Are You Ready To Swap?

Kris from Dandelion Quilts is having a super fun bag swap!  It's not too late to sign up, so if you're interested go HERE to read the details and email her if you want to participate.  This will be my first swap so I'm really excited about it!  I just got a cool, new bag pattern when my LQS had their Market Review in December and this will be the perfect time to use it!  I hope you'll join us!

After reading the questions and comments, there a few more things I want to mention about the Primitive Pinwheels pattern from my last post.  First off, this pattern was so fun and easy! I think I mentioned that the single fold binding was easy, but I didn't say anything about the difficulty level of the pattern....definitely easy!  And lots of fun!  oops! I forgot to unclick italics!  There we go....Anyway, because the cutting involves using the small rotary cutter to cut all the way around a square template without moving the fabric, I would suggest wearing a protective glove.  Although I didn't come close to my hand when I was cutting, I was glad I was wearing it. Just to be on the safe side.  I have to admit I don't wear it all of the time when I'm cutting, but I probably should. Do you usually wear one of these gloves when you use your rotary cutter?  I'm just wondering.

I also wanted to mention that I quilted this project in the ditch, around the pinwheels.  By starting in one corner and working my way through the ditch diagonally to the other and then continuing to go back and forth diagonally, I was able to go around each pinwheel without double stitching. I just had to go back and fill in a few of the ditches on the edge when I had finished the middle. Got that?  I started freemotion quilting this in black thread and although I love freemotion quilting, it just wasn't giving me the look I wanted for this mini quilt, so I started frogging and then I went back to the drawing board.  Very fine, smoke monofilament thread is what I ended up using on the front, and red thread to match the backing fabric on the back. I'm not always a fan of monofilament thread, but I think it does have a place in quilting, and for me, this worked wonderfully!

Well, I'm off to make some Spicy Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers that the boys have been asking to have for a few weeks. I found this recipe in Southern Living Magazine in July 2010 and its always a hit at my house. Have a great weekend!