Well, it's a good thing I'm a positive person, because starting this has not been an easy road! First, I set aside my fabrics, but forgot to wash them. So, here I was ready to get into my sewing room and get working on it - unwashed fabrics. I'm a firm believer in Always prewashing, so, to the Laundry Room I headed for a few hours of quality time with the washer/dryer.
I could have used that time to make my templates. But I got distracted by something else. However, if I HAD used that time to make my templates, I would have realized I was out of template plastic!!! (and I would have put it on the list for our shopping trip) But I didn't.
So, this morning, AFTER getting home from our shopping trip, I need some 'sit down' time, so I feel like it's the perfect time to make my templates, only to find out, NO template plastic except for a scrap that won't make anything. I don't even know why I kept it, it probably escaped the throw away of scraps.
Well, you get lemons, you make lemonade, right? Sometimes it's good to know how things 'used to be' done, so you can fall back on those methods in moments of stupidity. Or forgetfulness :)
So, I figure in the 1920's they didn't have template plastic, or acrylic templates either - they used newspaper or cardboard to cut their templates from. I had already printed out all my templates onto paper, but I wanted a stiffer template, so I got out some thin cardboard, used a glue stick to adhere the paper template to the cardboard, and then carefully and slowly cut them out, inside the dotted line, to make room for my pencil line on the fabric. Yup, I'm going old school!
I'm really tempted to hand sew the blocks, but I know that I won't want to after the first few. So, I'll be machine stitching them. It's also good to know your own attention span!
In other news - I have a box of vintage patterns coming next week that my sister bought while thrift shopping. 60 to be exact! Some of them unused, from the 50's!!! Oh I can't wait to get that box!!
I could have used that time to make my templates. But I got distracted by something else. However, if I HAD used that time to make my templates, I would have realized I was out of template plastic!!! (and I would have put it on the list for our shopping trip) But I didn't.
So, this morning, AFTER getting home from our shopping trip, I need some 'sit down' time, so I feel like it's the perfect time to make my templates, only to find out, NO template plastic except for a scrap that won't make anything. I don't even know why I kept it, it probably escaped the throw away of scraps.
Well, you get lemons, you make lemonade, right? Sometimes it's good to know how things 'used to be' done, so you can fall back on those methods in moments of stupidity. Or forgetfulness :)
So, I figure in the 1920's they didn't have template plastic, or acrylic templates either - they used newspaper or cardboard to cut their templates from. I had already printed out all my templates onto paper, but I wanted a stiffer template, so I got out some thin cardboard, used a glue stick to adhere the paper template to the cardboard, and then carefully and slowly cut them out, inside the dotted line, to make room for my pencil line on the fabric. Yup, I'm going old school!
In other news - I have a box of vintage patterns coming next week that my sister bought while thrift shopping. 60 to be exact! Some of them unused, from the 50's!!! Oh I can't wait to get that box!!
Well, the beginning of this project sounds very familiar...Just when you think you are ready to start something big...you find out you are not....forgetting seems to be a common day thing these days...LOL!!!! Old school is always good. I have never bought template plastic. I have, however, used the saved plastic lids from many containers such as sour cream, shedd spred, I can't Believe It's Not Butter, etc. They are perfect for this...
ReplyDeleteI am anxious to see your quilt. Good job knowing your attention span..LOL!!!!
Thanks for reminding me it's not just me who does things like this. :)
~Louise
Your post really fits my new found quote I have adopted which I just posted on my blog. I haven't even gotten as far as you are with your pre-washing and templates. Happy QAL...
ReplyDeleteGood idea Louise, very 'green' and frugal. I like the template plastic so I can see through it and trace the template piece that way. I wonder if gluestick would work on the plastic lids?
ReplyDeleteCreateology, I just had a nice look around your blog. Fringe scissors! Never heard of them before, now I want a pair like crazy! lol I hope you have a fabulous month, so that you can rename it ... of course.... Fab Feb!!! :)
Good job on the thin cardboard. I used laminating sheets and cut them all out.
ReplyDeleteMary Fioretti
oh laminating sheets would be a good idea too! I never thought of those! I have some, and if my cardboard starts getting worn down, I'll make new ones from the laminating sheets. Thank you Mary! :)
ReplyDelete