I have been pushing to get my sister-in-laws quilt done, and I woke up Monday night with the worst ever pains in my shoulders and neck. I couldn't believe hand sewing the binding would cause such pain. Has anyone tried using the blind hem stitch on the sewing machine? Shouldn't this work?

Suffering from RA...

After 44 years my DH knows not to "order" me to do anything. He knew from before we said "I DO" that those were fighting words!
He can suggest something, but if its worded as an order he knows darned good and well I will do whatever it was.
Actually we are very fortunate as we will talk out any problems that we run into. I can honestly say we have never had a serious argument. A few times voices were raised, but mostly we end up looking at each other and burst out laughing. Amazing how a good laugh solves so many problems.

Because I had surgery a couple weeks ago I was unable to complete all my quilts. One of my sons will get a half completed quilt with an IOU for a finished quilt. My other son is getting a box of fabric with an IOU for a quilt. I feel quilty that their's didn't get finished but I am sure they will understand.

My husband knows an "order" like that would be a total waste of his breath! :)

He cares! I'm sure he appreciates what you are doing but not at the expense of your health. He's a man to be appreciated.

I agree that we should start much earlier on Christmas projects. I will never put on myself what I did this year of saying that I would make 5 quilts for some little people who don't get much. I think I will make it but it sure has not been easy. I know I won't enjoy quilting if I keep this up. Merrry christmas everyone! Mary m

Amen to that. I don't tell him not to hunt-he doesn't tell me not to sew!

i have an issue with my husband sleeping on the couch and not coming to bed so i know how he feels. but, on the other hand if i ordered him he would do it more. maybe you just need to compromise. that is all he really wants.

Well, he is looking out for your health so you have to smile about his demand. Smile is all I would do and then sew as long as I wanted.

It's easy to spend too much time sewing late at night. the house is quiet and no one needs your attention. get some sleep tonight and snuggle with the guy that cares a lot about you.
when i run out of time i put some scraps of the quilt into a gift card and let them know the gift will be finished shortly.

I know, I got a cold now that I caught from my Grandson and I feel like Crap. I am still in my sewing room cutting out dresden from scraps. Take care of yourself or you may get sick. You won't feel good on xmas if you don't get some sleep. I sound like your mommy. Happy Holidays to you.

AMen!!!!! I always say this and It is too hot to work with xmas stuff. Can't get in the mood.

They don't do much as far as gifts, However my DH has done alot of the cleaning for me. They have never done much for the Holidays. I don't know what would be given if we stopped.

I am lol about the thread. Did you get your PJ's on.

I'll sit down on January 1st and plan 12 projects, one per month (while I watch football). The ones done early in the year are responses to events I know about (babies coming, housewarmings, weddings etc.), and some will be Christmas gifts with a deadline of October 31st. During the year there will be new priorities and a few of the first 12 might not get done at all. I'll do more than 12 projects in the year, but I plan so the most difficult will be done first. I do this also because I get more work done in the winter than the summer.

I don't allow myself to spend the week before Christmas pulling out all the stops and losing sleep to get things done. I'm not at my best during family gatherings unless I've had decent sleep. So in March I'll pull out Christmas fabric and make a start on those "Ohmigosh I need a gift in a hurry cos I forgot someone", and I'll have some other large non-Christmas projects underway.

By the time the end of the year rolls around, I'm working on UFO's that don't have a deadline so I can put it all away when I need to without feeling pressured to finish.

Alikat. THis is the cutest cat face I have ever seen. And, I'm a doggie person.

AMEN!

My husband resents the time I spend quilting, he wants me to spend more time with him, we're together 24 hours a day. And he thinks I should be relaxing, I explain that quilting is very relaxing to me. But, he is always asking me to sew for him, making him pillow cases(he loves to pick out the fabric, and I make it for him, and he is always tickled to death with the finished project).

WEll, I will be starting my Christmas projects in January and intersperce them with other projects and I still am pushing at the end. Somehow it always gets away from me. I just finished sewing the last two projects tonight and have 4 to wrap tomorrow and I am done for this year! I can't believe I will have one whole day left. Will probably make some pecan bars for Christmas dinner from fresh pecan my DS sent me from Oklahoma - all shelled, no less along with the recipe.

With those hrs. I totally believe DH is correct. Your health is far important then a stitch. Also your not alert for the day ahead of you. Burning the candle at both ends. Bad results. Take it easy and enjoy the holidays. Bless you.

Doesn't sound like love to me. Sounds like a power play for control. Of course one can't hear the tone of voice but still, I don't think I would appreciate being told what to do especially in those terms. You are an adult with a brain that works. You should be able to judge your own capacity. Do you threaten him to quit...(fill in the blank)...or else?

That is sweet. Yesterday, at two different quilt shops, I saw men coming in and asking advice for buying stuff for their wives. I thought that was the sweetest thing in the world. Another man had purchased a new sewing machine for his wife. Such caring men! Some ladies are so so cherished and...yes, lucky.

You remind me of this poem...
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
The only one sleeping was Quilter's dear spouse.
The Log Cabin stockings were almost completed,
"Just a few stitches left, "our sweet quilter repeated,
"Then I can hang them and head off to finish
The pillows I'm making, fulfilling Mom's wish
For something "quilty" to put on her couch",
As she pricked her poor finger, our quilter yelled, "Ouch!"
....When from out in the kitchen there arose such a crashing,
She sprang from her work , and she dropped all her sashing.
Away to the doorway she flew like a plane,
Wondering just what was happening and who she could blame.
When what to her wondering eyes should appear,
But Old Mrs Claus and her bag of quilt-gear....
....With her elves bearing gifts, through the kitchen she came,
She directed and pointed and called them by name.
"Now Elna, now Pfaff, now Bernina and Viking,
The Hoffman and Mumm should be just to her liking.
To the sewing room - there, it's just back of the hall,
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

"My Dear," said The Claus (as she liked to be called),
There really is no need to worry at all.
Your projects will all be completed this night,
I'm terribly sorry we gave you a fright.
Sit down. Have some tea. It's relaxing, you'll see.
My friends and I've come a long way to help Thee.
She thought she was dreaming, our Dear Quilter did,
In fact she quite feared that she'd near' flipped her lid!
But the flash of the needles and twist of the thread
Soon gave her to know she had nothing to dread.
They spoke no more words, but went straight to their sewing.
How the work went so quickly she had no way of knowing.
The stitches, how tiny! The corners, how straight!
This Claus-woman's talent was awfully great.
They finished the pillows, then started a quilt.
Before they all knew it, the whole thing was built!...
Now old Mrs. Claus, she knew quilters real well,
And she knew they'd need help on this night most of all
So she said to our quilter, "Just move over, dear,
I've brought my own needle. We'll get done, never fear.
I told dear old Santa about what quilters do.
How they plan all these projects but have other work too.
So he taught me his magic for doing things fast.
There, that pillow's done. Now this is the last."
They tidied their thread snips, and picked up the scraps
And chased our dear quilters six cats from their laps.
They left behind gingerbread (just to be nice)
And the whole house smelled sweetly of Christmas and spice.
As they scurried away with their thimbles still gleaming
Dear Mrs. Claus paused, her cap ribbons streaming.
"Merry Christmas, my dear, now just have a ball!
Relax and enjoy. Happy Quilting to all!"


I saw it in a quilt newsletter somewhere.

Ripped On Scotch - Thank you - what a wonderful Christmas poem for quilters!

Everyone else - thank you for all of your comments, opinions & suggestions. Yes, he "ordered" me. He knows too well that I wouldn't slow down otherwise. Yes, he did it out of love & concern. Yes, I was burning the candle at both ends. Yes, it is not healthy for me. Yes, I took a break & did not sew a single stitch from Monday a.m. to Wednesday p.m. - 61 hours with no sewing! Yes, he's happy & I'm very rested. Yes, I'm sewing again, just not into the wee hours of the morning. LOL

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Thank you for the Poem. I will share with my Quilt grp.

AAHHH, to live a lone and can quilt as long as I want and as late as I want!!

He's worried about you! My hubby has decided (seriously) that I have way too much fabric. And I (seriously) know that I don't. This is not a joke. It is really causing friction between us! He wants to know "when are you starting ????'s quilt" etc. But when I say that I need some fabric............OH NO! "you have plenty!" He has just retired and maybe he is worried about money. Who knows. We are not rich by any means, but we are very comfortably off. OK that's my gripe. Sorry!

My husband makes snide comments about my quiltring passion in general. I think he is just jealous.