Posted on by River Valley Quilter

What’s Under Your Needle?

What’s under your needle today?  Are you piecing, or planning?  Laying out blocks to complete a top?  Are you quilting or binding?  I’m so curious as to what’s under your needle!

Today, after my morning chores, a few phone calls and emails and a couple hours of standing at my long arm, I’m piecing.  Paper piecing to be more exact.  It’s what I love to do…in fact I crave my time at the machine, working on several different patterns at a time.  

I’m sure there are many people who think I’ve got a screw loose, and they probably aren’t far from the truth.  But my passion for creating quilts is super focused on paper piecing.  And Quiltworx patterns by Judy Niemeyer are the highlight of my quilting world.  I find my mind and my heart breathe a sigh of contentment when I sit down at my sewing desk to work on the current projects.  It is definitely my happy place.

Becoming a Certified Instructor for Quiltworx is something I’ve been working towards since my first trip to Montana in April of 2018.  It’s January 2021, and I’ll be finishing up this adventure a year from now.  It’s a huge time commitment.  And in every way, in my humble opinion, equal to a Bachelor’s degree from a college.  Each of the patterns that I complete is easily equal to the cost of a college class and it’s required books.  Especially if I only buy the newest fabrics for each of my projects.  

Don’t get me wrong…I love, LOVE all the gorgeous and newest fabrics, but I’m also quite budget conscience.  I’m especially proud of the fact that I have been able make several of my portfolio patterns directly out of my stash.  Out of my STASH!!!  I’m over the moon about that.  Here are a few that I’ve been able to do that with.

Here is my version of Lincoln Log Cabin. It’s 31″ square and a super fun and fast project to make.
I love my Twinkle Star! It was sooo much fun to make. And at only 38″ square, it’s a great size for gift giving too!

Next is a summer color way of My Two Baby Sisters placemat. Another quick project with endless color options.
This is Star Baby…waiting for her turn on the long arm. I LOVED putting this together! Another sweet little wall hanging.
And here are Tea Time Placemats, also waiting to be quilted. This pattern is awesome! And comes with enough papers to do a set of 4 for your table. Can’t wait to make some in autumn colors too!

Golly! There are more than I thought that came from my stash.  Actually, there are even a few more, but I’ll save those for another time.  Using from my stash is something I’m pleased with .  And it’s also something I think will be a helpful to encourage my students to do.  Of course…when my students are shopping for fabric I’m only a phone call away to ask a question, if I’m not already there helping, guiding and suggesting options to add to their selection process.  Who doesn’t like to shop for fabric??

So, leaving the bunny trail that took me away from my original question…What’s under your needle?  This is what’s been under mine for the past several days.  I’m working on just a few patterns all at once.  It’s a skill set that I’m honing and finding it to be quite productive.  It can be a bit confusing at first, but it only takes a little while before it becomes second nature. I love working on my projects this way.  

I have two 4 foot tables that I use for my pattern staging. Here’s the first one. On the right is my version of Clockworks, which is a Quiltworx Cut Loose Press pattern. And on the left is Color Spectrum I have nearly all of these blocks completed…next will come setting the blocks to make the top.
Here is the second 4 foot table. I’m working on my Dinner Plate Dahlia here. Granny Sassy Designs put this kit together for me, and she does an AMAZING job! I’ve loved this color way since the first time I saw it. I’m over the moon about this beauty!!
This is how I stack my projects as I work on them. Each time I go through the stack I do the same step to everything regardless of the project. For example, each layer will get ironed all the way through the stack, then on to trimming and placing the next piece, then sewing them together, repeat.
Here is what the stack looks like exploded out layer by layer. I know what each of these belongs to, and where they are in the process by just looking at the top layer. Oh! And there’s an Impatiens placemat in there too. That’s 5 patterns across these 8 layers. Not everyone wants to work in this way, and that’s the beauty of it all…we all get to enjoy our own process with no judgements.

For me, it breaks things up enough to keep me from being bored if there is a lot of repetition (as in a large quantity of the same thing).  It also lets me make significant progress on a project if I employ the same method on a single pattern.  Yep…there must be a screw loose in there somewhere. But boy to I have a good time with it! Yippeee!!

I hope you are having a stitch filled day with lots and lots of enjoyable moments and a sense of accomplishment in being able to put needle to fabric.

May your bobbin never be empty!

4 Replies to “What’s Under Your Needle?”

  1. I love seeing your work too! Your pieces are always so much fun and are a wonderful tribute to those you love and gift to. I’m so honored you trust me with them and that I get to be a small part of your process. Volume is only relative to it’s purpose…it’s the love that goes into them that warms the heart. xo

  2. Wow! You are amazing! I would like to book an organizing sensation with you and re-find my place on two patterns!!

    1. You are just as amazing!!! Girlfriend…give me a call and we’ll set up a time for you to come over! We’ll get you all squared away so you can get to rockin’ and rollin’ quick as a bunny! Would love to give you a squeeze too. Been missing you lots.

  3. Love seeing what you’re doing. Your level of producing finished projects is mind boggling.

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