Friday, November 13, 2015

Oops!

A few weeks ago when I made the Dresden Plate table runner for my brother's wedding gift, I got a little carried away cutting the wedges and ended up with more than I needed. Rather than let them go to waste, I decided to make one more plate and use it for a candle mat or put it under a potted plant. Looks pretty good, right?


W-R-O-N-G-!  When I got the binding on it curled the edges - making it into a shallow bowl shape - ugh! Guess I'll have to try that again - anyone have suggestions for a happier result?

I enjoyed making the Dresdens, so found a striped fabric and used that to make a few more - the resulting concentric circles are kind of fun, but I wonder if the points should have been omitted - they're sure not very visible. Oh well, I only have one more left to applique onto the background square so it's going to stay the way it is. There are nine of these.

And speaking of Dresden Plate quilts, I thought I'd share this picture of the quilt I've had on my bed for several years - it's a favorite! I started out by making log cabin blocks, but the big open spaces were just too boring - so I made some scrappy plates to fill the void and it made such a huge difference.

This is one of the last quilts I hand quilted and might be the last. Appliqueing the striped Dresden blocks has been killing my hands the last few days - they just ache when I get into bed each night - so maybe that type of handwork is done for me (sigh)....

On to rug hooking - I met with the Salt Lake Group on Wednesday. Nancy was hooking a cute chicken chair pad that will eventually be centered in a larger rectangle to make a rug instead of a mat.

The other Nancy attended for the first time in over a year - she had a design from Lisanne Miller that she was working on. We had a new gal there working on her very first project, but I forgot to grab a picture of that.

I was working on my Christmas runner and it looks pretty much the same as it did last week, so I won't add a photo of that. Tomorrow is the Utah Hook In and I'm looking forward to attending. Will share pictures from that when I get home.

14 comments:

Janet O. said...

I've never bound a round piece, so I have no such experience, but I wonder if you got it wet and blocked it to dry if it would lay flat. It is very pretty.
Brilliant combo of log cabins and Dresdens! Just love it!
Too bad about your hands. That must be frustrating.
Where is the Hook In held?

Sue SA said...

I have no idea about binding round pieces, but perhaps its just a bit too snug? I would be tempted to try blocking first, cos my only other suggestion would be to rebind it with a slightly longer piece and that sounds like too much work to me!
Love the dresdens and log cabin quilt its a great combination. I gather that you dont find rug hooking as hard on your hands as hand sewing? I would try a different needle. I found I was using a very small needle and gripping it so tightly that my hand was getting very sore. Love the chook rug!

Lynn said...

How about putting a large stack of books on the round piece for and few days and see what happens. Love the quilt on your bed. Wonderful idea to fill in the open areas with the Dresdens.

jan said...

Bias binding might be less likely to curl your piece. ...jan

Julia said...

You dresden quilted piece is beautiful. Too bad it curled but maybe I would use some of the suggestions mentioned here or contact a quilting or fabric store where knowledgeable quilters might be able to help you.

I love that last prim rug. very pretty.
Hugs,
JB

Karen said...

Some good ideas for making your Dresden plate piece lay flat. Let us know how you fix it. I liked the suggestion about bias cut binding. Did you use bias binding or straight?

annie said...

No help from me on the curled edges, blocking like with crochet would be my only thought.
So sorry you are having pain in your hands, hope it is only a temporary problem.
I don't know the name of them, but there are stretchy gloves on the market that are supposed to help with the issue.
Always love your sharing!

Doniene said...

Hi Gayle! I'm not sure about the curled edges - let me know what you try and what worked!

What a great idea for your log cabin/ dresden plate quilt!! It is beautiful!!

If you are not peanut allergic, try eating a couple hand fulls of peanuts every day. I get the big jar of planters salted cocktail peanuts at Wal-Mart. They have made a HUGE difference in my hands and my knees. I have very little pain in my joints now and I've been doing it for more than a year. I'm not really sure why it works, but a friend told me that peanuts are a great natural anti-inflammatory and worked for him. So I tried it.

Blessings and hugs!

audrey said...

Oh I hope you're not done with hand work! That would be very sad. Love your Dresdens in the middle of the log cabin quilt. Hope you can figure out what to do with the curled block--it's very cute!

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

Love that Dresden/Log Cabin! So pretty. I wonder if you use the hands in the same way exactly to quilt as you do to appliqué? I'm not into appliqué, so I don't know. Just a thought.

Yvonne said...

did you use a bias binding? If you use a straight binding it will curl. Love the quilt on your bed, really very pretty!

Rugs and Pugs said...

You are always so productive!!!
Hugs :)
Lauren

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celkalee said...

Your work is beautiful and you are indeed prolific. Is it vitamin supplements or are you just that talented???