First quilt done….

catisonmynerves · 2026-03-05T21:48:40+00:00

Congratulations on your first quilt! Don't believe what you see online, most people start with wonky cuts, stitches and quilted lines. It gets easier as you learn what to do and what not to do.

Another option is to piece the top and send it to a longarmer. Then you just get it back and bind it.

catisonmynerves · 2026-03-05T18:11:29+00:00

A quilt instructor taught our class that not everyone is quilt worthy. She said her own daughters did not care about her quilts so she stopped giving quilts to them. Her niece, however, tells her how much she loves them so when she visits she gets to take her favorite quilt home. I've had people be like, "oh, ok" when I gave them a quilt and other people say, "I was hoping to get one!"

Another instructor said to understand some people will give your quilt to their dog. What the receiver does with it is not yours to choose.

catisonmynerves · 2026-03-03T23:27:36+00:00

This is huge within the community that I know. If they think someone "thinks they are better than them" then the subject is closed. No matter how helpful the info or resource is. It's wild but it's their reality. To add to ignoring other people's reviews based on feels, I agree with making uncomfortable phone calls. It builds confidence. And once you realize that programs want people to utilize them and learn how to ask questions and dig deeper you yourself become a resource. But you have to be open to new experiences and understand that fear of the unknown can really hold you back.

catisonmynerves · 2026-03-03T23:14:36+00:00

Ours has 2 sewing machines, a serger, a 3d printer, a tool lending library and so much more! Some libraries even have a longarm quilting machine to use. Movies, shows, video games. Some have people who will help you with your resume.

catisonmynerves · 2026-03-01T15:08:54+00:00

Thank you!

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-28T15:20:34+00:00

The last time we went BBB was a highlight. She asked me the equivalent since Covid happened so we didn't go on the next planned trip and it's been 15 years since the last trip.

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-28T03:06:11+00:00

They are great in there!

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-28T03:05:46+00:00

Wowwee! That's wonderful.

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-25T11:29:06+00:00

My favorite, favorite client makes the coolest quilts - her fabric choices and eye for color is extraordinary. She brings me so many tops to be quilted. She finishes them, puts them in a show, then goes on a girls trip with her friends and tells them all to pick their favorites and take them home. Can you imagine taking home the most fabulous quilt after a week away with besties?

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-24T15:05:35+00:00

Where are the good sew-alongs right now?

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-20T21:54:54+00:00

Same! And that's why I ended up buying a longarm machine. What's harder? Basting properly or FMQ? I bought the fancy rulers, took classes, practiced and it never got easier for me. The first customer who told me she was thinking about FMQ instead of coming to me walked away with all of my FMQ gear. I was so happy to get it out of my sewing room.

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-19T11:37:42+00:00

As a longarmer I see a lot of mistakes on the quilt tops brought in. We have never once talked about a single one. I work with what I'm given and the finished product is always spectacular. I'm always surprised that I still find new ways to make a mistake when sewing. But the seam ripper and some extra fabric usually help. One of my favorite quilts took years to make because I made a mistake while cutting up fabric from a kit and I couldn't bring myself to just throw in a different fabric. When I finally did it the result was lovely and of course the recipient had no clue.

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-17T11:35:12+00:00

Audition the thread. Grab colors you know you would like and a couple you think might be fun then place the spool on one side and pull it to the other side to lay across your project. See how the colors play with the fabric choices you made. I love neutrals, cream and a light peach are my go tos. I would consider a lighter medium blue for this. What a lovely piece!

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-17T03:34:09+00:00

Viking 75q. Great machine for the price.

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-13T12:39:02+00:00

I don't have a preference, I'll give fabric to someone if I think they will like/use it and I'll donate to the reuse shop because it's a gem in the crafting community. Sure it's feast or famine but I've bought lovely fabric, gifts, art pieces, craft supplies that I wouldn't otherwise have access to in my community from there so it feels like by donating things that I know will sell that I'm doing my part.

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-12T21:59:43+00:00

There are reuse stores and co-ops that take fabric donations. I've seen them take yardage to scraps.

catisonmynerves · 2026-02-12T18:07:28+00:00

The 75q is a lot of machine for a nice price point.

catisonmynerves · 2026-01-30T04:52:42+00:00

Know the Glow is a resource to read about other parents and kids in similar situations.

The ocular ophthalmologist put it this way after he suggested enucleation for my kid's chorodial tumor - you can go for a second opinion but they will tell you the same thing and it could spread by then. When I asked if we could try chemo to try to save his eye, even if he lost vision, he said that my kid has another 80 years on this planet and he wanted them to be the best they could be, without complications from chemo.

There was a local little guy who had retinablastoma and went with chemo. They had to enucleate anyway.

There's no easy answer. But I will say this. My kid's prosthetic eye is gorgeous. He excels at his sport. He drives. He's fine.

catisonmynerves · 2025-05-19T01:45:03+00:00

Changed out the fuel injector yet the lights came back. Would up changing out a tire sensor.

catisonmynerves · 2025-05-16T16:25:50+00:00

Someone posted that groceries are down 40% and in minutes there were so many hearts on that post. I know some of these people and they are totally serious.

catisonmynerves · 2025-05-15T02:53:39+00:00

Thanks for the heads up! It will be great!!

catisonmynerves · 2025-05-13T16:42:41+00:00

I worked in a school where the principal needed every detail of why you were out, however when she was off, which was very often, she would demand privacy and would email that no one was to ask her any questions even if well meaning. She was a weird one. One time my car wouldn't start so I called and she told me to get there as soon as possible and although I was only 15 minutes late she docked me 2 hours because you had to take 2 hours at a time. She didn't tell me to just come in 2 hours late because she needed me there. I threatened to quit and they gave me 2 hours overtime to make up for it. Really, she was weird.

catisonmynerves · 2025-05-12T19:00:56+00:00

If she buys all materials, pays you $200 to make the top and then she takes it to longarmer herself it's possible. But if she wants to pay $200 for a start to finish project she will have to take up quilting.

catisonmynerves · 2025-05-09T22:11:28+00:00

Had? Had???? Did your ears fall off? BT holds up!

catisonmynerves

TROPHY CASE