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Sunday, July 21, 2024

Hand Stitching

I've been busy doing a little hand stitching lately.   On Saturday I attended a stitch-in day, organized by my quilt club.  The weather was miserable, wet and drizzly, but the hall was nice and toasty with the heat pumps working hard.  Others were machining away, but I don't like to take my sewing machine away from home theses days, it is just so heavy for me to load into the car and take it out at the other end.  So I make sure I have plenty of hand work instead.  Yesterday I starting  hand stitching the binding down on one of the big quilts I had commercially quilted a while ago ago.  I didn't get it all stitched down, but I've made a good start on it.  

Binding time

Eight ladies braved the wet and cold conditions to come and stitch for a while.  We stopped for a mid morning cuppa, and a lunch break.  It's always nice to stitch with company, isn't it.  By 2.00pm we all decided to pack up and head home.

Today, Sunday, I decided to make blueberry pancakes for breakfast.  I'd found a Jamie Oliver recipe, knew I had some frozen blueberries in the freezer, so whipped them up.  It was a nice simple recipe and I served them with whipped cream, extra blueberries and a drizzle of genuine maple syrup, all the way from Canada.  They didn't turn out perfectly round, but I must say they were absolutely delicious!

Blueberry pancakes for Sunday breakfast

I've been stitching away on a quilt label today, almost there.  I had just written the info with my pigma pen, but decided to stitch over the words.  Then I can attach it to the backing and share a photo of my completed quilt.  

Stitching a quilt label

As for my socks, they have come to a bit of a standstill.  I'm up to the heels, but need to spend a bit of time, sitting quietly on my own, while I read the pattern and mark off each row.  I've knitted heels plenty of times, but really need to concentrate.

Perhaps you remember the oven mitts I completed recently?  I posted them to my granddaughter Megan last week and received a thank you snap chat.


Thank you from Megan

My daughter Nicky has asked if I can make her oven mitts for her birthday, so I'm not finished with them yet.  That's next on my list to do.

16 comments:

loulee said...

Lovely on a cold wet day, to sit under a quilt closing the binding.

Berkshire Tatter said...

Hand stitching the binding is one of the best parts of quilting. Soon to be done.

Marthanne

The Cozy Quilter said...

Those pancakes look delicious! It’s fresh blueberry season here so I have been adding them to salads and eating them mixed with other berries for dessert.
Isn’t hand stitching the binding down a satisfying job? Is your embroidered label for that quilt?
Have a good week!

Julierose said...

I found that I have to concentrate when doing sock heels, too and mark off those rows to get them right;)))
Your Blueberry pancakes look so yummy;)))
Hugs, Julierose

Kim said...

The quilt you are binding is a pretty one. I won't say no to a breakfast of pancakes topped with blackberries and cream.=) The potholder is a lovely one. I'm not at all surprised your granddaughter loved her gift. How nice to fashion another one. Your get together with your quilting ladies sounds like a fabulous time together. The perfect way to spend a wintry day.

Helenchaffin said...

dark rainy days are my favorite sewing days,after all what else can we do? LoL, beautiful job on your rainy day projects

ButterZ said...

Happy to hear the mitts were well received. Binding is nice and relaxing. I have to get back into mine.

Gretchen Weaver said...

The pancakes looked delicious! I also had some blueberries for my breakfast but mine were freshly picked. Happy stitching!

Maria said...

Yes Jenny it’s always nice to sit and stitch with friends.
So nice to have a snap chat thank you from your GD.
How long have you got to make your daughter s oven mitts?

FlourishingPalms said...

How nice to have a stitch-in, and i completely understand about not wanting to haul a machine and supples out of your house, into a place to sew, and then pack up to do it all in reverse! I am in a quilting chapter that meets every Tuesday afternoon, and I long ago stopped taking a machine every week. It's just too much! That's why I always have handwork at the ready, and why i've gotten into big stitch quilting some of my machine quilted (first) quilts. Also, as you have done, it's timely to have a binding ready to hand sew down. Oven mitts are a lovely gift option for family and friends. I'll have to keep this in mind for Christmas giving. Thanks for sharing your pictures.

CathieJ said...

So glad you were able to enjoy a stitching day with friends and get a good start on the binding. I love blueberry pancakes. I make them often. Enjoy the stitching on the quilt label. I totally understand the need for quiet alone time when completing some complicated knitting.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

That is such a pretty quilt that you're binding! The stitch day sounds like a lot of fun, no matter what you're working on!

Karrin Hurd said...

I missed my quilting day this last week due to a broken down car, but yours sounds like fun. Your pancakes look delicious! Happy stitching!

Melisa- pinkernpunkinquilting said...

I wish you a good day of work , Jenny. I am sure you will have the binding completed in no time. It is so sweet that your dear granddaughter sent you a message about the oven mitts. They were so fabulous. I know she will put them to good use.

Tired Teacher 2 said...

Stitching and chatting with friends can brighten a dreary, cold day. Your quilt is a beauty!

Karen S said...

I do enjoy stitching days, especially with friends.
If it was wet and cold outside it makes it even better when you are in a warm room.