Opposities

This week has been all about opposites.

 These guys really are the opposites.

Don't you think?

I've worked on two projects this week.

One was "putting together"

and one was "taking apart".

Earlier this year,

 Dawn Heese of Linen Closets Designs 

began a series of little fusible wool baskets,

which were super cute.

 This week I finally got all the stitching done,

 and began putting them together,

into a table runner.

I used a Robert Kaufman

yarn dyed cotton called Manchester

as the sashing.

It worked perfectly with the Kaufman

Essex I had used for the background of the baskets.

 I know the runner looks a little weird like this,

but I wanted all the baskets facing in.

It does look good on the table.

And it is all "put together".

Then I was also doing the opposite 

on my second project,

which is a big job of "take apart".

A couple of months ago I was given

60 antique 30's blocks

put together like this.

Now I've begun the labor intensive

job of taking them all apart so

 they'll eventually fit together.

The challenge has come from the fact

the original sewer

set her machine for about 16 - 20 stitches per inch

 

and when the needle came to multiple seams,

it stayed put, but kept on sewing.  

Here's what the back looks like on most blocks.

So I've been slowing taking everything apart,

pressing and remarking the seams for

hand piecing.

I had to make the blocks a bit smaller 

because the sewing machine needle

 caused the fabric to be perforated and fragile.

 

This original block actually came together 

surprising well.  It just isn't the same size as 

my do over blocks.

I'm hoping soon, I'll be at the fun part of

"putting together" rather than the

"taking apart".

Until Next Time-
 Kyle