"4500 pins in a quilt, 4500 pins..." c'mon, sing along "take one down, pass it around...4499 pins in a quilt!"

Okay, so I counted them (kinda). I knew I had about 2000 quilt pins before I started pinning this quilt and I went and bought 1000 more, thinking, "surely, that's enough." Right? Wrong? Ended up back at Joann Fabrics again on Sunday morning last for another 1000 and then Sunday afternoon for 500 more. But it is pinned now and how! So many pins and such a big quilt (120 x 100 inches) that I decided to baste it before quilting it.

I have basted one other quilt in my life, an antique Grandmother's Flower Garden top which I found at the thrift store. I batted it with a cotton batting and used a plain muslin backing, then basted it for handquilting. This was while I was the Director at the Compass Inn Museum in Laughlintown, PA and we used the quilt for demonstrations during living history weekends. I truly intend to quilt it myself someday but some quilters (mainly my friend Marian Chambers) started the quilting. When you think about it, it seems a little insane to hand baste a quilt and then machine quilt it but I know from past experience that I will scratch myself up with 4500 pins, not to mention bleeding on the quilt and breaking machine needles. It took me 9 hours to baste the first third of it so only 18 hours to go!

The quilt top is finished!

Boy am I exhausted! Carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand tomorrow so a forced vacation from quilting for a few days. Glad I got it done before the surgery.

How do you like it, kids???

The next cross stitched quilt by the Allmendinger girls: Thanksgiving

Becky and I have scheduled five days in March to work on the Thanksgiving cross stitch quilt (blocks and borders have been made for some time now) and in preparation, I have re-drawn the original plans and put together the first row. Here are some pictures

Here are the corn photos - added to represent the Midwest and the great state of Illinois

50 degrees and sunny today, January 12, 2012. Can you say global warming?

At any rate, a great day to photograph the quilt top. Wanted to show the row of corn. Next the City strip across the top....

and here are some close up of details. Almost done.

I thought the top was done...

But it turns out it was not quite wide enough. I am so glad I took it out to California and the kids at Christmas so that we could lay it on the bed and make well demonstrated decisions! So it turns out that 8 -10 inches need to be added to the right side (the side representing the Midwest). We all talked about it and decided CORN! What did we seeing growing up in Illinois but corn and more corn (and soybeans but that isn't really a easily identifiable plant). So I did a strip of corn on the right side. We also decided the trip from Chicago to San Francisco Bay was important so I will start on a city strip for the top tomorrow! After I clean house. It sadly needs it.

More pictures of the decision process:

The other reason for adding the city strip is that Jeff is very tall and we want to make sure we have enough to cover his feet!

Lastly, a few pictures of people I truly love taken this holiday season. Happy New Year!

A stocking for my grandson Wyatt

Jamie asked me to make a stocking for Wyatt's first Christmas and here it is. I pieced and quilted the front. Then quilted the back and band. I cheated on the name - I pre- bought the letters and ironed them on. I think I will stitch them as well.

Merry Christmas little Wyatt, the crawler!

The Christmas Cross Stitch quilt comes home from the Lone Star State for a spa treatment

Back in the 80's, when my girls were young and I was too, I started a Christmas Cross stitch quilt. It was to have 100 squares in the center, set in an Attic Window block and cross stitch borders. 18 years later, with the help of the daughter who was 3 when I started it, the quilt was finally finished. Last year, it started "traveling" and spent a Christmas away at Becky's house in Plano, Texas. It is back home this year for a good gentle cleaning. Next year, Jamie's house if she wants it.

Here are some more pictures:

Each of the girls got a block, our dog and cat got one. There is one of our house with the address on it. And of course, the story is on the back. Always put the story with the quilt so folks know it long after you are gone.

Merry Christmas everyone!