'Dear Jane' has left the building

 Sunday, December 12, 2021

I have taken the last stitches in the client's Dear Jane. This has been FUN!!!! I just hope that the client is happy with the quilt. What an experience this has been. I have had so much input from so many great longarm quilters. That just goes to prove that we support each other no matter the situation. 

Tomorrow I'll pull this off of the frame and try to get some good pictures of the quilting. I have a little surgery scheduled for Tuesday and I won't be allowed at the machines for a couple of days. I really want good pictures of this whole quilt. However, this is the digital work up that I do as I finish an area. Then when the quilting is complete I have something on the screen that looks like this: 

Now, I still need to un zip one end of the quilt so that I can check to make sure everything is stitched, clip threads, and generally admire the back. As I look at this mock up, I am very, very pleased with the out come. This has been a thought process for 10 months and to actually see it come to a reality is pretty special. 

I estimated the actual stitching time on this quilt to be 60 hours. Could, and probably was, more than that, but I think 60 is a good estimate. That does not count the hours spent on line doing research and finding different block designs. The 'stand and stare' was done before the top ever arrived at my house. 

So, I am going to up load some pictures. Verity has her quilt in hand and now she starts working on the binding. I really look forward to seeing it complete in the next several months. She is very meticulous  with her work, so I'm sure it will be beautiful. 

Would I quilt another one. Yes, I would. This is the second 'Jane' I have done. The first one we did in Baptist Fan edge 2 edge. This one is full custom all the way through. I love the way that both of them turned out. I would love to do another one...... or 10.......

Have a great day!!

        ONE LOOSE THREAD!!

The Epic Quilt Story Continues

 Today is Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. It's raining here in South Carolina and the day is very gray. We haven't had measurable rain in weeks, so this is really welcome. My container gardens really need this rain and the collards and lettuces look very happy. 

I am spending this day in the studio working on 'Dear Jane'. I have ditched and plotted rows # 9 and 10. The block designs have been placed and I am currently stitching them out. Things are looking good. 

OK.......... things are moving along. I have ditched and plotted row 11 and Olivia Statler is busy stitching out those designs. Next up will be the triangles to match these rows.

Do you realize that will leave me with one row and a full triangle border to do? So, I must start thinking about what I will stitch in the corner kites. I have some ideas, but, I'm trying hard not to use the same designs that Lynn used. Need something a little different.... maybe.

Oh my, Batiks Etc just announced that they have the new Jacqueline de Jonge Purple Sunrise Block of the Month. I have been waiting for this, so, of course I had to stop and order. Purple and orange can really be my downfall.  

That will make 2 BOM's for 2022. The other will be 'Toes in the Sand' with Tula Pink and Jay Bird Quilts. Guess I better get busy finishing the BOMs for 2021. 

Well, it's the end of the day. and when you see this picture, you might think that not much was done. That's just not true. Remember how I told you that the Stitch in the Ditch would not show on these pictures. Well, I spent several hours finishing all of the ditch stitching. The quilt is now ready to finish. I have several appointments away from the studio tomorrow, so there won't be anytime to work on Jane. However, Friday I'll be back to work with her. She is moving along and will be ready for pick up before long. 

That's it for today. I have poured a glass of wine and it's time to wind down. Hope you have a really good night.

Joyce-One Loose Thread

And the Story Continues Dec. 7, 2021

Today is Monday, December 7, 2021. I am reminded of the fact that this is Pearl Harbor Day. We were taught that this day would "live in infamy", but will it? How much of our history is being erased? Just a thought. While I freely quilt today, in my studio, in my own home, in a town and state that I love, in a country that I believe in, I will say thanks to the hundreds of thousands that have served this country just so I could do that. (how is that for a 'run-on' sentence?) Seriously, take more than a second to think about the many that gave so much. 

Now, on to the business of the day. 

The bookkeeper had a procedure yesterday and we are not sure that she will be in to post retreat registrations until next week. So, if you don't hear from me this week, don't worry. Everything will come together before Christmas.

February registrations are steady. There is still plenty of room, but, you need to get those registrations in soon.

May Mester 2022 registration continues. There are plenty of cottage rooms available and lots of room to sew in both the Judy Niemeyer class and the Sit and Sew. Gather your friends and join the fun. 

This is where I stopped last week:

Believe it or not, I am almost half way. That is a good thing. Olivia Statler is ready to continue our work. I need to put in 4-5 hours today. I am very pleased with how this is going............so don't let bad karma mess this up! 

I'm finished for the day. I did manage to ditch stitch 4 rows (remember that those stitches don't show up on the screen). Also, plotted, set, and stitched 3 of those rows and a few triangles.

Things are moving along. I have another full day open tomorrow and we are going to carry on with this. I hope to also load Penelope Statler with an e2e that can run in the background. 

So, have a good evening and I'll be back tomorrow!

Joyce-One Loose Thread

The Story of the Epic Quilt-Dec. 4, 2021

 Today is Friday, Dec. 4, 2021. My primary focus for working today is 'Dear Jane'.

So this is where I stopped last night:

I am so please with how this is working out.

Today, nothing else will get stitched. Penelope Statler has a finished quilt that is waiting for me to take it off of the frame. But, it can just sit there until Monday.

 I will have to do some paper work for February quilt retreat. Pat probably won't be in to work for another week, so have to log in registrations for both February and May retreats. Both are going well, I would just like to fill them both. The two retreats are so different, that they invite different groups to attend. That's a good thing. We all get to meet new quilters and learn new things. So, while I do that, I will be plotting and stitching on Jane.

It's the end of the day. Around 6:00. Time to pour a glass of wine and have a look at what has been accomplished. 

Everything that shows in black is what was stitched today. I AM HALF WAY!!!

That's it for today. I'll be back with this quilt on Monday and all of next week. 

I hope everyone has a really good weekend. 

Joyce-One Loose Thread

The Story of an Epic Quilt

I met this quiltmaker probably 10+ years ago. I think that she has been working on this quilt all of that time, but, you would have to ask her. I do know that every time I saw her at a retreat, she was working on her 'Dear Jane'. It's been a true journey for her. I am honored to be in a position to quilt this for her.

 This was taken when we hung the finished quilt top during one of my retreats at Camp Gravatt. Many of the 'Frayed Knots' have watched Verity work on this quilt. Through this quilt, many have learned the story of the 'Dear Jane' quilt and how it came to be. Actually, a whole new generation of quilters have come to know this quilt.

Since before I knew that I would get this quilt into my studio for quilting, I have been planning how I would want to quilt a Dear Jane. I knew that I wanted to preserve the heritage of the quilt. Verity also pieced this top with 30's reproduction fabrics, so, wanted to work well with that too. I have looked at thousands of pictures on Pinterest for ideas. I have talked with other longarmers that have quilted this quilt. One longarmer that has really helped me with choosing designs is Lynn. She really got me started on design choices and that has made this journey a little easier. Verity chose a solid backing for her quilt, so the quilting will actually show more on the back than the front. I like that. I like for quilting to take a backseat to the piecing on a quilt such as this. Batting is Quilter's Dream Wool. Thread is Superior's Bottom Line in the bobbin and Sew Fine through the needle. So, preliminary decisions have been made. Next comes loading the quilt. 

December 2, 2021 is loading day. This should have happened over a week ago, but, today is finally the day. 

Usually I totally baste a custom quilt on my frame before taking the first quilting stitches in it. However, I am approaching this quilt differently. I have spent lots of time with this top and know it to be flat and square. There should be no issues. There will be no thread color changes, so, I am going to start at the top and work my way down. Verity has drawn the scallops in below the triangles, so I have a really good visual and will know where to quilt and where to stop the quilting. 

I spent 3-4 hours this morning deciding on the actual designs that I want to go in the blocks and triangles. I have studied all of my examples. Lynn sent me some great pictures and I have added some designs from other designers to my collection. Time to start stitching.

Since I am starting at the top, the first thing I have done is to stitch in the ditch the full upper border and the first 2 rows of blocks. 

NOW IS THE TIME!!! I plotted the plain triangles, set the designs, adjusted where necessary, and started stitching. Olivia Statler and I stitched out all of the plain triangles with a nice tall feather design. Looks good! I am not 100% comfortable with the design I am looking at for the pieced/appliqued triangles, so, I'll sleep on it and decide tomorrow.

I used my Statler program, Creative Studio, and drew out the design that I wanted in the scallops. Have to make sure that I leave Verity plenty of room for that binding. I plotted those, and placed the design. Olivia Statler stitched these perfectly following my guidelines. 

This is how the day finished. The stitch in the ditch will not show on these pictures because I dropped the belts on the Statler and used a ruler and hand guided the stitching. Time to call it a day. Tomorrow will be all about this quilt.

December 3, 2021, It is a beautiful day here is South Carolina. At one point today my thermometer was reading 80 degrees! In DECEMBER!!! I just love it. The only thing on my schedule today is Verity's Dear Jane. 

As I said yesterday, I didn't feel comfortable with the design I had chosen for the pieced/appliqued triangles, so this morning I am in search of one that I feel will work better. I love the one that Lynn had used in her quilt for the plain triangles, but, felt that this needed something different. I finally found it. Printed out my block design listing and started plotting and placing designs. First in the pieced/appliqued triangles. Stitched those. Yep, I made the right decision for this quilt. These look great!

Next will be the blocks in the first 2 rows of the quilt. These have been 'ditched' and are ready to quilt. I have plotted and placed every other block and stitched them. Then I placed the rest of the blocks in the row and stitched them. I am in a great place to start working down the side borders. Usually I turn the quilt to do these, but, with these designs, I can work the side borders as I roll the quilt. Those triangles have been ditched, plotted, and designs placed and stitched. 

I am not working the corner kites just yet. Decisions need to be made on those areas. They will wait until later. 

It is now 5:30 in the afternoon and I am ditching the next set of rows. I had hoped to be farther along, but, this stuff takes TIME!! So, it's time to call it quits for today. Tomorrow will, again, be all about this quilt. 

Pouring a glass of wine and putting my feet up. Ribs in the oven........... LIFE IS GOOD!!!

This is what I have to this point. What's in black was stitched today. Again, the stitch in the ditch will not show on these photos. 

More to come tomorrow. Have a great night. 

Joyce-One Loose Thread. 

Registration is open for February 2022 Quilt Camp with One Loose Thread

 

Registration form is available by clicking on the link in the header of the blog. If you have problems, send me an email and I will send you the form.

FEBRUARY 2022 QUILT RETREAT

Gravatt Conference Center, Aiken, S. C. 

Wednesday, February 23-Sunday, February 27, 2022

Registrations will be taken as received.

 Waiting list will be started once a certain number is met. So, register early!!

This is a UFO event, with an optional Mystery thrown in. You work on your own projects and just have a relaxing good time. Quilters of all levels from beginner to professional.
All meals are provided by the fantastic Gravatt kitchen!  No dishes to wash!!! 
Walking paths all over the camp so that you can get your daily exercise. Walk by the lake and just lose yourself in your surroundings.
Nothing is structured except meal times.
Your fee includes
Neat and clean lodging in either Cole Lodge or Our quaint cottages.
The rooms in Cole Lodge sleep 2 and have their own bathrooms.
The cottage rooms have adjoining rooms, each sleeping 2, with a shared bathroom.
All meals starting with dinner on Wednesday night and ending with lunch/brunch on Sunday.

Mystery Quilt instructions made available to everyone

A 6-foot table all to yourself as your work area
Ironing surfaces furnished by One Loose Thread
Raised cutting surfaces
Snack Area

Massage available
Lots of Laughter
Of course, a few surprises will be thrown into the mix. 
Any Questions should be directed to:

One Loose Thread Quilting, 630 Planters Drive, Columbia, S. C. 29209

630p@bellsouth.net

Questions? Call 803-776-5801---the Studio

 

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR MAY MESTER 2022- CERTIFIED JUDY NIEMEYER INSTRUCTOR AND A SIT A SEW RETREAT OPEN TO ALL

 

REGISTRATION FORM AVAILABLE BY CLICKING THE TITLE IN THE HEADER. 

May Mester 2022- Dual Retreat-Fun for all!

Gravatt Conference Center, Aiken, S. C. 

Wednesday May 18 – Sunday May 22, 2022

Registrations will be taken as received.

 Register early!!

This will be a dual retreat. One Group will be working on their own projects. A second group will be enjoying the class of Judy Niemeyer projects with instruction by our certified instructor Elsa Neubauer!! Classes will be 8 hours each day for 3 days!!

We will all gather together for meals and evening fellowship each day. Other than class time, the schedule will be unstructured. You can take walks by the lake, enjoy the solitude, take a nap, have a massage.

All of this while enjoying the wonderful food from the Gravatt kitchen and the peace and solitude of Gravatt Camp and Conference Center.

Your fee includes

Day Students: Your class fee and 3 delicious lunches from the Gravatt Kitchen.

Class Students: All food and lodging plus your class fee and all other amenities.

Sit and Sew Frayed Knots: All food and lodging plus everything else you have come to love from One Loose Thread such as:

Neat and clean lodging in either Cole Lodge or Our quaint cottages.
The rooms in Cole Lodge sleep 2 and have their own bathrooms.
The cottage rooms have adjoining rooms, each sleeping 2, with a shared bathroom.
All meals starting with dinner on Wednesday night and ending with Brunch on Sunday afternoon.

A 6-foot table all to yourself as your work area
Ironing surfaces furnished by One Loose Thread
Raised cutting surfaces
Snack Area

Massage available
Lots of Laughter
Of course, a few surprises will be thrown into the mix. 

Any Questions should be directed to JOYCE GREER, One Loose Thread Quilting, LLC

630 Planters Drive, Columbia, S.C. 29209

Studio phone: 803-776-5801

 

Elsa suggests these patterns for beginners:

Spice Rack                                        Fractured Paint Box

Fractured Star                                    Star Baby

Triple Divide                                     Color Spectrum

Desert Sky                                        Zen Garden

Trifari Jewels                                    Antique Lighthouse

Placemats (Watermelon, Broken Daisy, My2Baby Sisters)

Table Runners ( Cactus Flower)

Those with previous experience with Judy's patterns are open to bring their own projects and Elsa will help us with them. She will need to know, well in advance, which pattern you will be working with. I know that I have at least 2 that I need to restart. 

Registration for November Quilt retreat is now closed

 Yes, tables have been ordered. Rooms have been assigned. Surprises have been planned. Now, it's time for some last minute 'stuff' and then packing will begin. It's a process and one that I have been going through for many years now. So, start your countdown!! 

I am so happy that we will all be sewing in the same building for this event. I have really missed being with many of my quilting 'peeps' as we contribute our quarters to the special kitty. 

Letters went out by email last weekend with the supply list, health forms and a map. I'll also be in touch next week to talk about lunch on Tuesday as we check in (I'm sure some caramel cake will be included with this). 

What projects are you bringing? Bring stacks of 'show and tell'. 

Make sure that your balance is paid and, LET'S GO SEW!!!

PS.... registration for May Mester 2022 will begin next week, so stay tuned............ Registration for February 2022 will begin the first week of December. 

REGISTRATION FOR NOVEMBER 2021 QUILT RETREAT

November Mid-week retreat with One Loose Thread

 

Gravatt Conference Center, Aiken, S. C. 

Tuesday, November 9 – Friday, November 12, 2021

Registrations will be taken as received. Attendance will be controlled by Covid-19 guidelines and is subject to change. Register early!!

This is a UFO event. You work on your own projects and just have a relaxing good time. Quilters of all levels from beginner to professional.
All meals are provided by the fantastic Gravatt kitchen!  No dishes to wash!!! 
Walking paths all over the camp so that you can get your daily exercise. Walk by the lake and just lose yourself in your surroundings.
Nothing is structured except mealtimes.
Your fee includes
Neat and clean lodging in either Cole Lodge or Our quaint cottages.
The rooms in Cole Lodge sleep 2 and have their own bathrooms.
The cottage rooms have adjoining rooms, each sleeping 2, with a shared bathroom.
All meals starting with dinner on Tuesday night and ending with lunch/brunch on Friday.

A 6-foot table all to yourself as your work area
Ironing surfaces furnished by One Loose Thread
Raised cutting surfaces
Snack Area

Massage available
Lots of Laughter
Of course, a few surprises will be thrown into the mix. 
Any Questions should be directed to:

One Loose Thread Quilting, 630 Planters Drive, Columbia, S. C. 29209

630p@bellsouth.net

Questions? Call 803-776-5801---the Studio

November Mid-week Retreat with One Loose Thread

Gravatt Conference Center, Aiken, SC

Tuesday, November 9, 2021 – Friday, November 12, 2021

 Name:_________________________________________________________

 Address:_______________________________City,State,Zip__________________________________

Phone: Home________________Work_________________Cell________________________________

Email: ______________________________________________

√	Lodging Type	Rate
	Motel-Single	$679.00
	Motel-Double	$580.00
	Cottage-Single	$619.00
	Cottage-Double	$550.00

One Loose Thread is not responsible for finding roommates. If you reserve a double and no roommate can be found, then OLT will bill you for the difference.
These fees include lodging and all meals beginning with Tuesday supper through Friday brunch. Check-in no earlier than 1:00 PM on Tuesday. Check out of rooms by 10:00 AM on Friday. Check out of Sewing area by 1:00 on Friday.

A deposit of $200.00 of your fee and signed registration form should be sent to:

One Loose Thread Quilting, 630 Planters Drive, Columbia, S. C. 29209

You do not have a reserved space until I have this paperwork.

Total included: $________________ with registration form. If you have special dietary needs, contact me and we can discuss how these can be handled.

Request Massage? _______. Requested Roommate___________________. Sew-Ezy Table?___________

 Email confirmation when registration is received.  Remaining balance is due October 15, 2021.

                I understand that by completing this registration form and making my deposit, I am obligated for the total cost of this event. Also, if, for any reason, I am unable to attend and cannot find someone to assume my reservation, I am financially responsible for the full amount of the balance. Personal liability waiver and indemnification agreement:  Your safety and the security of you and your equipment is taken very seriously, but neither the retreat organizers nor Gravatt Conference Center will be held liable for any personal injury, loss/theft or damage anytime during the retreat. Your attendance constitutes your agreement to indemnify the organizer and Gravatt Conference Center from any claim for injury, loss or damage for any reason. You are responsible for any damage to the retreat center property, facilities, or equipment caused by you through negligence or willful intent.

Signature: _________________________________  Date: __________________   

 

May Mester, Judy Neimeyer, and UFO'S!!

 Mark these dates on your 2022 calendar!!  

MAY 18 - 22, 2022!!

These are the dates of our quilt retreat that will be the first time in a while we have tried having a dual retreat. One building will be for 'Sit and Sew' UFO projects and the other will be featuring a Certified Judy Niemeyer instructor, Elsa Neubauer, for 3 full days of instruction! More on that in a minute.

One building will be our usual 'Bring your own projects' type of set up. You can bring out all of those UFO's that you started in 2020/2021 and work to finish a few. Or, you can start something new and exciting. Start sewing on Wednesday evening and sew until you leave Sunday after brunch!! You will be working independently but will have others with you that have many different levels of quilting skill from beginner to seasoned professional. You will be sewing in a sharing environment where if you need some help or an opinion they will be readily available.  We all learn so much from each other. Especially during retreat time. I will furnish your ironing surfaces and ample cutting surfaces. You will have a full 6 foot table to use all to yourself. 

The class for the Judy Niemeyer quilts will be a closed class where those attending will have the full attention of our Certified Instructor. She will not be available for those attending the UFO side of the retreat. 

I am looking forward to introducing the 'Frayed Knots' to Elsa Neubauer, Certified Instructor for Judy Niemeyer and Quiltworx. 

For 3 full days!!! That's right!! We will start our class on Thursday morning and you will have 6 hours of instruction each day!! That is on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!!! Your evenings can be used to work on your Niemeyer projects or something else that you might like to use to 'clear your brain'. The choice is yours. 

Elsa will guide us through the different techniques of many of the Quiltworx patterns. Those that you have had in project boxes that are partially finished, this is the time to pull them out and get excited about finishing them up. I know I have 2 or 3 that I need help 'finding' a starting point again. If you are new to these quilts, Elsa has a good number of 'beginner' quilts that she will be glad to use to introduce you to Judy's process of quiltmaking. 

I will furnish ample cutting and ironing areas for the group to use. You will have a full 6 foot table, so plenty of area to spread out and work. 

Here are just a couple of the recommended beginner projects. There will be more.

The whole weekend will be full of fun and laughter. Friends and fabric. Great Gravatt food and just an all around fantastic experience. 

In the evenings we will share stories and quilts that we have made. Everyone will get to meet and be with everyone else attending for the weekend. Elsa will present  a trunk show for all of us to enjoy. I'm sure I can come up with a surprise or maybe even 2.......as most of you know, you can never tell what I might come up with. 

And yes, there will be massage available. There are those of us that will really need some attention from our Licensed Massage Therapist. 

So, mark your calendars. Start planning what you will stitch on. Get your registrations in early. 

Once you have registered, Elsa will be available to assist in your choice of patterns for the Niemeyer group. We will also need to know, in advance, what pattern(s) you will be working on so that Elsa be up to date with instruction for those projects. 

Due to the need to plan patterns and fabrics for the Judy Niemeyer class, you will be allowed to register earlier than usual. Fees will be published by the first of November 2021 and we will start registration. The retreat fee for those taking the Judy Niemeyer class will be different than for those doing 'sit and sew'. This would make a great Christmas gift and I do sell gift certificates.

So, watch the facebook page. Check your email. Watch the blog!! If I don't have a current email address for you, send me your new one to 630p@bellsouth.net  (remove all of the spaces in the address). 

Please be aware that I will also be registering for November and February retreats at the same time, so things could get a little confusing. I'll do my best to keep all of this straight!

That's it for now. There will be more to come in the next few weeks. I am so excited to be able to offer this to everyone and I look forward to seeing some new 'Judy fanatics' becoming 'Frayed Knots'. 

QUILTS OF VALOR AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HOUSE

 I took some time this morning and ventured into downtown Columbia, SC. This is my hometown and I love driving around to see what's going on. I knew there was an event happening at the State House today and law enforcement would not be necessary. 

This is the sight that greeted me as I drove down Main Street toward the capitol building. This was what I was looking to see. 

I am so humbled to know that I was a part of this tribute to our veterans. What you are looking at is almost 500 quilts of valor AND presentation bags that have been stitched over the last few months. Several years ago the South Carolina Longarm Group did this:

Since that time, this event at the State House has been a dream. A dream that Anne Mixon and the SC Quilts of Valor Foundation has made real. If not for Anne, I am not so sure this would have happened.

While I sat at that stop light, tears just flowed. I am so proud to know so many of the men and women that made these quilts. So many hands worked on these quilts. From the collection of fabric, the cutting of the patterns, the stitching of the blocks, the quilting of the quilts, the binding of the edges,the sewing on on the labels........and don't forget the construction of the presentation bags. So many steps. So many hours. So much love. 

I personally want to thank the members of the South Carolina Longarm Group that really stepped up and quilted over 100 of these quilts. Many donated not only their time and expertise, but batting and thread and so much more. Doing this would have been more difficult without your help. Every time I ask for your help, you are right there and give freely of your time . Thank you so much. 

So, now I am going to over fill this post with pictures. Every picture that I have been able to capture/steal from facebook since I left my camera in my car. It was a beautiful day!! I really hope that many of you could see this 'live and in person'. 

It was a beautiful day and a outstanding event. Congratulations to Anne Mixon for a job well done!!