Part of the Process

It never seems to fail, that anytime there is a process to something worthwhile, there is always a step that is less than enjoyable. In the process of quilt making, for me, that less than enjoyable step would be basting! It is also a very important step and needs to be done correctly. I always mark my tops first, and the SBS was no exception. I did 2" cross hatching, instead of 1"...it was more than enough...a cute girlie looking design in the sashing, and a border of interlocking hearts. I will quilt around each part of the actual girls too, but there is no need to mark that.

I pieced the backing and pressed the seam open. I use my kitchen table with both leaves in it to do my basting. For you non-quilter's, here is the non enjoyable, but very necessary step. I lay out the backing fabric wrong side up....Next comes the batting. I cut the backing and batting the same size, about six inches larger than the quilt top all the way around. All the wrinkles need to be smoothed out. Not as easy as it sounds.Once the wrinkles and creases are smoothed, you lay your quilt top on it all making sure it is even and smoothed.Now you baste. I have huge basting needles, but the important part is the thread. There is a very old tale about the color of thread used to baste a quilt. I can not remember them all, but I do remember that a quilt basted in brown thread is not a good thing....something about the recipient being a spinster or a widow...anyway I also remember that purple thread brings with it blessings. Now I do not believe all that, but I have made it a tradition within myself to baste all my quilts going to other people in purple. I baste my own in whatever color I have available.I use cheap thread to baste. I baste baby quilts and smaller with a 6" grid and anything bigger than a baby quilt, I baste with a 4" grid. I did a 6" on Emerson's quilt.A couple of hours (and a break) later, and the quilt is in the hoop!It is a relief to get to this stage. Every time I see Rachel she seems to have dropped more and more. I am working hard to have this quilt ready for Emerson, but I know she has Niki's afghan to keep her warm too!! Did I tell you she is in birthing position, head down and the doc even said she had dropped since last visit 2 weeks ago. We are praying that my son will be close enough to make it home when the time comes, or better yet, Rachel will go into labor on the weekend when he is already home.

I have actually done some housework too. (It has not all been fun and games!) I did declutter my cupboard that holds our coffee cups. In the before pic you can see the mugs stacked on top of each other on the bottom shelf. These are the only mugs we use. The ones on the middle shelf match our dishes, but we never use them.After a little rearranging and a nice wipe down, the cupboard is clean and organized.
Well, it is almost 10 and I need to get my bedtime routines going. Tomorrow is a day at home and one of housework and quilting. I am loving every minute of it!!!