Charleen's Fiberblog

Meandering

These pictures were languishing in a draft since early October, but I actually took the machine quilting course right before Labor Day.

Since my return to quilting I've had the chance to assemble several quilt tops but a finished quilt is alluding me. Hand quilting is going to have to wait until I quit my day job and set up my big quilt frame again. I could send them out to be quilted - and for the larger ones that's what I'm going to do - but I like doing all the steps myself. Enter machine quilting! I tried it right before I packed away the quilt fabrics close to twenty years ago. Harriet Hargreaves and others were recommending a smoke colored monofilament thread that I just could not get the hang of. It was stiff, it wore against the fabric, and if you had an end work loose and stick you - jeez, that little bugger can hurt!

I used the walking foot that came with my Janome (much nicer than the optional one for my old Viking) and quilted the 20" block into quarters with plain sewing thread.

Then I switched to my darning foot and began free motion, stippling, and meandering. While you can find a variety of definitions for those two terms, the instructor/owner of my local quilt shop defined stippling as close stitching that doesn't cross over a previous line and meandering as .... just that - freeform, go with the flow!

I found the free motion fun but I would probably chalk out a general design first. I spent too much time worrying that my stippling might cross over a line so I went right on to the meandering. Very cool! Once I get a little more time (and that will be coming up soon) look for a finished quilt.

This summer, Marie showed me her very organized needle collection. She used a canvas ziplock setup that's sold for fishing accessories. This appealed to my stressed out, overworked, when I get a chance to sit down and knit I can't find the right needle (even though I own 3 or 4 of that size) self. Unfortunately time once again alluded me and before I knew it school started. While pulling out things for the start of the school year I came upon this.

At the end of the school year we have to inspect all of our homeroom students' lockers. You would not believe the things kids leave in there. Some too disgusting for words, but others could fill a clothes bank (which is where we send them). I pulled this notebook out a few years ago and stuck it in my closet. Someone's mother thought they were starting their child out on a good foot with with a nice zipped organizer/binder. Except the kid never used it! So, remembering Marie's little book of needles I set out to see if I could make heavy, zip-lock freezer bags fit the bill. I may have to spring for another one for dpns.

I think I'll run a strip of heavy packing tape along the folded area before I punch the holes to give it even more reinforcement.

Thanks to Claudia's recommendation I picked up a great new cookbook - Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook

Try this yummy soup! You won't be sorry.

Old-Fashioned Bean and Lentil Soup from a Mix

12-16 oz	commercial dried bean soup mix, picked over and rinsed
8 cups	water or chicken or vegetable broth
1 bouquet garni	4 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley, 1 bay leaf, 1 or 2 sprigs fresh thyme, 1 sprig fresh tarragon, 10 black peppercorns, and 1 clove peeled garlic, wrapped up in cheesecloth and tied with kitchen twine
2 TBSP	olive oil
1 medium	yellow onion, finely chopped
1 bunch	kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
2 TBSP	dry white wine
2 TBSP	cider vinegar
1 tsp	hot pepper sauce
	salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

1. Combine the bean mix, water, parsley, and bouquet garni bag in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hour.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring a few times, until just softened, about 5 minutes. Add to the cooker, cover, turn the cooker to LOW, and cook the soup 4 to 5 hours.
3. Add the kale and stir to incorporate ((if you need to let the soup cook all day while you are gone, just add the kale at the beginning or substitute spinach and add at serving time). Cover and continue to cook on LOW until the beans are tender, another 4 to 5 hours.
4. Discard the bouquet garni. Stir in the wine, vinegar, and hot pepper sauce. Season with salt and plenty of fresh black pepper.
5. My mods: The night before I rinsed a bag of Goya 16 bean soup mix and soaked them overnight, in about 8 cups of water. I also cooked the onion and got the herbs ready to go. The next morning I drained and rinsed the beans and threw it all in. It cooked for about 9 hours on low. When I got home I cut up a pound of low-fat turkey kielbasa and tossed it a bit in a skillet before adding it to the beans. About 15 minutes before serving I added a pound of thawed frozen spinach, along with the wine, vinegar, Frank's hot sauce, and ground pepper.

Posted by Charleen at November 14, 2008 05:42 PM