Thursday, April 28, 2011

I Just Needed Thread

I walked into the fabric store with the intention of just getting this...

IMG_4834

Instead I walked out with this...

IMG_4830

I can defend my purchases, really, I can. As I was pin basting the quilt sandwich for the Soul Crushing Table Runner the other day I thought that this would have been the perfect project to try spray basting. So I put a can of Spray Baste on my mental shopping list. I went into the store, grabbed my thread and headed to the spray baste. Of course I have been wishing internally, for some time now, that I had a longer cutting ruler. One that at the very least stretch over a single fold fabric. I get ruler and cutting board envy every time I'm at the cutting station of my LQS. Lo and behold positioned right next to the spray baste were cutting rulers. And they even had one that measured a full yard. Well, I just had to pick that up too. And then I spied a ruler grip. Now, I've never used one of these before but I know a lot of people do and I thought that maybe using it would help give me some leverage when I'm cutting so what the hell, throw that in the basket too. Then I turn around and spy the latest edition of Stitch Magazine and $80 later I walked out with my thread and more toys than I need.

IMG_4821

And as I was cutting down the Soul Crushing Table Runner last night I realized that my least favorite part of the process isn't the quilting or the basting... I think it's actually cutting the quilt down. I always lament over this part. The quilted quilts are always too long for my ruler or sometimes even my cutting mats so I worry about cutting down correctly with straight lines and proper measurements. It's always a stressful process.

IMG_4824

But when it's done at least it means I get to move onto my favorite part... hand binding. Yippee! It's almost done!

And, even though it's not technically a "finish" since the Soul Crushing Table Runner is almost finished I'm linking it up to Sew & Tell Friday over on Amylouwho's Blog.

19 comments:

  1. Great minds think alike. I spray basted my Dozen Quilters baby quilt. Worked great! Might be the expensive way to do it, but hey no pins. AND who could ever pass up Stitch? I'm proud of you for not buying fabric!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hehe. I saw your title and giggled before I even clicked to open the new post. You didn't do bad at all, though. ;D

    ReplyDelete
  3. I always do the same thing. I can't leave a store with just one thing! Your table runner is looking fantastic. And can I just say - wowza - how many cutting boards do you have!? That's awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ohh, I wish I still lived close to a quilt shop! Of course you need a longer ruler -- and I gotta tell you, this is the first I have heard about one being a yard long! Heck, I need THAT ruler too! Everything I have heard about the new issue of Stitch leads me to believe that we all need that too. Well done - I am proud of you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I just did my first spray basting! I love it - so much faster and easier than pins. Love that table runner!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love, love, love your table runner!
    I want to make one just like it . . . it's wonderful!
    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm a die-hard spray baster. I despise safety pins!! And I've found that the $100 can of Joann's brand works just as well as the expensive 505 brand.
    I love the table runner. I can't wait to see who it's for! Whoever gets it is gonna love it! :-)
    Oh, and I need to get Stitch, too. Maybe I should go tonight... :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. GAH! I walk out of Joann's like that ALL the time!!!! Adam ( the four year old) calls Joann's "Mama's store" OOPSY!!!!! Super cute table runner!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Isn't funny how things just jump into the cart when you're not looking:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Haha...happens to me all the time! Dangerous place Joanns. The table runner looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your name for this beauty cracks me up! I do that online sometimes especially when I want err... the shipping to count!

    ReplyDelete
  12. the table runner is really gorgeous. I got sucked in at JoAnn's last time I was there too... oops...

    Loving your wonky stars too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. You sound like me at Target! LOL

    Still dishin' on the table runner!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the table runner!! This would be a great way to use up much loved scraps!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love spray basting! It really makes a small project even easier. I love the runner! The colors and pattern are perfect. Binding by hand is also my favorite part of making a quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hollie!!! I love love love my table runner. Thank you so much! I just got home and my boyfriend Steve thinks it's awesome too!
    You are so talented. I am looking forward to perusing your blog - Thanks again! Missy :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. My mom spray bastes EVERYTHING (quilts of all sizes) and she even helped me spray baste my king-size quilt. It is AMAZING!

    I LOVE the table runner!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I don't spray baste because I don't want those little glue particles floating around where I breathe! However, I do love your table runner and the collection of mats under it. How many mats are there? Who makes that yard-long ruler? I've never seen one.

    ReplyDelete