Nice block and I love your varigated thread colour.

Had my book stolen out of the back of my car, obviosly they thought it was my handbag, instead the got my book with all the pages cut out ready to photocopy larger.

So back to waiting for my book to arrive.
Elle

Oh Elle - that really stinks! But imagine the look on the thief's face when he opened up the bag to find a quilting book! That at least must be worth a laugh.

Yes I did think that too, I did get the last laugh on that one, its just a pain that I have to start and get the book again. Anyway that sor of pales into nothing when I think of all those poor people in Japan, I used to look after a little student back around 10 yrs ago and she is married now with a baby and she and I still keep in touch, I am waiting to hear she is safe but she was in an area that got hit I am afraid.

Elle

I know - the quake is really tragic. My dad is in New Zealand right now doing some tours to see the penguins. In other words - right on the beaches. I'm hoping that the tour companies have the good sense to send the tourists far inland in the face of a tsunami warning.

It's all very scary. Unlike our hurricanes, it seems that with quakes and tsunamis there is so little (or no) warning.

Elle, I am praying for all those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. I have a niece somewhere over there working on an island in Indonesia, and I haven't heard if the tsunami affected her. Just another event in the world this year of wild weather.

Oh, Elle, I am so sorry about your book. Guess you can be thankful it wasn't your purse. I don't know why people have to do such things. I sure hope your friend in Japan is okay. So much devastation and loss of life.

Thanks all for your compliments on my block. This whole thing is a learning experience for me, but I am certainly enjoying it. I have started doing the applique with the backbasting method and it seems to work out better for me and things are more where they are supposed to be and I don't have to trace all those applique pieces (and end up with them too big). For the backbasting I'm using a heavier thread (machine quilting thread) and a larger needle which makes holes I can see to use as the line for needleturning the applique piece. I like this system.

Thanks, Kathy, on the compliments on my embroidery. As to the needle I used, that YLI thread is very thick so I just found a needle in my pack of needles that had the sharpest point (which isn't really as sharp as I'd like it)with a really big eye and used that. I think it's more than likely a crewel needle, but I'm not sure.

I am really anxious to see your bobbinwork with the Razzle Dazzle. I bought a couple of spools of that and tried to do some bobbinwork a few months ago, but made a total mess of it. Will need to try again at some point.

Judy thank you for your kind thoughts I haven´t heard anything, but then they have no electricity or much else at the moment I believe in some areas.

I am glad you are liking the basting method its the one I use and I find it much better for me and easier to work with the pieces. You can even use just a small dab of glue to hold the piece in place, just where you cut the backing out, so you cut the glue bit out as well.

Elle

I will possibly try that when I get back to the applique work. For now, my grandson's quilt is keeping me occupied.

Is there a particular way that those of you who do the QAYG do it? This quilt I am making my grandson is made or 15" blocks and I thought QAYG would be a good way to do it. Can you do QAYG without sashings on the front? I think it can be done but am not sure.

Judy, I posted a small tutorial several pages back on how to QAYG. There are several methods but this one doesn´t have sashings, with or without sashings its the same principle.

Sorry can´t remember the page.

Elle

Thanks, Elle, I do remember seeing that. I will go search for it. Thanks.

Edit: I found it, Elle. It's on page 48. I have marked it as one of my pages so I can find it easily next time I need it. Thank you.