42 Feet of Fun

With four sides with facings and two edges of the sleeve to sew, I've estimated about 42 feet of hand stitching. I love this part, as it is calming, plus I get to watch TV guilt free. How old will I be before I am relieved of the guilt of watching TV?
 

Backside

At the ready for sewing the facing. I'm using a wide width fabric for the backing, ordered from eQuilter online. It seems the right weight for the piece, which will be about 5' x 7' finished. I learned that a portion of profits from sales is donated, and the non profits it helps are numerous. Nice all around.
 

You Know the Tools Necessary

It's time to sew down the facing and add the sleeve. And that means I can binge some mindless Netflix series. So yes, the scissors, thread, pins, and needle cozies up with the remote gang. 
 

Binding the Joe Method

Joe Cunningham has a method for facings. He's put forth dozens of 'The Quilt Report' on YouTube about his work and methods. Always charming, and full of suggestions, he makes his binding better than mine, so here is a corner of my latest. Check on his version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV-yd2SHjaQ
 

Back and Facing

I'm using my stash of commercial fabric for the backs and facing. A single layer of facing is sewn to the front, smoothed out and opened, it then gets a 'stay stitch' line of sewing near that seam. I'll fold the edge, iron it, then pull the facing to the back with a hairline edge of the front showing on the back. Pin and sew.
 

Sew Light Today

After some gray after gray days, the sun came in strong. Thought I'd set myself up for some facing, sewing away as the sun moved across the back of the quilt. It's a big one, almost 8' square, so that's about 48 feet of hand sewing, if you count attaching the sleeve. Good thing it's now hand quilting!
 

Giving Time

I spent the last day and a half finishing a project for a friend who was in need. I was happy to do so. Often one asks "what can I do to help" and there is really nothing to do. But in this case, finishing a project, I could. Tomorrow I'll deliver it, and then life will ramp up again as it has been. 
 

Back for Time, or Time for Back

Black thread hides sins, but also is so hard to see. I'm trying to finish this facing in time for next week and hanging the show at RIT. Tomorrow will be the sleeve, and if time permits, the signature. Then Thursday it's back to the studio. Gotta keep the walls happy!
 

Slide Along

I'm working at facing this piece, and I land everything on a tray, including my tea, where I can slide along the piece and throw the pins as I go. Plus, when company invades (this is my kitchen counter peninsula) I can clear quickly.
 

How I Keep It Together

You see my new countertop with a generous peninsula. It's where I sew the facings. And I grab a kitchen tray to keep all the junk together to slide around. Even the tv remote rides there. My sewing kit is an old Tupperware style container. Had to be near what little daylight we get.
 

Facing is Finished

I brought the work with me on my travels, and now the only remaining part is the sleeve, a signature, a good pressing, and photography. Not much, considering. I'm keen to have this in the box and on the way to its exhibition. I've other things I've got to get to!
 

Facing on the Porch

When the clouds roll in, and a hint of rain is in the air, take to the screened porch to work on facing the quilt. I can't think of better. More of this little vacation is good.
 

Adding Facing

A clever friend made me the magnetic pin catcher. It's the perfect size to follow along my route. It'll take a while to hand sew down this facing, but that's what media is for.

Boring But Motivated

I estimate about 50 feet of hand sewing to add a facing and hanging sleeve to this work. But, I'm motivated because then I can binge Netflix. See what distancing dreams emerge?

Just Face the Facing

Each side of this blue quilts is about 6 feet, so adding the sleeve, that's about 36 feet of hand sewing. The sun was out, I was happy to sit and sew. That's why I like winter. No compulsion to go out!

Time to Face the Facing

Part of me says to save this hand work for the evening, watch a movie, slow down and relax. But part of me just wants to get to the next project. And somehow, somewhere, this "finish what you started" attitude has crept in to my works ethic (yuk) and I can't shake it.

Face It All

This last quilt gets its finish with a facing. I've cut a strip, sewn it to the front, then pulled it (detailed here) out to sew a "stay-stitch" before I turn it to the back, turn the edge under and hand stitch to the back. Clean edge without a thin binding line.

Sewing on the Edge

When I face a quilt, I will add the strip to the front, like a binding, but then open it out and stitch close to that seam, like a stay stitch. Next I pull the facing to the back, rolling a tiny bit of the front of the quilt to the back.

Back to Backing

One of my favorite things I do in the summer is getting together at a friend's barn to discharge fabric. We have a ball, slop around bleachey things, and I go home with a pile of great "printed" fabric. This is the back of my moonscape quilt, ready to face.

Sewing in the Blue Light

A chance to catch up on shows I've missed and a chance to sew the facings down on my quartet for QSDS. Might as well, before the company shows up, and I'm on.