Monday, June 13, 2016

Design Wall Monday--and some sewing room KonMari

Off my design wall is my version of "High Cotton", from Kim Diehl's Simple Comforts book series.  A completed top is such a wonderful stage to get to!

I did manage to make things a little more difficult for myself in the assembly.  Apparently early in the block-making portion (2 years ago!), although the book instructions said to press the away from the center row, I had decided to press the seams in one direction.  But I forgot about that on later blocks and pressed as directed.  Then when I put together the block rows, I re-pressed every other block's seams towards the center for nesting purposes.  However, on the alternate rows, which are turned to make the chains zig-zag, I had to press the single errant seam back away from the center.  I think I had to re-press 90% of the blocks!   But in the end all the seams nested and the chains came together nicely.  My aim was to copy Kim's unique use of brights and zingers with the quieter repros.  What do you think?

See More Design Walls on Judy's Patchwork Times. 

There was also more KonMari-ing in the sewing room--thread was the next subcategory.  I'd already been through my machine sewing thread in a previous sewing room reorganization but there were dozens of these in various places that needed to be gone through:
All of these vintage wooden thread spools!  This is an amalgamation of my Grandma's and my mother-in-law's sewing stuff.  I ran into a giant snag in this effort as the collection probably really resides in the "Sentimental" or keepsake category, which is the last and hardest category in KonMari Method.  I dilly-dallied looking up the thread company information and age of the spools, sorting them into manufacturer and by size.  I was also distracted by vintage promotional sewing kits I found in my mother-in-law's stuff.  Another rabbit hole!

 I wonder if the Perma-Kurl Beauty Shop still exists in Oakland, NE, my MIL's hometown?

This was a famous old casino and is now the site of Harrah's casino (I think).  I don't know if my MIL actually visited the casino, as it appears she picked up this promotional giveaway item in Omaha, NE, where she lived and worked before moving to California in the late 1940's.  There is a Facebook page for the Wagon Wheel Saloon and I saw a photo of memorials to the owners listed on the back.

 I'm pretty sure no one mends hosiery anymore!

My intention with the wooden spools all along was to use them decoratively and I had fun choosing as many as I liked to fill this thread holder.  the bottom row is full of Belding Corticelli silk thread and silk buttonhole twist bobbins, love them! Some of the rack's spindles are broken but that's not bothering me at the moment, I can always get another rack.

14 comments:

Dogwood Lane Rambles said...

The quilt is Gorgeous! Color choice is perfect for the effect you want. As for your organization method I'm glad it's working for you, as for me what sparked joy was to throw that book in the trash! LOL

Churn Dash said...

I have a double four patch quilt in the back of my mind. Seeing yours makes me think it should happen sooner rather than later, because I love yours!

Helen

carol fun said...

The quilt is beautiful... love the mix of quiet and zingers! As for the spools of thread... I have a box of these somewhere in my storage room... I do love the wooden spools! And the sewing kits are wonderful... I'm a sucker for that kind of nostalgic ephemera!

Lorraine said...

Love the finished quilt top....! ...and the wooden spools! The little mending/sewing kits are cute - I admire your stick-ability with that book....not sure I could do it.

Janet O. said...

I love the colors in the finished quilt top! Excellent job getting that "Kim Diehl Feel"!
Wooden spools are so fun. They look great on the display rack--and match sticks made nice replacement pegs on one of mine.
Cute little sewing kits, and the hosiery mending is a hoot! : )

Quilter Kathy said...

I love this quilt! Great job on the colours!
And all those pretty threads... that's a real challenge to sort those treasures!

Kate said...

High Cotton turned out beautifully! Pressing the seams is always just one of those things. At least she gave you directions. One of the patterns I've been working on gave none. I've tried to anticipate how it's all going together, but I expect I'll be repressing many seams too.

Mary said...

What a trip down memory lane! I love your quilt.

Dawn said...

Great quilt!
I love the colorful look of your spools on display.

Tanya said...

A n e display of threads. I doubt that I could ever do a throwaway in my sewing room. But that is where it needs it the most. I'm pretty good about keeping on top of clutter in the other rooms but it's the "might use it someday" that stops me in the sewing room. I need to go buy another thread rack too.

Louise said...

Your High Cotton is wonderful! That pattern is on my to-do list, too. And I sorted and cleared fabric all day yesterday, and my mother moved from Omaha in the 40s. Add to that the fact that we both made a Natural Beauty quilt and I'd say we're really on the same wavelength right now. But I don't have nearly that much thread :)

I also love the quilt you made for Hunter! Black and white is supposed to be really great for babies to look all...all that contrast really revs up their brains. Is Elaine decorating in B&W, too?

Barb said...

Love the quilt....and wow...talk about being organized...

loulee said...

Your top looks amazing.
Sorting out the sentimental stuff is difficult. I came across a box of mine the other day and finally 'sorted'it into my stash. Better to use it as it was intended, than hide it away in a box.

Beatrice said...

If it's not too late, turn the empty spools into a small shelf!
See here:
http://boitedebiscotte.canalblog.com/archives/2016/06/28/34020024.html
The blog post is in French. The pattern is in a magazine called Simply Vintage by the publishers of Quiltmania.

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