Snow Day - Sew Day

I want to know if you like snow,

Do you like it, yes or no?

Do you like it in your face?

Yes, I like it anyplace!

(from one of my grandson’s favorite books,  “Snow” by Roy McKee & P.D. Eastman)

Boy did it snow and boy did I sew! Because of the blizzard conditions, it was pointless to shovel until the wind and snow had stopped (24” in 24 hours!). So, of course I had time to sew.

I had enough time to finally finish my “Pot Luck” potholder quilt.

Front

Back 

One of the great things about the potholder method is that the back can be as much fun as the front. I used different cheater prints (known as "printed patchwork in the 19th century) on the back and I love the results.

I have posted (here) about how I put these potholder blocks together. But I wanted to share a few things I forgot to mention. First, I did talk about the fact that if I am going to use one of my potholder quilts rather than just hanging on a wall, I secure my stitches every inch of so. But, what I forgot to mention is that I also wax my thread. 

This keeps the thread from raveling or breaking as I am stitching and “sets” the threads neatly and securely.

One very important factor is that your binding corners need to be very accurate and pointed. 

This is especially important when going around corners as in the case of a few of the connecting seams in this quilt. If your corners are perfectly “pointed” they will fit snuggly together at the intersection.

The biggest challenge in the whole process was getting the half square triangle blocks to come together neatly. By some miracle I aced both on the first try. 

This quilt has been a joy from start to finish. Even though there is quite a bit of hand quilting in this, I have learned that I CAN machine quilt as long as it is no more than 24” square! I have no patience for jamming a large quilt through my machine and since I don’t see a longarm anywhere in my future, I will continue to enjoy my potholder method.

I would like to leave you with a small tribute. Renowned artist Dahlov Ipcar died peacefully at the age of 99. She was indeed a treasure to our town, our state and the world. 

She and her husband Adolph bought a farm here in Georgetown and were an important part of our community for the rest of their lives. Although she was famous for her painting as well as a few wonderful soft sculptures, Dahlov made only one quilt in her life. Years ago, while looking at some of my quilts, she told me that I was the real artist. That is a compliment I will never forget. We will miss you Dahlov!