SORTING AND PINNING (or watching movies while you get the pieces ready to be pieced)

This is one of my favorite parts of constructing a quilt because it enables me to justify sitting around and watching TV. Movies actually. I love all kinds of movies. George and I do not have cable and we barely get the regular networks since the digital change (PBS – don’t go there – I am so pissed off that I cannot get my PBS stations anymore!) so we rent a lot of movies from Blockbuster Online or check them out from the Greensburg Library. We also like to watch series from cable networks via these rentals. Currently, I am watching BIG LOVE and ARMY WIVES and will throw in some movie classics (my mom is kind enough to tell me what movies I must see on this genre) and girly films George is probably not gonna wanna watch.

So last night after a delish supper made by my sweetie (red beans and rice – one of my favorites) after the dishes were done and the fabric was all cut, I took my box of pieces up to the TV room (guest bedroom #2) and began the sorting process on a card table in front of the TV. We finished watching CLOSER, a movie we had begun over dinner, and when my sweetie went to his office to grade student papers, I popped in season two of ARMY WIVES. Here are some pictures of how I sort the pieces for pinning.

Each block has 8 pieces – four center triangles and four outside parallelograms or trapezoids, can’t remember which they are or maybe they are both. So I lay out the four center triangles, which are identical in every square. Then I choose, randomly, four more pieces. Next I place them together in a not-so-neat little pile and stick a pin through them and throw them in a box. A chaos of color!


After I have put together all 225 sets of 8 pieces, I can begin the pinning. This is not a speedy part of the project, mind you, but it is one that can be done with some distraction, hence the movies. I was also fiddling around on ebay while doing this AND keeping track of the House of Representatives vote on Healthcare Reform (Hallelujah – oh happy day! It passed. Healthcare for all Americans!) As you can see, I am a champion multi-tasker (and some would say) a leftist!

SIDE NOTE: I will generally strive to keep politics off the blog but this is so monumental, I am compelled to comment. However, I do respect your right to your differing opinion and if you are not open to the mutual respect for my opinion and choose to no longer read my blog, so be it. However, before you leave, please remember one of the things that makes America great is that when this country was formed, our very wise forefathers were determined to establish a system where we can have differing opinions and still live together and act civilly towards one another. This was a radical idea in the 18th century. American tolerance was unique, unlike many other sovereign states at that time where holding a different opinion meant “off with your head “ The revolution continues. End of history and social civility side note.



Now it is time to actually do the pinning. I lay out the entire square in the color arrangement I like best. I then piece the inner triangles to the trapezoid, resulting in four pinned pieces. Once all four sets are pieced, I stack them and place them in the box and move to the next square. This is also a job that can be done in front of the TV or, in the summer time, while sitting on the porch chatting with your neighbors, your sweetie, or just watching the world go by.