Beginner Quilting Class: Second To The Last Class

This week, we have two different blocks to sew together and have completed by next week. I will talk about that, and tell you a funny story at the end of this post...at least I think it is hilarious.

Here are the log cabin blocks. I have thought all along that these would be the most difficult. I really dreaded making them, as I was for sure that I was going to run into lots of problems.

I am happy to say, that rang true for the whole class except myself...well, for the most part that is. I may have had a heck of a time with the darn pressing at the beginning, but I felt pretty good about myself that I grasped this block pretty quick.

There is just one problem. Leo said to sew a "scant 1/4 seam" and well, since I don't have a machine that will move the needle over for me, I had to try and eyeball it.....as you can see there is just one small problem. The block is supposed to be 6 inches and well, my "scant" has caused this block to be a bit over sized. What to do?

I am going to drive to the quilt shop in the morning and ask one of these knowledgeable men what I need to do, I am really hoping I do not have to remake all of these blocks. It took me all day Thursday, and I still don't have the other blocks sewn yet. But at the risk of messing the whole project up, I best find out from Leo what I need to do. I can already hear it....if I had a Bernina.....this would correct my problem....yadda-yadda-yadda!

I know there are some experts here reading this....what are your thoughts? Start over? Can they be salvaged?

I did manage to sew one of the Friendship Star blocks together. I just love the colors in this block.

See, here is the rest of my homework for the week....that is if I am not remaking the Log Cabin blocks. Time constraints are a tail kicker for me....I will be glad when I am not so stressed over finishing things by the next class and trying to do all of this and work at the same time!

Now, speaking about that Bernina machine. Remember me telling you about the little old lady who just purchased her new machine? She let Leo talk her into buying that Bernina 440 quilting machine, promising she would see wonderful results and a real difference in her sewing....really, I heard all of this myself. Well this was the first time she had it in class....Bless her heart, she was sewing her blocks backwards, and all wrong all day....she was so frustrated, I really felt so sorry for her. She would sew, and then have to rip out....sew, then rip out.....I think I would have just called it a day....

The owner of the shop was sitting by me, and Leo was out of the room.....she just all of a sudden, very loudly announced "Well, me buying this high dollar machine has done me little good! I am not doing any better with this $3ooo.oo machine than I did with my $100.00 machine." Then she tossed her block on the floor and said, "Well, how do you like that.....do you offer refunds?"

If I tell you I just about fell out of my chair, that is an understatement....not at her frustration, but at her testimonial over the sewing machine.....I turned to the owner and said, "Well, I bet this is not the kind of testimonials you are looking for here at all, is it?"
He just about turned twenty shades of red and stuttered, "indeed it is not!" Poor guy had no idea what to say. I just chuckled and kept right on sewing on my $75.00 estate sale machine....Bless its little heart, it sews like a heart of a lion!!

I really hope that little lady works through her frustrations, I felt so sad for her, but it was so funny at what she had said about the machine. It just was not her day...and that can be a headache in itself.

Well, I am thinking next week, we will put the blocks together, as these are the last of the blocks for the quilt, then we have to put the borders on. My main border is the flowers outer blue fabric in the Log Cabin block. I am really ready to see the end results.

Oh, and in case you are wondering about the desserts, I took my Strawberry Shortcake Pie, and Leo made Plantain Bananas, Black beans and some type of little breads stuffed with mozzarella cheese....it was heavenly. This class better end soon, I am starting to enjoy this dessert business....please...don't repeat that...OK?