It Took Four Days, but No. 8 is Finished!

Me too, almost!

First let me show you No. 7; it was easy, with muslin backing turned to front and stitched down; 36" x 48".

I immediately began on No. 8, which was slow go from the start.  The braids were easy to put together, but there was just so much pressing, cutting, etc, and trying to find scraps big enough to work!  Fortunately, I had managed to get home with the four backing strips, all exactly the same size, 10" x 36", but I had no idea what I'd do with them.  They worked perfectly for this project.  I found one yard of the solid blue that matched well for the borders and sashings.  Final size is 39" x 45".

Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong --- after I got the four panels made.  When I joined the first two and turned it over to check it, I had stitched the second panel on upside down!  Had to rip that off and turn it around.  From then on it was just one thing after another, and I couldn't stitch a straight line to save myself!  The quilt-as-you-go really is a time-saver.......if I could just keep my head on straight.  My right index finger is worn to a frazzle from ripping!  I told a friend just to call me "Rippit, the Frog"!  As a last straw, when pinning the last long border down, I stuck my finger with a pin, and got a big drop of blood in that blue border!  Of course, that had to have immediate attention!  I was about ready to trash the whole thing, but I lacked just one more row of stitching across the bottom, so I determined to finish it if it took me all night!  Fortunately I finished it all just a few minutes before the first pitch of the Ranger game.  I took the pictures, and threw it on the pile in the back bedroom.  Usually I have to stand and gloat at my completions, but not this one!  I haven't been back in that room again tonight!

Just in passing, (talk about gloating!)  HOW 'BOUT THOSE TEXAS RANGERS???!!

Thursday at church quilting, I had cut some strips for the next quilt, No. 9, and tonight I stitched them into the half-square triangles, got them cut apart, and had 36.  Here's the first trial layout.  I'm sure I'll change them a half-dozen times before I stitch them into rows.  I don't have anymore of the green, so I'll have to find something in my stash to go with it.  I don't have an idea for sure yet where this one is headed, but here's what I have so far. 

I better hit the sack!  I found out tonight at 9:30 that I have to play the organ tomorrow for the 8:30 and 11 AM church services, and again at 6 PM; also another funeral Monday afternoon!  I hope my hands are feeling better by morning.  I'm getting all kinds of aches and pains in a lot of different body parts; my left knee is barely working at all since last night!  Just so you know, gettin' old is NOT for sissies!

Have a great Sunday!

---"Love"