The winner of this giveaway is #30, Mimi, who said:
I love the combination of gray and yellow, but pale blue is a close second. Thanks for the chance!!
I mentioned a while back that I am not a mathlete. Given that information, if I really wanted to "exercise" my math skills, where would I go?? Well, here of course. Ha! A gym for my brain...
We had "Midwest" weather today. My perfect kind of day. Rain. Pure bliss. Someone (and you know who you are...) actually called me "weird" because of that. I am someone who gets bored with sunny weather here in central California, really--days and days of sun with no break. Monotonous...so I had to take pictures. Although it had been raining most of the morning, about 12:30 a gusty storm really blew through.
The house across the street. You can't tell (mostly because this isn't a video...) but the wind was really blowing!! See there on the right--it even blew over the garbage can.
And then he gives me this smile and says, "Grandma, I love you more than chocolate pudding."
Here comes the tutorial. (I bet you were secretly hoping you had made it to the "racy" picture...It's coming. Don't worry. I'll warn you in plenty of time.)
So the other day I spent a good hour working on my 1/4 inch seam. I really thought it fine, there was a piece of tape on my sewing machine marking the spot and things seemed to be fitting together pretty well. Most of the time, at least. But I've been spending a lot of time with Farmer's Wife blocks, and some of those suckers have way too many little pieces. And then a new book by Judy Martin arrived in the mail and there was a tricky block in there that I really want to try. She had a paragraph on checking to make sure you have an accurate 1/4 inch seam, because "the right seam allowance makes everything fall into place." Hah, I thought. I'll follow her instructions and move on because I'm pretty confident of my 1/4 inch seam.
It turned out to be like "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Her instructions are as follows:
Rotary cut nine 1 1/2" squares and a 1 1/2" x 9 1/2" rectangle. Join the squares end to end. Press seams to one side. Place the rectangle and squares face to face. If the rectangle turns out larger than the seamed squares, your seams are too deep.
Bummer. Too large--I know it doesn't look like much, but the difference multiplies with each seam you take. (Hey, that almost made me sound like a mathlete or something...)
If the rectangle is smaller, your seams are too shallow. Too small.
Cool gadget that has holes. You put your sewing needle down through the hole and then you can lay down your tape in the proper place. Forgot I had it--glad I found it because it turned out to be accurate.
I love the look of your Sew Perfect Gauge. Can I have some more info on it please, I think I would love to have one of these.
ReplyDeleteLol!! Love the racy photo!! Congratulations to Mimi - have fun with your winnings! I love maths and the rain - the two together would be a perfect combination! Love the 'puddle jumping in wellies' photo of Levi!
ReplyDeleteThat purple 1/4 gadgety thing looks great! Where did you get it from might I ask? I could really use one...
ReplyDeleteOooh a gadget. And its purple! Hhahaha awesome. Great really random Cindy!
ReplyDeleteI think I am going to check my seam out! I like the gadget too, useful and better than shoving a quilt ruler underneath- funny last shot too!
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is 'feet with built in heels'!! A man must have designed those!
ReplyDeleteNothing like a good storm,a child saying they love you more than chocolate pudding and some naked ladies!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day:)
Yeah, that seam allowance thing. I just started trying a new way to sew my 1/4-inch and it's not as accurate as I used to (all my blocks were too small). I made do on this quilt, but thinking I need to get a gadget like you and get it right!
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Fun, racy picture.
E.
Lol! Racy? Downright scandalous!
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial, Cindy! And your grandson is too cute for words....
Neat gadget : ) I am not a perfectionist but I do know that it saves my sanity on certain projects if I take the time to make my seams even. Great post, from a Midwestern Girl
ReplyDeleteI need to find one of the Sew Perfect gauges! What a great gadget!
ReplyDeleteThe Racy Photo is hilarious! I once pulled into the local grocery store parking lot and there was a girl changing her shirt right there in the parking lot. She stood by her car in her bra pulling on a different tee shirt. She had the "sense" to park out away from the front of the grocery store - but right beside the busy main street of town!
I am thrilled to have won the FQ bundle!! Already dreaming of ideas for things to make. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteTo be loved more than chocolate pudding...such high praise!!!! I always use a sleeve for my iced coffee from Starbucks too!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the winner! I love the gauge! I'm with everyone else--where do we get that? Just at the local quilt shop? And the racy picture? Hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine who would be so obnoxious as to call you weird because you like rain. The elixir of life. The water gift from the gods that falls EVERY DAY FOR 6 MONTHS where I live. It's possible that I'd like it to, if there was the promise of sunshine after every shower...I'll give you that!
ReplyDeleteFigures Mark would have to take a pic like that. I wonder why he didn't send it to me!?
ReplyDeleteFrom his older sister
P.S. Love your little puddle jumper! And rain... what's that?!
Great gadget... But I have to tell you....I am sitting in the bar at my hotel reading this on my iPad and laughing out loud! I am not sure she will bring me a second glass of wine!
ReplyDeleteI would never call a fellow rain-lover "weird" so I know it wasn't me! I know my ¼" seam isn't that accurate. It's getting better, for sure, but it's not there yet.
ReplyDeleteI love your random posts and thought about it earlier today...looked forward to what randomness I would find. You did real good! Now, I guess I better go check my seams....they ain't right, I know!!
ReplyDelete