Stars like Spaghetti Is Complete (Quilt of Valor post 4)

Trimmed top

Goal number one on my November list was to trim, bind, label and place a sleeve on the Quilt of Valor (QOV)  that I started in August. Marie of Marie's Custom Quilting, finished quilting it in October; but, it was weeks before I attempted standing long enough to trim it. I chose a star pattern that contained gentle loops and a subtle variegated thread in blues. The quilting provides just the right amount of texture.

Last week, I trimmed it. I'm glad that I had practiced standing with baking the previous week. Still I had to take breaks because my newest knee wasn't up to the task. In the end, I persevered. After a couple restarts, I was even able to machine stitch one side of the binding to the quilt.

Last Friday, my intention was to start clue number one on the new Bonnie Hunter mystery, The Old Village. A pool session followed by a PT session made sitting for the remainder of the day impossible. 

View of the quilting pattern

Fortunately, this project was ready for hand stitching so I stitched the binding. I haven't hand stitched a binding in a long time. I watched football games while I stitched. Next I added the sleeve. Finally it was time for the label. This will be going to a veteran. In Oregon, the QOV coordinator embroiders a special label with the recipient's information. I will also place my label so the quilt pattern as well as other pertinent information will be available.

Label

Alycia (AKA Quiltygirl.com) offered the pattern during a free mystery quilt along last winter. If you want to stitch this top, you can purchase the pattern on her Etsy shop. Proceeds of the pattern support her QOV group. I enjoyed making it. I stitched it in August long after the mystery finished; but, LOVED using scraps from my stash to make the top. I did purchase the backing and binding fabric.

I used 13yards of fabric for the project. To date, I have used 13 yards from my stash. This year, I seem to have purchased as I have used. Using as I've purchased is better than purchasing more than I have used; but, this tact doesn't get me closer to actually pairing down my stash! 

I figure it took me 22 hours to get this project to the finish. I spent $248 in materials and the quilting.  I do have a number of projects waiting to be quilted. Perhaps next year, I'll make a bigger effort to finish some of these. I don't count fabric used until the project is totally finished.

Finished front

This is the view from the front! If you want to read the previous posts, check out the links: Beginning post one, in progress post 2 and it's a top post 3. 

Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday and Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts.

2024 Temperature Quilt--Caught Up!

October row added

The last day I sewed was September 30 which was the day before my knee joint replacement surgery. Although I tried, I pain made it unable for me to sit at the machine until Monday, November 4! On that day, with many breaks, I stitched for about two hours in total. Gosh, it felt good to hear the hum of the machine and to construct pieces into blocks!

By November 16, I not only had pieced all of days for October and sewn them to the top; but, I had also stitched the blocks up to that date. What a feeling of accomplishment that was!

I've enjoyed having this project on my design wall. The way the colors interact with each other are totally due to Mother Nature. The subtle secondary designs are not something that I would have made on my own!

Swatch card of Superior Solids

Getting caught up with the Temperature quilt blocks was goal number three on my November list. I am planning a 2025 Temperature quilt. This time, I've had to figure out fabrics because the source where I purchased my hand dyed fabrics closed her business earlier this year. I made a list of different manufacturers that sold solid fabrics. 

I went on line to review what people thought of the fabrics. I looked at the availability of purchasing the fabrics. In the end, I decided to go with Superior Solids made by Benartex. 

Through Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle's Modern Quilt Studio, I purchased a swatch card. Over the years, I've purchased a lot of Benartex fabrics and liked the hand of the fabrics. Being able to see all the colors available at one time was helpful.

Legend for temperatures, sun, snow, rain

I photo copied each page of the swatch card. As I made my selections, I would cut the photo copy of the color and glue it on a piece of notebook paper. I wanted to

see how my selections interacted with each other. For the most part, I was happy with my choices. There were a few instances where I made a different selection. My goal was that there would be enough of a value change that no colors would blend together. You might think that there is a place or two that the colors blend; but, that is because the photo copy color isn't true to the fabric swatch.

Last summer, I picked a pattern that the Fat Quarter shop offered. Earlier this month, I decided that I wanted to make individual house blocks rather than twelve houses. Learning from my paper piecing temperature quilt, I determined the setting to be sure the quilt would be wide and long enough to cover someone. 

Legend for filler trees

This time, I'm using all Benartex fabrics. Snow, rain and sunshine will be represented with white, blue and light yellow fabrics. In determining the setting, I realized that I needed a block to differentiate the months as well as filler blocks. I decided I would make a simple pine tree.

I chose three different fabrics for the pine trees and three different fabrics for the trunks. Next month, I'll make a trial block
to see if my measurements are going to work. 

I'll also be ordering the fabric next month. I thought I would be able to order fat quarters; but, the online sources that I found only sold by the yard. Starting this project is going to not only bring in a bunch of yardage; but, I'll be spending some money too! I have not made such an investment in 
my stash. . .ever!

Sketch of possible design

Goal number four on my November list was to determine the fabrics for the 2025 Temperature quilt. Goal number five on my November list was to determine the pattern!

Linking to Alycia and Finished or Not Friday; Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap.

Knee Update

KT cream

October 1, I had my left knee joint replaced. Since I had challenges with the right knee joint replacement, I figured this time would be easier. . . Hah. . . .was I ever incorrect!!!!

The surgeon said that my surgery went just as well as the first. For me, I had much more pain at the three internal incision sites. While the external incision healed well and the joint replacement parts continue to function well, those other painful areas stopped forward progress. 

Pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies

First, the area on the inside of my knee was so sore, barely touching the area with my finger tips caused me pain. The surgeon makes a half moon internal incision in that area to access where the leg bones attach to the joint. It made sense to me why this area was so sore. 

Pumpkin scones

Massage and laser treatments at PT provided a little relief at the appointment. By the time I returned home, the area was back to being painful. I had a body massage which helped that area. I tried KT cream, which is a magnesium and arnica cream. The cream did help relax the muscles. The product is made in the USA. Also, I found taking a magnesium glycerinate supplement helpful to relax the muscles.

Second, I was unable to lift my leg with a straight leg raise until last week. The surgeon makes an internal incision through the quadricep muscle to access the knee cap. We tried all sorts of ways to wake up the nerves. Some days, while my husband was doing the leg lifting, the muscle would try to work. The result would make me laugh because the leg would shake, swing erratically or just suddenly lose all movement. My husband thought I was playing around!

Starbucks-like pumpkin bread

Third, the area on the outside of my knee, where the ligaments are reattached, was super sore. The surgeon makes an incision in this area to be able to reattach the ligaments. Last time, I had some of the same results; but, the pain was much less because from mid thigh to mid shin, that area was numb. This time, I have a lot more active nerves.

Fourth, pain under my knee cap made movements like heel slides and squats too painful. Swelling caused the knee cap not to be able to slide so that was the reason for the pain. 

Using heat during the day, I stretched the muscles and walked gingerly around the house. I needed to use the walker because walking heel to toe caused me a pain range of 5-7 depending what part of my foot touched the floor. Shoes on or off. . . it didn't change the pain level. At night, I used ice to try to sleep through the pain. 

Pumpkin sourdough bread

I could sit in my chair with my leg somewhat elevated. Elevating it any higher caused me too much pain. I could lay in bed in two side laying positions. I could gingerly walk around; but, that was it. The position and the continual pain didn't work for reading, hand stitching and even watching tv sometimes was a no go. I even had to forgo reading and replying to blog posts!!

Water exercise with my friend, Wendy, in her home pool

Ditch quilting on a RSC project

Even though it was painful, every day, I tried to do my previous exercises. Most days were epic fails. Week six, PT moved me from the walker to the cane after I had some relief from the pain on the inside of my knee. I found I could turn my knee to the neutral position which I had been unable to do. Late in the week, I could do five to 10 leg raises on my own. I also did some walking in my friend Wendy's pool. I sure have missed the water!!!

Week seven, I was able to do a set of 20 leg raises on my own. I practiced standing by baking pumpkin recipes. My granddaughters were over the previous weekend. We opened a large can of pumpkin puree to use half a cup to make pumpkin sugar cookies. I didn't want the puree to go to waste! 

The first recipe I made was Soft Pumpkin Snickerdoodle cookies which used half a cup of puree. I had to take a break putting together the wet and then the dry ingredients. Once I mixed the cookies, I found I needed to sit to shape the cookies. I rested before I did the clean up and later that day, my leg had lots of pain.

Once the pain abated some, I tried working on my sitting skills. I did some ditch quilting on a Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) project. Gosh, it felt good to Zoom with my Friday group and make progress on a project!!! I stood up and walked a bit every 30 minutes and I took a couple hour breaks. I was able to hang with the group for about six hours.

The following day, I made Pumpkin Scones which used three quarters of a cup of puree. I did better standing while mixing the ingredients. While the scones were baking, I mixed up a batch of sourdough pumpkin bread. It needed to raise overnight. The bread recipe used three quarters of a cup of puree. 

A few more neutrals ready for the mystery 

When the scones came out of the oven, I decided it would be a good day to share a few with my friend, Wendy. I also wanted to try driving. I did drive and made the delivery. . .I asked for a few hugs which were given and felt so good!!! I'm glad my friend lives fairly close as that was far enough with a break for my first foray. It means that I'll be driving myself to PT. Driving means freedom for both me and my husband!! I did not try sitting and quilting as my knee was too sore.

The third day, I made a batch of pumpkin bread that is supposed to taste like what is sold at Starbucks. The recipe called for a cup of puree, I was probably a quarter cup short. I made the recipe anyway! It looked good and smelled good. How it tastes will have to wait until Christmas. After it cooled, I froze it. Our London daughter likes Starbucks pumpkin bread so I wanted her to do the taste test. I also baked the sourdough pumpkin bread. I finally used all of the puree!

This morning to practice standing, I ironed a few of my neutral fabrics for the upcoming Bonnie Hunter The Old Town mystery. I have a lot of neutrals ready for the first clue. I still feel unsteady walking with the cane; but, every day I see and feel improvement . . .at LAST! 

I'm off to do some ditch quilting. Goal number six on my November list was to continue with my knee PT. Goal number 11 on my November list was to do some ditch quilting on a RSC project. 

Old Town--Bonnie Hunter's 2024 Mystery--post 1

Bonnie's paint chips of the colors

Bonnie Hunter released her introductory clue to her 2024 Mystery which she has named Old Town. I like that she shares paint chips of the colors which helps me in choosing fabrics for the mystery.

While I like the colors, I don't have salmon fabrics. I considered purchasing some fabric. Then, I looked at the boxes of bits in my stash and said to myself. . .'Get a grip. . .use what you have!" 

I barely had enough of the aqua fabric. The red was easy to gather. Then I "got" to decide what color I was substituting for the salmon. 

My fabric pull minus the neutrals

I looked again at Bonnie's inspiration photos and noticed that there was evidence of green, purple and yellow. I didn't have enough purple in my stash and the value I have might be too close to the red. I have a ton of green scraps; but, that color combination didn't excite me. 

Then, I pulled my yellow scraps. I've been picking up a fat quarter here and there as well as picking up bits from the free table. I liked the way the yellow would interact with the red and the aqua. So yellow it was! I've lots of neutrals and most are already prepped. 

Some of my background fabrics

Last weekend, my oldest granddaughter helped me prewash the yellow fabric. She was amazed to find one of the yellow fabrics bled orange! I was so thankful for her help!

I had already prewashed the red. I had one fabric I the aqua that needed to be prewashed, All have been prewashed, dried, sized with Faultless fabric sizing. The Stayflo liquid starch that I used in the past is no longer produced. Faultless merged or bought out Niagara so sometimes both names are listed on the label. I've raided my "precuts" for strips that work with my fabric pull. I'm ready for clue number one!

My precuts that might work into the pattern

Gathering and prepping the mystery fabrics was goal number eight on my November list. Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday; Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap.

Guest Blogger--Miss J (10 Years Old)

Sourdough pancake breakfast

Hello fellow earthlings, I am almost turning eleven this year, and I'm stoked! School is okay, PE is sadly no longer my favorite subject because we got a new PE teacher.(The old one moved to Florida.) 

At school we also got a new curriculum, where we have a big book where there are small sections from stories. We read one or two a week, depending on their length. There are two books each with five or so modules. All of this would be pretty great... if I didn't all ready finish all of one of the books. 

Also, I'm participating in a soccer tournament. We already played one game. Sadly, we lost it 2-0. We really lacked communication and rather passed at the wrong time or went head on to like 5. My favorite coach is the main coach for the tournament team and my favorite side coach is helping in the tournament too! My favorite coach also gives out players of the match awards, and guess who he gave it to....ME! And yes I did get both players of the game. 

My sister on pancakes

Saturday, I hung out with my grandma. I made thick crispy bacon and my sister made amazing pancakes! We served my grandma because she is still recovering from her knee surgery.

Bacon ready to eat

Then, I helped my grandma by dusting, and I mean dusting every single piece of furniture that could be dusted. Then, we chilled and watched a TV show. We decide what dessert we should make. We decided to make pumpkin cookies with a homemade pumpkin spice glaze. 

Wheat berry salad with feta and olive bread

Then we prepared a lunch of wheat berry salad. Then, we made those pumpkin cookies and we started watching the Beaver football game. At half time, we taste tested the cookies. They were delicious!

My sister making the cookies

We were upset about the Beavers losing. My mom and grandpa went to see the game, so that was the reason we spent the day with our grandma. The day has been such a blast!

.

The finished cookies

Also, a note from soccer. A lot of my teammates are doing footsol but I am not because I love to have a tiny break from soccer for the winter.

This post takes care of goal number ten on my grandma's November list which was to document an activity with my grandma, sister and me!
                                 

                                                       

Goal number ten on my November list was to share the results of the Mt. Hood Quilt Guild Show, "Quilts of the East Wind," which was held November 1 and 2. To test my knee that I had joint replacement surgery on October 1, I rode with my husband to drop off my two quilt entries. Using my walker, I slowly made my way to the drop off point. That short walk was too much for me. I knew that I wouldn't physically be able to see the show. I asked my friend Nancy to take photos of my two quilts so I would at least see a photo of them hanging. She did send me photos and was I ever surprised! I'm including the judge's comments.

Chilhowie--2022 Bonnie Hunter Mystery

Judge's comments: "Chilhowie: Highly successful color scheme. Excellent piecing technique. Organc quilting design contrasts well with geometric piecing. Fabulous variety of prints with well-considered placement from one block to the next. Pieced binding unifies quilt top well. Binding witdh should be consistent. Outside edges should be straight." Second place--pieced large.

Second Place--Pieced Large

Judge's comments: "Lone Star: Stunning visual impact. Excellent piecing technique. Well chosen fabric for star center. It creates a strong focal point. Red quilting thread color is a good choice to contrast well with the blue background fabric. Very good variety of quilting designs. Change in quilting thread color is thoughtful. Excellent binding technique. Outside edges should be straight."

Lone Star

This was the third show for this guild. It was the first time that participants could have their quilts judged. About 40 percent of the entrants chose to have their quilts judged. The judge posted on Facebook a photo of my Lone Star quilt with the following comment: "On Wednesday, I judged the quilt show for the Mt. Hood Quilt Guild. This was their first judged show. I'm sharing here the best of show quilt created by Terry Knott, whom I would call a very confident quilter. Look how she used red three on a blue background. No blending thread for her." It was so cool to be tagged and see that comment!!!

Best of Show--First Place Pieced Large

Of course, all Sunday, I was smiling from ear to ear!!! The award for the Lone Star quilt is especially meaningful to me because I had started quilting the background on my domestic machine when I was rear ended on a car accident. It was months before I could sit at the machine to piece. For more months, the only way I could quilt was using a walking foot. Eventually, I was able to free motion quilt in 15 to 30 minute increments. (Spending more time caused my neck to have spasms and my arms and hands to loose feeling.) I'm not as proficient as I was before the car accident, but, I still can free motion quill!

Linking to Cynthia at Oh Scrap!

Brown--Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Brown selvages

Goal number nine on my November list was to catch up with the blocks for the 2024 Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC). I wasn't able to make the brown blocks last month so I put them on the list for this month. I didn't think that I had enough "brown" selvages as brown is not a color I often use in my projects.

Some of the selvages

I pulled selvages that were some shade of brown. I decided that I had enough so I cut some selvages to length and began gluing them into blocks.

Lots of segments ready for stitching

I began gluing the bits together. It wasn't too long and I had a bunch ready for stitching.

A few selvages

This is the first activity I've done since my knee surgery on October 1. I needed to take a lot of breaks. in fact, I waited a day to do the actual stitching!

A few more selvages

It felt great to be back in the studio! Linking to Alycia and Finished or Not Friday and Angela at So Scrappy. 

October ReCap and November Goals

 

Panto pattern for QOV front

My October goals were:

✖1. Cut the fabrics for the 2024 temperature quilt. Piece blocks if possible.

✔2. Embroider the legend of Rita's temperature quilt.

✔3. Embrace PT for my left knee--joint replacement surgery is October 1! 

✔4. Begin a mini handwork project using scraps.

✔5. Document the making of the back of the guild challenge quilt.

✔6. Document the latest sourdough recipes.

✖7. Catch up with the August bonus lesson and the September and October embroidery software lessons.

✖8. Document the art classes I did through the 2024 Sketchbook Revival online course.

✔9. Document the art classes I did with my school age granddaughters.

✔10. Document the last few days of play with my youngest granddaughter.

✖11. Select fabrics for the Rainbow Scrap challenge. The color is brown.

While I wasn't able to machine sew in October, I still accomplished the majority of my list. My favorite post of

Panto pattern for QOV back

the month, was the one that my 12 year old granddaughter wrote. She was tickled that her post had so many views. When there was a comment to the post, I'd text her the comment. She texted back an answer each time. Her responses were fun to read. 

My November goals are:

1. Trim, bind, label and sleeve the QOV that I started back in August. It's back from the quilter.

2. Trim, bind, label and sleeve Indigo Way that was the Bonnie Hunter mystery last year. The quilter delivered it last Friday.

3. Catch up with the 2024 Temperature quilt.

4. Determine the fabrics for the 2025 Temperature quilt.

5. Determine the pattern for the 2025 Temperature quilt.

6. Continue with my knee PT rehabilitation.

7. Complete the August bonus lesson and the September embroidery software lessons.

8. Gather fabrics for the 2024 Bonnie Hunter mystery. Have enough prepped to begin the mystery on 11/22.

9. Finish the blocks for the 2024 Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

10. Share the results of the Mt. Hood Quilters Guild show.

11. Make progress stitching in the ditch on a RSC project.

12. Document any play time with the two older granddaughters.

I do hope that I'll be back in the studio soon. I'll try again today. I might be able to cut a few pieces of fabric and maybe sew a few together. Regarding my knee: yesterday was the first day that I could sit with my knee in the neutral position. Perhaps, I'll be turning the corner soon and see some rapid progress with this rehab process. It's been a tough 32 days since surgery. The new parts are not the issue. It is all the muscles, tendons and ligaments that support those new parts that are giving me the issues.

Linking to Cynthia at Oh Scrap.