Quilters and all Crafters for weight loss
 

Hello, I just recently joined this forum and have found lots of great support and information.

Just checking to see if any of my "over 50" sisters here are quilters?

Maybe we can have some sort of weight loss/stash reduction challenge!

Denise, Northern California

What a great idea! This last week I've gotten back into quilting and I'm really using it as a distraction when I want to eat. I have about 3 projects going right now in my sewing area and it seems to be working quite well.

What kind of quilting do you do?

I have done some quilting in a most uncrafty way years ago. Just pieced a few crazy quits. I have pieces in my closet that I started putting together about 30 years ago. Ha, ha. That will probably never get done. But I know what you mean about keeping the hands and mind busy. It really takes away the cravings to munch junk.

You are right about quilting keeping our hands busy!

Kris - what are your projects?

Isabella - I've seen some very inventive crazy quilts! My mother-in-law made all sorts in her day with her scraps, and some of them were prettier than the patterned ones.

I have quilted several wall hangings, and have made many pieced comforters that I've tied off. Does that make me eligible for this group? My current project is to make a comforter that goes with the colors of my living room, which are aqua and shades of brown. The fabric is bought and washed, so I have no excuse to delay any longer!

Here's hoping the original poster will check back before long.

Well, I just put a grouping of quilt blocks up on my design wall today and I hate it. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to do some unsewing. It was a kit that I bought years ago, precut bali batiks in a curved block pattern. Well, there is 1 fabric in the entire batch that I simply can't stand and it sticks out like a sore thumb. I suspected I wasn't going to like the color when I was sewing the pieces together but ignored my gut instincts.

So, I've about 12 pieces to unsew and put something else into it. Oh well, such is life! It will be a good project to work on in front of the TV.

Other projects.....so many.....not enough time! Currently I'm working on a king size quilt that needs to be bound for the guest room, I'm also into making some quilted bags, I'm doing some wool pin cushions and also working on a couple scrap quilts to donate to Project Linus. Those are just the ones that I'm currently working on......

How about you gals? What are you working on?

Kris - well, you'll certainly have busy hands! On the bright side, at least it is only 12 pieces instead of the whole project. I've heard of the Linus Project. Isn't that where sewers donate blankets to children in the hospital? I'm curious; what type of weight loss program are you on? I had lost weight on Weight Watchers, gained it back, and am currently counting calories, and using many of the WW guidelines.

Any quilters reading this, or anyone interested in quilting, please jump in and join us.

Hi Jane,

You're right about Project Linus. It's the first time I've made anything for them so I'm not 100% sure on the details. One of the local quilt shops back home organizes work days through out the year to complete these quilts. My plan is to find out what size tops they prefer and make several out of fabrics I'm no longer interested in. I like the 'mindless' sewing part of quilting but have no logical need for another quilt so I'm hoping this will work out for me.

As far as my eating plan, I guess it's a combination of calorie counting and lower carb eating. I'm about 10 days into really dialing down my calories into a deficit in order to start shifting some more weight. My plan is to keep up this deficit until Christmas and then try to normalize or maintain for a few weeks. I'm real good at maintaining (really no weight loss to speak of for the last year) but I still have poundage to remove. I think I've tried most diets known....low carb works for me in many respects but it triggered some health issues when I went ULTRA low carb (nearly zero carb) so now I'm trying for mid-range carbs and those are mostly from veggies. So far, so good.....

Good morning Kris,

My fabric is ironed, but I'm not sure when I'll be able to begin cutting. This weekend if full-up! I've got the pattern worked up on a diagram, so once I begin, the work should move along nicely.

Your weight loss plan sounds very doable! It's good to have a general long-range plan. When I eat carbs, I try to make sure they are of the complex variety, but I'm not always successful with that, lol. Sounds like you enjoy your veggies. I do too, except for brussel sprouts. I've been back OP since Sept. 29, so I'm just finishing up 3 weeks. Although I began on a Tuesday, I like to weigh in on Saturdays.

Today I am making a birthday cake for my son's birthday celebration tomorrow. He and his little family have rented a large cabin and have invited the rest of us over. Every year, he requests a Fruit Cocktail cake, and I always make it from scratch. My challenge tomorrow will be to have only a small piece of it.

Happy quilting!

I have always been a much better starter-of-quilts than a finisher-of-quilts (I love doing the tops and dislike doing the actually quilting.) So, back about 4 years ago, I made myself a promise that I wouldn't start another quilt until I finished the ones I had. And it worked!

I haven't quilted a stitch since! :D

However, the notion of hands that are busy with fabric are hands that are not busy with food is a very good one, so sometime this week I am going to see if I can find a place to set up the old sewing machine and take another look at those unfinished quilts. And maybe even take a look at my fabric stash --- just moving all that around should be good for a pound or two! LOL

Great idea for a thread!

DarkAspen - yes, even just shifting the fabric from one pile to another will help keep your hands busy. Also, please join us in the General Chat thread here where we discuss all sorts of things. :)

I've been trying to make two applique Christmas 'Mother and Child' quilts as 'thank yous' for two ladies I know. The quilts are about a foot square {or so} but I'm having problems picking colors and have been second guessing myself. I'm trying to use my stash rather than go out and pick new fabrics but maybe that would help??

I'm vision impaired so I do all my work on my regular sewing machine. I have to give a lot of credit to Elenanor Burns' techniques that I can quilt at all.

I've mostly quilt but this autumn I've been crocheting and knitting hats, sczrves, and sweaters. I tend to go in waves of what my interests are.

Looking forward to getting to know all you.

Good job gals on your projects!

DarkAspen - I'm with you re: quilt tops. I have been hand quilting a grandmothers flowergarden quilt for....oh......maybe 10 years or more. :) I have a box of quilt tops ready for quilting. Luckily, my sister is a professional machine quilter so when I really want/need a top quilted, she fits me into her schedule. Another quilt related 'problem' of mine is that I love to piece quilts but a person only needs so many quilts - and I've given one to everyone I know over the years.

Penguin - I think E. Burns is just great....especially for newbie quilters but truly, her techniques/ideas are spot on for everyone. I also did quite a bit of knitting this winter - everyone on my Christmas list is getting a scarf, cowl or a cap this year.

Jane - how did it go with the cake?

I'm ready to start on my next project.....going to do a little pressing and cutting in preparation. At a quilt show in Huron SD last month, I found this cute little pattern for pin cushions. The pattern calls for 3/4" strips but I think I'll go with 1" strips - that 1/4" seems to make a big difference to me. I'm also finishing up on 3 little make-up bags. Oh, and I have more unsewing to do (the bane of my existence).....grrrrr.....

Penguin - hmmm... I'll have to check out Eleanor Burns. I've always wanted to knit, but each time I try, I've found that my stitches get tighter and tighter with each row! Very frustrating. My sister told me to just keep practicing, but I'd rather do a craft that comes more naturally to me.

Kris - I did great with the cake!! Actually, it didn't taste nearly as good as I had remembered. The pin cushions and make-up bags sound great for projects that don't take so long. Bet they are cute, too! If you'd like to post a picture, I'd like to see them.

I going to change the title of this thread to include the word Crafters so others may feel welcome to jump in. After all, any crafting helps keep our hands out of the cookie jar, lol.

I still haven't begun cutting the squares for the comforter. :dizzy: But I've been catching up on some mending. My DGD had a unicorn with a ripped belly, and then there were a few pieces of clothing that needed mended.

Does anyone reading this scrapbook?

Jane, I think changing the name to attract other crafters is a good idea. My stitches {whether knit or crochet } seem to get looser and looser as I get used to the pattern and get 'into' the work. I have to pay attention to keep my work from getting sloppy.

Kris, I originally learned hand quilting {from a library book} and did several projects including a king size quilt for our bed {watercolor log cabin} but my eyes had other plans and I learned to used the machine. I think between the two I prefer the machine, now. I'd still like to sit on the couch, watch TV and quilt but hand piecing would drive me nuts. I don't understand instructions that are 5 3/4 or 1 1/8. EEEK! I like to round things up when I can, but sometimes this gets me into trouble.

Aspen, I have noticed these past few weeks that I've been eating less and not obsessing about food. I can't drive so I'm at home most days and that fridge is always close. My sewing room is next to the kitchen and my closet is our pantry. Whoops! who thought that was a good idea!?

Denise, Thanks for starting this thread! what a great idea to get us together.

Penguin - will your eyes likely get better at any time, or is this an on-going thing. Forgive me if I'm asking too much. Oh my gosh, a watercolor log cabin design sounds so beautiful! I'm always drawn to watercolors.

Trish - how's your day going?

Denice hasn't been back since the day she started this thread. Won't she be surprised when she logs on again?

I've got to get back to scrapbooking! My DGD Caylin started Kindergarten this fall, and I want to get her pictures done, like I already did for her twin older sisters when they went to Kindergarten. Then I've got many, many vacation photos to work with.

Too many projects, and not enough time, lol.

Jane, My eyes won't get much better, this is an ongoing thing. I had cateract surgery this summer on both eyes {I'm 40}. They replaced my lenses with perscription lenses so I don't need contacts anymore and I'm supposed to get bifocals with a little correction in the top and readers in the bottom. {I've worn readers for years} I like to tell {warn, LOL} people about my vision so they don't think I'm rude if they wave {or something} and I don't wave back. Sadly most of my spelling or typing mistakes are my own and I can't blame them on my vision. :o

Apparently, since I made the log cabin quilt before digital cameras I never took a picture of it to share. This is a link to a Christmas Log Cabin I made for my mother out of E. Burns Still Stripping book http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/j...asLogCabin.jpg

And this is a link to the Mother and Child quilt that I made for myself. http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/j...erandChild.jpg

I finished crocheting a sweater vest today, sewed it up tried it on and it looks horrible! I'm discouraged; but not discouraged enough that I'm not looking for my next project. I'll unravel later.

WOW, I just love having found this thread. I am a quilter / crocheter, fabric postcard maker, and I also make my own knitted dish clothes, but that is as far as I go with knitting. I used to decorate cakes, but I now limit this to family members only.

If anyone would like to see any of my quilts, I will post a link to my photobucket for you to look at. I recently have begun machine frame quilting, and am hoping to get a larger machine for my frame soon. I currently have been using my janome 6600 on my frame. Currently I have a lap quilt that I made for a friend who's cancer has come out of remission, and has recently began treatments again on my frame, and hope to quilt it this week-end.

Wilma

Penguin - oh my goodness, those quilts are fantastic!! I bet yours turned out so nice! I'm sorry the vest didn't turn out as you wanted. On the upside, though, the unraveling will keep your hands busy for awhile.

Wilma - so glad you found us! Yes, please do post a link to your handiwork. How sweet of you to make a lap quilt for your friend. Please tell me more about fabric postcards! I've never heard of that, but it sure sounds interesting.

I'm attaching one of the photos I want to scrapbook for Caylin. When I get the page done, I'll share that, too. But I have to get it STARTED first, lol.

Have a good day!

Afternoon all. Nothing much to report today. I've been at Bible study all morning. Today, I get to do some mending, more laundry, and Workout 2. {I have two homemade strength workouts that I rotate; W1 and W2. LOL, not very original names.}

Somebody furry {<----} needs a bath so maybe I'll convince myself to do that today.

I made a green shawl a few years ago. I wore it to church once and felt self-conscience so never wore it again. Its knit stockinette stitch and very plain. The was supposed to be a lacy border but I never did that. I figured that I could crochet a border and after several false starts finally found one I think will work so I'm planning on working on that today.

Penguin,I looked at your quilt pictures, and they look great. I bet your Mom loved her quilt.

Jane, I have never done scrap booking, but I enjoy looking at others creations.

I would love to see other peoples crafty creations as well.

I will post some pictures of fabric postcards later, as I don't have any pictures on my computer yet. But here is the link to my photobucket albums with some of my quilts. http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/n...20tops%202009/

Wilma

Wilma, thanks for posting the link to your quilts. I liked 4+4 the best. I made Putting to... quilt for our bed but the block arrangement was different.

Mom's quilt hangs yearound in an upstairs hallway. I can't complain. I made a top for myself first but haven't quilted it yet, snicker, although its been several years now.

I would enjoy seeing everyones work.

I'm not a Quilter, I did try making a pillow, about 25yrs ago, but haven't tried any since. My love is Counted Cross-Stitch, right now I'm making a wedding sampler for my daughter and son-in-law, they were married a yr in July, was hoping to finish by their anniversay, only I had a very sore wrist, due to trying to do 30day shred, it's only recently that it doesn't give me grief, so maybe this weekend I will pick up my needle. I feel inspired by all of you. I also need to think about two more wedding sampler's, both my son's are getting married in 2010.

I look forward to reading all your project updates. Happy Crafting Ladies.

dang.....what creative people we have here!

Today is the first day in a couple weeks I haven't done any sewing. I started painting a chest of drawers and so that is taking up my sewing space for the next couple days. I suppose I COULD do some handwork.......or some unsewing.....lol

Wilma - your dishclothes...do you have a pattern to share? I am thinking to attempt them the next time I get the knitting urge. My sister does postcards too - some online exchanges and all. I've seen some amazing work.

I'm just popping in to say hi, and that I'll be back tomorrow. My day has been so busy, and I'm headed for a shower and bed soon.

Goodnight all you crafty chicks. :)

Nothing much to report. Busy morning at Bible study, again. {Yesterday was prep, today was the real thing}, but I got to finish the edging on my shawl. Finally finished something! I thought I'd try another vest next {am I a glutton for punishment or what?}. My glasses still aren't ready. Maybe tomorrow???

Kris, Disclaimer: I haven't tried any of these patterns but I have had a lot of success with the sister crochet site. This is a link to Knitting Pattern Central http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory.php They have a Dishcloth catagory, among many others. HTH

Institches, Welcome to our group!

Its not raining but its overcast and cold. I'm waiting on the call from my eye doc that my glasses are ready. Waiting in vain, prehaps! I don't want to get too involved in anything because I want to be ready when the call comes.

I'm trying to learn continential knitting. I knit with the add-on yarn held in my right hand {english method} but the continential method holds the yarn in the left hand {like crochet} and supposedly easier and faster. I haven't done much knitting recently and thought now would be a good time to try the switch. I knitted along with a online video and did exactly 10 stitches of knit and purl before my hand started cramping. This is going to be harder than I thought! {aren't most things?}

Thanks Penguin - I'll check out that site.

Today's plan.....2nd coat of paint on the chest of drawers, sew blocks together for a Linus quilt, work on a wool pincushion (button hole stitch) while watching Downsize Me (a New Zealand weight loss program).

Yesterday I finished 'unsewing' 5 of the 6 blocks on my Karen Stone quilt. If I have time today, I might try and get the 're-sew' portion done on them. What a pain!

Have a good and productive weekend.

Hello fellow crafters,

Penguin - yay for finishing the shawl border! Bet that gave you a good sense of accomplishment. Most of the comforters I've made, I've given away. One of the things I've made that is very sentimental to me is a wall hanging I designed, using photos and pockets. I placed my MILs hankies in the pockets. She got to see it before she passed away, and liked it a lot. Did you get your glasses today? I hope so. Would it help you is we all posted in size 3 font? Just let me know. ((HUG))

Wilma - wow, your quilts are gorgeous! I can't say which is my favorite! I'll try to post a photo of the wall hanging I described to Penguin.

Kris - painting is crafty! Not everyone has a knack for it. Like me, for instance, I'm not much of a painter. What color did you use?

Have any of you done the fleece, double-sided, tied blankets? I've never done one, but recently got the instructions from a friend, so I'm making a small, striped one with DGD Madison this weekend. I thought it would be a good project to do with a child. The colors match my living room, so it will make a good throw for the kids while they watch tv this winter, or a lap robe for me.

Happy crafting! :)

Jane, Still no glasses! The eye doc called and said the lab sent them, they came in, but they were wrong again. Possibley Tuesday. My doc apparently 'had words' with the lab over this. Thanks for the offer for the larger font I have my computer set up so the font is magnified 150% and the 'background' stuff is eleminated. {if anyone wants to know how to do this too, just ask!}
The pockets are a good idea for hankies. I'm glad you MIL got to see how her work was being saved. I have a bunch of hankies my Gma made. I have thought of displaying them but...
Your fleece thow sounds like a good project, I've never made one either. I don't remember 'tying' anything either.

Kris, I read 'wood' pincushion, LOL, and was wondering how that works. Sigh, on the unsewing but it will probably be worth all your work in the end! I didn't know Project Linus was international!

I'm really happy Denice started this thread {where is she?} I'm glad I found others who craft who I can share my ups and downs with. I don't know many people who craft in the 'real' world. I think I'm getting the hang of the Continential stitch, but I think I'll have to start with something small like a scarf. I tried this once before and they suggested that you stitch your way through an 8oz skein of yarn as 'practice' so you can get the hang of it.

Nothing special, but here you go.,..
 

Here is a photo of the wall hanging I did for my MIL - that's her in the middle, holding baby Katie. I would have taken the time to quilt it, but I was afraid it wouldn't get done before her Alzheimer's progressed too much for her to recognize it. She died of CHF not long afterwards.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...yquilts003.jpg


Here's the tied-edges blanket DGD Madison and I made this morning. An easy-peasy project!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...yquilts004.jpg

Penguin - Oh dear, I hope you get your specks on Tues! At least the doc is on the ball. Glad to know you have font settings to help you, but I have to ask, background stuff gets eliminated? The Continental stitch must be a real doozey, if you have to practice on an 8oz skein 1st! I'd be pulling my hair out, lol.

Denice hasn't logged in since the day she started the thread. We won't give up hope on her, though. :)

Those are lovely, Jane! I've seen those fleece blankets before and they are so nice. The memory quilt is wonderful.

As far as Project Linus....I'm not sure if it is international or not. My thought is to bring the quilt tops back (to the USA) next time I visit and give them to the local quilt shop who organizes work days through-out the year for finishing tops. My other thought is to perhaps sweet-talk my sister (who is a machine quilter) into quilting a few each year, strong-arm a girlfriend into binding these quilts and then we could give finished quilts to the project rather than just tops. I haven't mentioned it to them yet so for now, I'm just using up scrap fabrics and making them into tops. (It's kinda my 'therapy' project!)

Well, yesterday I survived the 4-7pm time frame (the worst part of the day for me as far as food goes) by keeping busy. I accomplished everything I set out to do which was a nice feeling. Today I think I'm going to tackle sewing the binding on the king size quilt I did for the guest room. I'm not looking forward to it - but once I have it sewn on, it will be a good project to work on in front of the TV in the evenings.

Cheers all!

Kris, My running joke about binding is "How many corners does this quilt have again??? Isn't this the 10th so far???" One of Hubby's work friend's wife is from New Z. She and I get together a few times a year when the guys do, I love her accent but sometimes she still confuses me with the phrases and words she uses that are unfamiliar to me. She always knows because I apparently get the same 'confused' look".

Jane, If you have Windows go down to Start, go into Control Panel, go into Accesiblity Options{top left}, that gives you 5 catagories, hit Display. Near the middle is a box to 'check' marked High Contrast. Hit that then go back to your normal screen and see what you think. HTH

Your hankie quilt is a great idea! Can you go back and quilt it later? I like the edges of the fleece blanket. The fringe is pretty.

I hear you about the corners, Penguin! I did get the binding sewn on today (a day late...oh well) so now I start the hand stitching process. I'd love to have it done by Friday as we have guests arriving. I'd also like to get some matching pillows (or at least pillow cases) finished before then. I JUST might have enough time.

Too funny about your NZ friend. That happens to The Mister and I every once in awhile. We speak the same language but sometimes the phrases or words really get confusing.

I just noticed you live in Memphis, Penguin.....we were there a couple years ago and had a blast on Beale Street. It's on our list to revisit.

Good morning, crafters,

Kris - yay for getting the binding on. That's a big job! Are you doing your scraps in a certain pattern, or more of a crazy quilt fashion? Good for you, making it through the 4-7 time period. Some days are harder than others for most of us. Will you be embroidering the pillow cases?

Penguin - Neal and I took the Amtrak to Memphis in March. Like Kris, we had a lot of fun on Beale St. I had some of the most delicious wet barbecue there. We went to the Gibson guitar factory, and the Rock in Soul museum, and several other places of interest. We will be going back, too. I have Windows Vista, and couldn't use the instructions you gave, but thank you, anyway. About the wall-hanging, I would have to take the edges apart to go back and quilt it, so that's why I never did it.

My creativity today will be used to reorganize the utility room shelves. We added cabinets in the kitchen over the weekend, and filled them with things from the utility room, so now I need to get in there and straighten all that up. I'm just so happy to have the extra cabinets!

Have a good day.

Still plugging away at the 'learn to knit continental style'. I started a scarf with a basketweave pattern to practice both knit and purl. I feel the work will be worth it in the end just for the ease of switcheing from K to p and not having to throw, BUT its like trying to learn to knit with your feet when you already know how to knit by hand. Why am I struggling with this? I could have had the scarf finished by now if I was using the old method...

Penguin - I think you're doing it because you know it will be worth the challenge. Refresh my memory - what color yarn are you using? I can't even imagine trying to attempt a basketweave pattern using the regular stitching, let alone Continental style!

Marquita, a friend of mine, won a scrapbooking crop party for herself and 9 of her friends, and she invited me to it. This will be Nov. 7th. The shop gives out free food, drinks, and some supplies, and lets us use their facility. I've promised myself I'll get Caylin's 1st day of kindergarten page done, as well as some other pictures.

Jane, I'm using a varigated yarn with deep blues, reds, greens, wheat. The basketweave is pretty easy in the Con style because its easier to switch back and forth between the knits and purls. I'm using #10 needles, and the scarf is only 30 stiches wide. Three on each side in stockinette stitch and then switch from k to p every 6 stitches.. so far its about the size of a dishcloth. Sigh.

The scrapbooking party sounds like a lot of fun.

Another quilter popping in here. I just started to quilt three years ago although I have been sewing since I was five years old. (My mother left me alone with her sewing machine. I caught on fast - sewed my finger just once and that was 65 years ago.)

I've done several quilting courses and am currently working on a Block of the Month Quilt. I did another one last year although it's not finished yet. I should just spend a few weeks finishing up projects.

I design and piece quilt tops for Victoria's Quilts and try to make one top every month. The tops are quilted by a friend with a long arm and then given to folks undergoing chemotherapy. Doing this assuages a bit of my guilt about the large amounts of $$$ I spend on fabric! (I'm a fat quarter addict and, if a project requires a meter, I end up buying to or three. I'm sure you can relate!

Here are two of my Block of the Month quilts - the Be Attitudes one is still just in blocks but you'll get the idea.

The great thing about quilting is that you cannot nibble anything when working with fabric. Many a time I've felt peckish and done some cutting and piecing instead. The rule is "no food" in the sewingroom although a cup of tea is allowed.

Ruth, Good to have you join us! I love your quilts. My Thurs Night Quilting Buddy, Renee, is working off and on with the Be Attitudes. She's making individual mini-quilts. I did the Be Forgiving Block with a black dog and pink sneaker, but it hangs unfinished on my design wall.

I decided to go through the shelves in my sewing room and see if I can make room for the stuff that's on the floor. I need to purge some of my UFO's and whatever. I'm tired of having to move everything just to get something done! Big talk, I'll probably be sewing some forgotten project in about 30 min. Ha.