Tuesday, January 25, 2011

I'm all over the place

After a quilting power session on Sunday morning I was able to finish the quilting for the Hexagon quilt. It turned out nice, and I am getting ready to bind it now. I was asked how I quilt this? I have a Baby Lock Quilters Choice sewing machine, it has a table on it. I do all of my free motion quilting on it. This can be done on any machine, you really need an extension table though. Since I quilted this quilt with straight lines, I used a 90/14 needle and a walking foot. I lengthened my stitches just a bit, and off I went! It requires a lot of patience, and a lot of breaks. I can usually quilt 15-20 minutes at a time, then I have to get up and walk around. So, if you all want to give it a go, you should :)
This week I am teaching quilt class at church. I’ve been teaching a block of the month to whomever is interested. It has been a lot of fun. This month we are learning the leaf block. I am using all aquas and oranges for my blocks. It’ll be fun to see everybody’s come together.

I started cutting up the stack of fabrics I had put together that are green, orange and brown. I am using the tutorial from Oh Fransson! called Crazy Nine Patch Lattice Quilt. It's super fun! Elizabeth is brilliant.

So many projects...

On Saturday the sun came out here in Portland. This is practically unheard of for January. Mark and I decided we had to get out and do something, so we headed to the Columbia River Gorge to do a hike. We went to Beacon Rock State Park. It is in Washington, and the hike is straight up Beacon Rock (850’), with a great view all the way up. Then you wander straight back down. It was a very fun hike. I had to stop and rest on the way up, my kids ran up the whole way, they are crazy!

After that we drove back to Vancouver, and went to Fort Vancouver. We love history and this place was fascinating and just beautiful. It helped of course that the sun was shining, and not a cloud could be seen. We had fun exploring the building and learning all about the trades that went on in the 1800’s. No money was exchanged really, the currency was beaver pelts. How cool!

6 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Just found your blog through another blog and have had a great time reading through it! Especially this last post about the North West! My husband is in the military and we are soon to be stationed up there and am so excited about being in a completely different part of the world - I grew up on the Mid-Atlantic East Coast, so all those mountains are going to be BIIIIIIG! Love the quilts!

Jackie's Stitches said...

It looks like a perfect day. The Pacific NW is some place I hope to visit one day!

The quilt blocks are wonderful!

Denise in PA said...

Hi Heather - I bet teaching the class is a lot of fun! I like Elizabeth's stuff too! Do you have her new book? She did an interview with Pat Sloan last week on her Creative Talk Radio podcast - I can't wait to listen to it. Wow, your trip looks amazing - those are some beautiful views!

Jeanne said...

What beautiful photos of your trip to the park! I am envious. Good luck with your machine quilting of the hexagon quilt - and DO take lots of breaks. I just got over rotator cuff surgery and I do think all my rotary cutting and quilting over the years has contributed. I now only will quilt small quilts, anything goes to the longarmer!

Anonymous said...

We visit our son every year in Portland. This looks like a great place to go. Last year I hiked up Multnoma (sp) Falls. Thanks from a mid-Missourian who is wishing for more than just snow. Denise

MysteryKnitter said...

You must have had a lovely trip. Take it easy with that quilt. Don't try to quilt too long at a time.