There’s nothing like looking at other people’s quilting projects to get one inspired to start working on stuff. (Or at least planning stuff.) I want to make a quilt for our bed but I can’t decide what pattern or what colors I want to use. I want to make one for Number One Son also and I found some fabric that I wanted to use but I’m not sure it would go well with the pattern he wants. Those will both be queen size quilts. I’ve never done one that big before and it’s a little scary. I don’t know why. It shouldn’t be but just thinking about working on a quilt that large I feel a bit intimidated.

I need to do a lot more regular sewing. I’m working on a plain brown knit top now. I like three-quarter length sleeves. In the winter when I’m working in the kitchen I’m constantly pushing up my sleeves and they’re constantly falling back down. Some can be rolled up and they stay but I don’t like rolling up long sleeves either. So I decided to make several tops with three-quarter length sleeves.

I have a slightly embarrassing confession to make. After all these years I finally, just this week, figured out how to hand sew a stretch stitch. You see, I sew on an antique machine – no zig-zag, no button hole stitch, no stretch stitch. I do button holes by hand but I’ve always had to work around not having a stretch stitch. It’s only a problem with necklines. You can’t have a crew-neck or turtleneck. If I’m making a knit top with a high neckline I either put a zipper in back or a short slit with a single button. Finally it occurred to me that there must be a way to do a stretch stitch by hand. (DUH!) As usual the answer is on the Internet. The backstitch and the herringbone stitch were suggested. At first I was skeptical of the backstitch. I thought, “How can that stretch,” but I tried it on a scrap of cotton knit fabric and it works perfectly. I sewed the top together yesterday and today I’ll do the neckline.

I also have quite a bit of stash from Wal-mart’s bargain fabric table. I really, honestly don’t buy fabric very often but somehow it piles up. The first step, cutting, is the least fun part of sewing and it’s easy to find an excuse to put off starting a project and sometimes a reason, not an excuse. Often I’m waiting on the guys to get their stuff off the table. I suppose the logical thing to do would be to cut several projects at once when I have the chance but usually after I finish cutting out one thing I’ve had more than enough cutting for a while.

And speaking of cutting, I could cut some more tiny squares of fabric for my “maybe someday” postage stamp quilt. I’m tempted to start sewing some of those together but I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. What if later on I get some fabric that I wish I could put next to a piece that’s already sewn together? So, for now, more cutting. Cutting quilt pieces doesn’t take the whole table so I don’t have any excuse.