What Beast To Bind!

After getting Quiltville Inn ready for the arrival of the B.A.D. Bee quilters I was able to grab some time to get the binding on the String Rings quilt.

Red for the win!

I tried several colors that would have worked from green to purple to blue to black, but red was the one that seemed to tie everything together, so red it is.

No playing binding chicken here – I ended up with 1.5 strips left over – which will simply be pressed open and flat again and stored with my other red 2” strips for the next project that calls for them.

It’s on here along with a hanging sleeve made from the extra quilt backing left after quilting, and a lable stitched into the corner.

For those asking about the label, I take a 7” square of fabric (I’ve been using up old white-on-whites for this) folded on the diagonal and basted into one corner. The binding will cover two sides of the folded triangle, and I’ll just have the diagonal to hand stitch down while stitching the binding and the sleeve in place.

Hanging sleeve info is found in an older post here.

Of course, wrestling a quilt this large requires some relax time for a job well done.

Hazel is completely passed out here.

She is so funny! She was out on the back porch when I was leaving the inn after all preparations were done, and all I had to do was say “Come on, let’s go to the Studio!” and she jumped down from the top of the cat condo and followed me all the way down the back steps behind the back porch, across the lawn, across the parking lot and to the back door of the QPO – and in she came!

At home last night, we began the big stitch-down job for the monster binding.

And there was also some of this:

Tula Progress!
She is really making progress! She no longer fights “lap time” and I’ve had her stay as long as 30 minutes just soaking up the pets and scratches.
She doesn’t mind the dogs.
I don’t think SHE minds the other cats, but the other cats are not happy with her.
There have been growls and hisses and mostly running away.
I am bound and determined to get her settled in here and stop this insanity with my cats that refuse to get along. So I’m working on it a bit at a time. They know she’s here. They aren’t seeking her out to kill her, so that’s a good thing.

And this is still her favorite spot where she can see all the way outside, and monitor what is going on downstairs.

I mean, who doesn’t want a cat on all three levels of their home? LOL!

The B.A.D. Bee ladies began to arrive right at 4pm yesterday. It was great to catch up with them as they unpacked and settled in as last year their retreat was pre-empted by the bad ice storm, so this is their make-up retreat.

No ice this year – but guess what? More snow is predicted for Sunday. Yikes.

We will deal with it as we must – but the most important thing is that they are in and having a quilty good time.

This happened Saturday. More info on the Gift-Away page. Get your entry in!
And for those interested in the Half-Rectangle Trim Tool I have a confession – I added the new inventory to the store, but forgot to click SAVE. DUH. So they are there.

Introductory Pricing:

I have placed the PDF pattern booklet for Lupine & Laughter at 25% off automatic discount in the Quiltville Store. No coupon needed! Pricing good through 2/28/26.

Specialty Rulers:

Half-Rectangle Trim tools are back in stock, but limited to supply on hand. They are sure to sell out again quickly and I don’t know when my distributor will have more. You don’t absolutely HAVE to have this ruler for this mystery as I’ve included paper piecing templates, but I love this tool and I’ll be using it again and again and again.

Other recommended rulers:

I have also included traditional rotary cutting measurements and optional techniques if you don’t have access to these rulers.

Use coupon code NOTIONS to save 15% on all items in the Rulers, Notions & Tools category of the Quiltville Store. Code must be used for discount to apply. (Shipping within the USA Only.)

To use a coupon code – click REDEEM YOUR COUPON beneath the total in the shopping cart as shown above. Enter the coupon code NOTIONS in the box that opens up. Click enter.

*NOTE* You need to put the code in BEFORE you click to your payment method for discount coupon to be applied. Do not click to your payment until coupon code is entered.

We do not ship physical items outside of the USA, but digital patterns are available world wide 24/7/365.

International Customers Purchasing PDF Patterns: Do not use the BUY NOW button on the pattern page to check out with autofill. Autofill will put in your whole international mailing address, triggering the no international shipping thing.

Place the item in your shopping cart and then go to the cart page to check out choosing either your credit card option or Paypal. Shipping addresses should not apply as this is a digital pattern purchase only requiring your email address. I don’t know why it works this way, but it does.