Yikes!

Yesterday I started stitching my Crazy Wool quilt and I must admit I was wondering what I was doing wrong! I’m not new to working with wool…I have made about ten wool runners and table toppers and just recently made a wool quilt …and they were all a joy to make. So why was this so difficult?

This Crazy Quilt, although it is only 24 inches, felt big and bulky and the needle didn’t want to slip through the wool like it use to! YIKES!Remember I am stitching through wool, the muslin foundation and the batting. It felt a lot like machine quilting a big bulky quilt..you know the part where you are trying to quilt the middle of the quilt…well that’s what this felt like. I think it was because I started on the middle block and with the bulk of the batting I couldn’t grab the quilt with my left hand like I use to… but once I got use to the struggle of working with the bulk of the batting it became easier. And I’m sure the other blocks will go much quicker and be less painful as the bulk will be less…or at least I hope so…

My friend, Claire suggested using a Chenille needle #24 and she was right~ it does go through the wool MUCH easier.

Chenille #24 needles have a larger eye to accommodate the perle cotton or wool thread. Because the needle is a lot thicker it makes a larger hole in the fabric which makes it easier for the thread to pass through the fibres. This is especially important if you are using the wool threads as they get worn very easily and the fibres rub off. I even found this with my table toppers.. I would often use shorter lengths of thread to avoid this from happening. Also Claire warned us that when our appliqué pieces are tiny, the chenille needle is too big to use for sewing them on. But it should be perfect for doing the stitching along the seams of the crazy quilt- Don’t worry…I will keep you posted!!

(You can get a package of Chenille needles #24 for $1.49 at Michael’s.)

So now you know…I live in a blue house, with a yellow/orange rose bush growing up the front arbour and a big tree off to one side…ahhhhh HOME…I think I’m getting homesick!!

Today I am off to downtown Palm Springs with two gals from home. We thought we would do a bit of ‘window shopping’, hang with the movie stars and have a bit of lunch…:o)

Oh, and tomorrow…we are off to San Diego…my husband will so some sightseeing…(yes…I will look at his pictures…ha ha). Where will I be you ask?? Why I will be killing time in the Country Loft Quilt Shop~ hopefully talking to JoAnn Mullaly author of “Wool Crazy” and doing a bit of shopping!! I will also be stopping off at The Fat Quarter Shop in Vista!!

Ahhh…retirement is grand!!

Have a marvellous Monday and Happy Quilting!!