So I’m sure anyone following my progress have seen the Blackford’s Beauty group I did, calling them “The Seasons”. I mentioned the runner I planned, and also posted the Christmas candle mat I’m sending the folks for Christmas to accompany the runner. The mat was fairly easy, though I did learn a bit more about the walking foot. With the runner I’ve learned to rip fabric (thanks for the suggestion) and more about easing fabric when stitching long pieces of fabric. So, with this in mind I’m posting the progress of the runner. I’ll post as I go and hope you enjoy the pics. Hopefully it will be a nice piece when finished. I’ve back tacking and then quilting next, then about 200 prairie points to cut, fold, iron and pin, before sewing and then hand stitching (hidden stitch) the back on. Let me know if you’ve any suggestions. I’m learning a lot from you all in short order and it’s all appreciated.

I've safty pins in and am going to baste the blocks by hand as well...

Steve, I really like the runner so far. You amaze me at how productive you are. You don't seem to be afraid to try anything. Keep up the great work! Was thinking of a runner for my sil with her 4 grandkids in the center of each block, using the color of their birthstones as the color for their block.

“Death will soon disrobe us all of what we here possess.” - from ‘Evening Shade’ words by John Leland.

“You amaze me at how productive you are. You don't seem to be afraid to try anything.”

Flowers for you…
(a tiny parable poem for bj)

I’ve only a while
to make you
smile bright.
Might a hop, skip,
or small jump
do for you,
when I am
but memory
and through
here?

A bee trapped in the
window looks out …

###


:D

It's lookin' gooooood! Your parents will be so proud and happy with it. Looks like you've caught the holiday bug, too! :lol: :lol:

Really really nice!

Sharon

I forgot the attribute on the quote from bj, and ended up with a double when trying to correct the goof. Ah well, life is like that. :D

Thank you so much for the parable. I always enjoy your posts.

'natch...

Often, when I stop to wonder "God, why am I here?” a little voice inside me says "Steve, pick up a needle and sew..." or "Please make music for me…" or “Tell me a tale.” It is then that I know that purpose is found by living life and making the most of it. With one time around here, a smile seems the most sensible thing. Your smiles in return prove it. :D

Its just simply beautiful...I still wanna be like you when I grow up! :D First, however, I have to replace my deceased sewing machine :(

Good job Steve, it looks great! You will be seeing prairie points in your sleep :lol: :lol:

Great job, Steve! You are very fast! You do excellent work!

"Good job Steve, it looks great! You will be seeing prairie points in your sleep."

Well, I've determined not to make it a shore or waking nightmare. What I plan to do is several alternating fabrics, working on a few dozen squares at a time. No biggie... if made that way. :D

Steve said "Hopefully it will be a nice piece when finished."

Hopefully? Steve, we've been seeing your work and I see no reason to HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!

"Hope is the Thing with Feathers..." Emily Dickinson

I decided to tack it in black embroidery thread, I figured it should show the least if tightened well. I was going to go with dark green to match the back, but that would mess up the summer patch. The small tight black points should accentuate cornering in the patches if nothing else. I’m unsure about whether to quilt first or tack and am leaning towards the tacking for the reason of stability. The only quilting towards the center are the vines between the patches; the quilted vines along the side comes next and then the points. Does this sound reasonable?

Very nice table runner, I really like the blocks you chose and the fabrics.

Decided on prairie points on both ends but not the length. Also to use white to tack with, and brown to quilt vines with. Should finish up nicely in a few days.

So a few days worked into a couple months (where does time go?) but I finally finished it. Once I sat down and got serious it went pretty fast. I ended up stitching the border by hand as I had the prairie points. The points were fairly easy though I turned a couple around from the color sequence so took it apart to get it right. Hopefully the folks will like it. :D

Steve, this is great! I especially like the colors you chose for your prairie points!

This is beautiful. I will have to put this on the list for our table. Thank you for sharing.

Kyia

I love the prairie points on it... I think it was pretty before but the points really set it off..

Holy COW!! That is gorgeous. And it never has to be put away!! :D The green square captures me. :shock:

Thanks all, the prairie points were easier than I thought though I am glad Leslee suggested doing only the ends. If I’d done the sides it would have been busy. These are nested points; I'm giving thought to incorporating other styles of points such as end on end or mixed sizes.

One thing I’ll do next time is baste the points, I only pinned them this time and a couple shifted slightly.

I’ll try to take another picture to show off the quilting, it’s just cables surrounding the pieces and down the sides, but I’m kind of proud of it. Hand quilting is very therapeutic!

It turned out beautiful Steve! Great job!

Steve you have so many talents, you are truly a blessed person , :D that is a beautiful runner

Mom says points are fairly simple till you've a large quilt requiring hundreds!

A gal at work asked me to make her a runner like this one. I declined, quickly envisioning the aerodynamics of pork. Really, I mean it is hard enough to do for my own family. When I offered to show her how to quilt, she said she didn’t have enough time. I was left wondering if she thought that I had access to a time machine or some such nonsense.
:roll:

I agree!

You got that right.

I have a time machine... it's called 'work' and It be stealing all of my time.

tim in san jose

Yuperdoodles to that one Tim! Ah well, I need the fabric, and seeings how they don't want to pay me for my good looks... :wink: