitted socks!

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Cozy toes

11 comments:

Julierose said...

Good idea for your donation quilts to use BH's leader-ender method!!
Those socks look so comfy...Stay warm--this morning the temps and dewpoints have come down a bit; so, we are hoping it will be a long term trend...hugs, Julierose

Tired Teacher 2 said...

Enjoy your sewing and stay warm.

loulee said...

Great wee projects jenny.

Jackie said...

Stay toasty warm with all those lovely knitted socks.

God bless.

ButterZ said...

Lovely socks. Well done on getting the project ready for quilting. Leaders and Enders is a habit that some find hard to get into.

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

I second that notion about having cosy hand knit socks! Yes, I do know you for your leaders and enders. You really do make them work for you and have projects to prove it. Love that Be Grateful stitchery.

Connie said...

Your sweet little hands are always busy making cozy and warm projects for others to enjoy. Some little boy is going to treasure that tractor quilt :)

CathieJ said...

I like the leaders and enders idea. That tractor quilt is wonderful. I look forward to seeing it when it is quilted. Your socks look quite warm and cozy. I am crocheting my first pair of socks. Have a great week.

Janice said...

They are a great way to get a free project completed.

Maria said...

Some lovely quilts will be made with those leaders and Enders..
Cosy socks 🧦.

Karen S said...

Such a smart way to sew these together. In no time there is a quilt top!