Slow Stitching Weekend -

The best thing that happened this weekend?

No…it wasn’t my catching up on all of the retreat laundry at Quiltville Inn, though somehow that always seems to set things right and give me that feeling of accomplishment –

The SNOW is gone. We were in the 40s yesterday = and though it took a couple of days to finally get to the point where it was safe – I was able to drive the van to the top of the drive and park at home.

That meant no more RZR shuttle rides.

As fun as it was I’m happy to hopefully have that in the rear view until next winter.

It was a quiet and relaxing weekend without a lot to show for it.

And honestly, I’m thinking that is my goal for weekends here on out.

I did get some piecing in – and I finished the red binding on my Abbeygate quilt. The hoop is back in place and I can resume the hand quilting –

But first I want to finish the binding on Dogwood Daze and get that out of my hand stitching space.

“Boy mom, I’ve never seen you stitch this slowly!”

I’ve been reminded that I tell everyone about the mysteries that “It’s not a race!” And neither is getting this binding on.

I’ve made it about halfway around.

I really love how the quilting texture came out, but can’t remember just what this pantograph was called. I’ll check it today and update everyone – especially for those who have asked.

Sunday morning was spent piecing more log cabin blocks.

I’ve less than 20 to go now – which means I’m going to have to come up with another stringy-strippy project to continue the joy of sewing up all of these other strings.

My favorite coffee!

I got a new milk frother for Christmas and it is the BOMB. It’s these little comfort things I am taking pleasure in right now.

Lola understands.

While scrolling through social media a bit (I try to take weekend breaks from that too, just for my own sanity but sometimes still get pulled in.) I read that Joann is completely liquidating.

I know we thought they were only closing 500 stores. But they’ve been bought out and are closing them all by May.

I don’t live anywhere near a Joann, but I remember being a new quilter and a young mom on a limited budget.

I remember saving coupons and using them for things like rotary blades and mats and other notions, saving my pennies so that I could “Afford” quilt shop fabric.

This is going to be a blow for those who invest a lot of their own money and time into making donation quilts for those in need. Without affordable fabric and batting there will be fewer quilts donated.

It’s going to be harder for those just starting out as young sewists to afford fabric.

You know who has enough to share? WE DO.

This is the time to share our abundance with those who are losing their yarn source for crocheted and knitted things that they gift to those in need.

This will be the time to share our stashes with those who make quilts for donation in a team effort to get quilts to those who need them, be it hospice, children’s hospitals, nursing homes, etc – If you can’t make, you can supply.

I’m just thinking of all of the fabric I have here.

It’s also a time for me to realistically look at what I have and instead of starting with a quilt pattern in mind, look at the fabric I have and then build a quilt around that.

I will never shame a quilter for buying fabric from a big chain store. It has to fit their budget and the purpose of the quilt itself.

(This is why my boys received denim quilts when graduating high school – I knew how they’d be loved and used and they needed to survive!)

No matter how you feel about Joann, this is going to hurt the crafting/sewing industry – especially when it comes to apparel sewing.

I’m also grateful for the cotton shirts I’ve stashed over the years that will still be a great source of cotton fabric for future quilts.

But for those of us who live in “apparel fabric deserts” What is the alternative? (Hobby Lobby is a NO-GO for me.)

Sewing isn’t just for quilters and crafters.

And if you are like me – buying online doesn’t allow me the opportunity to feel the fabric and see it in real time to determine if it will work for any project.

Anyway – these are just some thoughts running through my head as we say goodbye to a place that we may never have stepped foot in in years, but was where we got our start.

In my lifetime I’ve said goodbye to SoFro fabrics, House of fabrics, Fabricland, Hancock’s Fabric (Not the one in Paducah) and now Joann.

What is left?