Wednesday, October 9, 2013

WIP Wednesday -- At Sea!

Although our Sailors work long, long hours when they are at sea, they do get some time off! Just before their current patrol, a shipmate of My Little Sailor bought a sewing machine. She wanted to learn to quilt! Lucky for her, MLS was a 4-H member who made quilts for several years as a member of the 4-H Wildcats club.

I immediately mailed fabric and a pattern. Their Chief agreed to let her bring the sewing machine on the summer patrol aboard the USS George Washington. Early in their "cruise," I received an email. "BK is working on her quarter-inch seams."

I'm a child of the Cold War. My first thought was "the spies who read all our email are surely wondering what THAT is code for!"

This morning I received another email, subject "BK Gets to Quilting." With photos! (After all, they work in the Media Shop.) Jacob reports:

BK started work on her first quilt today! She’s enjoying it & loves the batiks. She says thanks and even let me take photos of her to show you. =P

She’s learning really quick. Did you precut some of the strips or did it come that way as a kit? Either way—thanks, it helped a lot, I wasn’t up for cutting 42” widths on a 30” cutting mat!

She’s definitely got the right idea—measure twice, cut once. She also laid out all her strips and grouped them so she wouldn’t duplicate any colors in a single block. It’s really cool to see it ‘click’ for her as she realizes how this is going to go together. It helps that she can sew a straight ¼” seam.

Isn't it handy that the Media/Printshop work table is the perfect height for a cutting table? 


Of course, the fun part is seeing how the colors work together!


In case you're wondering, yes, she sewed on stripes for Sailors who were promoted during the first half of the patrol.


I can't remember what pattern I sent, so I'm also looking forward to seeing how it turns out!


I think this one should be the "photo of the week" for the ship!


WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. I bet they've never seen photos like these!

A quilter is born! Thanks for the photos, Jacob. Quilt on, BK!



From the desk of your auntmartisignature

16 comments:

  1. What fun pictures. We're all going to be jealous of that table.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is fantastic! I hope to see pictures of her finished top!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is so awesome Marti! I love it when someone learns to quilt, strength in numbers : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Chrystal. I told the DH this is my favorite blog post ever! (PS Sorry I had to answer here, did you know you're a no-reply commenter?)

      Delete
  4. How fabulous! You go, BK! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yeah my yarn came today!!! You know what I'll be doing tonight as I sit & listen to TV with my hubby. Should be done soon & on its way. Thanks again so much. Victoria (Idaho)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad it got there -- one of the packages came back as having inadequate postage. Even though they all had the same amount of postage! Enjoy your knit!

      Delete
  6. Well done BK - I imagine she will face some challenges ahead, though she seems to have a pretty good working space. Another addict in the making - how lucky MLS can talk the talk and assist.
    Love the colours.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great job! I had to show my husband ( former U.S.Navy)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely to see another fellow quilt addict in the making. Keep up the great work BK. Having seen that work area I've just realised there is a huge table in the committee room at work that would be perfect for basting the quilt sandwich. I must investigate as I'm getting too old for crawling around the floor!

    ReplyDelete
  9. How fun to see her progress! Thanks for helping to make a sailors voyage more fun!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think this is awesome. Having served in the military decades ago; I remember how there was very little for females to do. Send jelly rolls; layer cakes and charm packs & such; so there is less cutting. I am surprised they can have storage for their craft items.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary, you're right, they really don't have room to store much. The Chief allowed her an extra locker to store her sewing machine -- yay, Chief!

      Delete
  11. That is so cool! I am so happy for her, and you are rightly proud of your son for being able to kick start BK into this great hobby.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking your time to comment. If I don't answer in an email, it's because you're a no-reply commenter and I can't find you!