She really stressed that good enough isn't really good enough. That paying attention to the size of your stitches - as tiny as you can make them and as evenly as you can space them - is worth the effort. She showed me several areas where you couldn't see my stitches at all on the front of the piece and then places where you could see stitches. It makes a difference in how smooth the piece looks and, again, she stressed that it's worth the effort to make that happen. I'm not sure I can achieve her level because my eyes aren't that great anymore. Some of what she saw quickly I had to squint to see, but she was right and I'm going to give it a try. I'll see how consistent I can be on the next one. But I think that between sewing, watching tv, talking to DH, petting cats on my lap and sipping on my hot tea, I may always have a few stitches that are visible. LOL I can do much better than I did and each month I should improve more; some of the family distractions are things I like though and so I'll have to work around them.

To me, part of the fun in making a row quilt is deciding what the rows are to be, i.e. pieced blocks, paper pieced blocks, applique, a strip of plain fabric sashing or a strip of a novelty or conversational print. I've worked on a sunflower quilt, an Alaskan themed quilt, "time for tea" quilt, and others. When doing our round robin, the quilt owner first did a row, then explained her theme for the quilt and then each robin member did a row. The owner of the quilt sewed them together in the order of her choice and added (or not) additional rows. When I made the row for the sunflower quilt, I made it using the landscape quilt technique and included sunflowers, corn stalks, and a scarecrow. It turned out really nice and I still remember the fun I had making that row! Teresa

Very cute! Have you tried ironing the circles over a mylar template and starching them like crazy? I had very good success with starch turned appliqué by hand and by machine. The starch makes the shapes extremely stable. I think that would be helpful because the fabric's stretching from the very first stitch. By the time you get to the last 3 pins there's an accumulation and it's a little late to be trying to work it in smoothly. The advantage of starch is that all the stiffness is gone with the water the first time it gets washed. I really like this method and a got a gallon of that Mary Ellen stuff the last time there was a sale. Bet you could get a decent price online too. Number 2, how about hinkeying with the adjustment on your presser foot too. A little lighter touch could mean less stretching.

Thanks Mrseldoo, January will be a much better time. I am trying to applique using the freezer paper with the paper ironed to the W/S of fabric, but the paper always comes unstuck before I'm done. I am just practicing to see which I can do best, if any! I really want to do a sunbonnett suszie but my work has to improve drastically. It will be so much fun to do this after New Years...will be ready to sit down with something quiet and Figure Skating and Curling will be on TV. Jean