It's A Cynch!

I know.  I know.  I haven't posted in a while.  I've been extremely busy and I haven't had the time.  But I wanted to share with you a little project that I made this weekend.  It took longer than I thought and my sewing machine didn't like to cooperate.  But I finished it and it's really cute...more importantly, useful! I decided I needed a basket to keep all of my receipts till I file them.  So I used clothesline rope and wrapped scrap fabric around it and made a basket.  It's called a coiled fabric basket.  There are several blogs and help online.  The only tip I can suggest is to sew along the rope with a straight stitch to attach the fabric to the rope and it kind of flattens the rope, making it easier to sew.  I used the largest zigzag stitch and a heavy blue jean needle.  Don't forget the large blue jean needle. Or you will break needles.  Trust me...I speak from experience!  I even asked my husband to bring his needle-nosed pliers to help me get pa

My eyesight seems to be getting worse and worse. Quilting on the Handiquilter at night gave me headaches. I even borrowed my husband's headlamp. I went by Huntsville Sew and Vac and looked at all of the accessories for the Handiquilter. I saw this pack of LED lights that stick onto the frame. It made so much of a difference! I cut a section of the strip off and it made the rest a little brighter.

Sorry I haven't posted in a few weeks.  I've been so busy working on several projects.  I completed two t-shirt quilts in time for graduation presents!  I also finished a baby quilt for my brother's baby who is absolutely adorable!!  (I'm not biased at all!  💗 )  I am now working on another t-shirt quilt! OH!  Before I forget...I officially opened my little online shop.   It's A Cynch! is open for business! Like the name??  I can't take the credit.  My sister came up with it.  She's more creative than I am!  The link to my Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/IsACynch .   As soon as I figure out how to add the Facebook link on this blog, I will. I also got a new toy to help stabilize t-shirts faster.  I bought a heat press.  I researched and checked reviews and this one had really good reviews for the price.  It is quite heavy though!  But what would have taken me an entire day of watching Dr. Who on Amazon while ironing stabilizer onto thirty t-sh

My brother, Kevin, and his wife, Nicki, are expecting their first baby! We are all over the moon with excitement! We can't wait to meet this new little person! Defying the popular trend of finding out the sex, they have decided to let it be a complete surprise. I think that's more fun. So Nicki said she wanted neutral colors for the baby quilt. I fell in love with the scrap bin flying geese pattern. I used neutral colors with a tiny splash of aqua or blue-green. I said a tiny splash of aqua...I just loved the geometric pattern.  I used the leftovers to piece a modern quilt back.  The quilt is about the size of a lap quilt. I think that's a better size. They can use it for picnics and a play blanket. I have some bibs and burping rags to make.  I hope the baby knows how loved they are!  Meaningful gifts is what it's all about!  Happy quilting y'all!

I finished another graduation quilt!!! It's for a good friend of mine's son. And good thing too. He graduates in two weeks! It's the best one that I've made so far! I did black and gold sashing for Vanderbilt colors. I also embroidered "Vanderbilt university" on top and "Commodores" on the bottom border. The finished quilt is 96 inches wide x 130 inches long.  You may be wondering why it's so long. Nick is 6 foot 7 inches tall. So it should cover him nicely! Happy quilting y'all!

I decided to try my hand at using the rulers with my Handi-quilter. I was very nervous at first. The longarm is still new to me. I've mastered loops, but need to add to my arsenal of patterns. So...I watched a YouTube video (my go to "how to" site) and decided I would stitch in the ditch using the straight side of the ruler. It is really hard to stitch a straight line on the longarm without help.  How hard can it be with the help of a ruler??? It was the easiest thing to learn! I started slowly, but as I gained confidence, I got a little faster.  Unfortunately, I got over confident and accidentally tried to sew straight through the ruler! Besides sewing through my fingernail, it was one of the scariest thing to happen to me! (Maybe I should have stopped and gone to bed sooner!) The machine set off a loud alarm, the needle snapped (thank goodness the thread was threaded or it would have flown off...possibly toward my face) and I had this horrible thought that I had just

I finished the quilt for my friend, Donna, who is recovering from pancreatic cancer. She has been through so much and I just wanted to wrap her up in love and support. She didn't want her picture taken, so I can't share with you my strong, brave friend. She cried and said she couldn't believe I had taken the time to make the quilt for her. But I couldn't think of a better way to show her that I love her and am here supporting her as she goes through this awful journey. It's been hard to know what to do for her. So this little gift seemed perfect.  The quilt itself is a version of the rail fence pattern. I used a jelly roll to make it. Using precut jelly rolls, charm packs, layer cakes...I think someone was hungry when they made up these names...are a great way to make a quilted gift pretty quickly. A quilt is a gift that shows how much you love someone. And everytime they use it, they can feel your love! I have to add a shout-out to my friend, Melody. My Embroider

I haven't posted for over a week because my father in law got very sick and passed away on March 15.  He died from complications of COPD, emphysema and congestive heart.  I want to tell you about him. First of all, he loved his family.  He wasn't touchy, feely, huggy...but he loved us.  I think he always enjoyed a good hug.  But we had to come hug him.  He wouldn't come hug us first.  He told my husband once that I was special and he should be good to me.  I never let my husband forget that.  I think it's because I have an engineering degree and work in the same defense industry he did for so many years.  We had a quiet connection...mutual admiration as my mom told me.  I made him his favorite peanut butter pie for any and every occasion...any excuse I could think of, I would make him that pie. He probably shouldn't have had it, but I figured if I could give him something he enjoyed, then I would do it.  I usually made two so he could freeze one and have it later.

I'm getting a little better and more comfortable with long arming. I'm not sure that's a word. But I am! I finished two quilts this past weekend! Yup. Two! The Handiquilter makes it so easy to finish tops. I'm still working out getting it straight on the rollers. Once I figure out a good method, I'll share it with you. In order to get better at long arming, I decided to focus on loops this month...loops and hearts, loops and stars, loops and flowers...you get the idea. Then I'll move on to letters.  I wanted to show you guys my loops and hearts. I chose this design because I'm giving this quilt to a good friend of mine who is recovering from cancer. I wanted to make a happy quilt for her. I still have to bind it. So I'll post the completed quilt tomorrow night. I've learned to cheat on binding too. I'll share that tip with you tomorrow also.  Don't tell the ladies who taught me to quilt. They'd be a little disappointed. Ok. I'm done

I gave Matt's parents his finished quilt and they were ecstatic about it! I told Matt's dad about my idea for a quilt design wall. I have very little room for one. So I explained what it is and how I'd like the panels large enough to hang or stand in front of my shelves. He asked if I wanted it finished and fancy. I told him that I basically just needed a wooden frame. I'm a simple girl. I need something practical, not pretty! We joked about it and I figured he'd forget about our conversation. I got a surprise tonight when Matt's dad, Mark, knocked on our door with two wooden frames exactly the right size. It wasn't anything elaborate, but was such a thoughtful gift. My husband and I are blessed with such great friends.  The wooden frames are constructed from 1 x 4 boards cut to fit exactly in front of my shelves. The 1 x 4's are light enough that I can move them aside when I need access. I had bought a quilt design wall sheet by Fons & Porter from

There are several old sayings I could think of in my situation. I think I can. I think I can. Or my favorite: If at first you don't succeed , try , try again ! Maybe that last part should be: Walk away and drink a glass of wine! I volunteered to quilt one of the guild's charity tops. I thought I could use it as a practice piece for the Handiquilter.  Keep in mind this is only my second top I've loaded onto the rollers.  Two tries to get it straight. Grrr....Then I had issues with thread breakage. Thought my friend, Tension, and I were going to have a fight. Nope. Finally decided it's a bad spool. You find those every now and then. So with one eye on the spool to make sure it didn't double over on itself as it unrolled, I tried to quilt. Well, you can see the results for yourself. Practice makes perfect!  Right? Happy quilting ya'll???

I finished Matt's quilt this weekend.  I didn't think I would because we've had a family member in the hospital. My Handiquilter was delivered last Friday, but I didn't really get to play as much as I wanted.  Huntsville Sew and Vac and especially, Sherri were very good to work with.  If you're interested in a Handiquilter, ask for Sherri! I had a few minor glitches when I started quilting Matt's quilt.  But...Matt will never notice them.  I hope.Tension is still a four letter word to me.  But after Friday afternoon, maybe not so much.  I have to say, the Handiquilter is the most user friendly quilter I've ever used.  After a little nervousness, I finally had fun. So the top half of the quilt is not as nice as the bottom half.  But, hey.  They are friends and they'll understand if I used their quilt to practice on! Here are some of the designs I finally got brave enough to stitch.  I even wrote Matt's name and wrote "Goal" and "K