CHAPTER 2 - SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING TRIANGLES (cont'd)

[Deborah W.]

Sisters and Brothers, We all make mistakes sometimes. I will be happy with a couple of ironed open HST's. I'm sure we can make it work. I also made a mistake. Sameone twice!! My Bernina goes back to a default stitch length every time I turn it off, and a couple of times I forgot to shorten my stitch length. I was afraid of ripping the paper if I tried to remove stitches and restitch. They are not cut apart yet. What do you think, should I remove my longer stitches or leave them?? Not a whole paper was involved either time. I have 14 papers done and 11 to go. I am heading to Omaha tomorrow. I have a stiff neck from sewing. I need a break. Everyone stay happy and healthy.
Cathy

Why don't you just sew another line of (smaller) stitches over the existing lines? I wouldn't think it would cause any problems.

[Deborah W.]

By the way, if *everyone* wants to remove the paper and press open the HST's that are being sent to *me*, I will be delighted!

[Diane M.]

I am all for dumping them in a cement truck to mix them up and just start pulling and stuffing envelopes. I will be happy with whatever happens. And yes I understood from the get go that it is in multiples of 28. Just waiting for my paper to get here. I talked to them today and they said anytime now. Could be tomorrow, could be Monday. I am so excited and I haven't even decided what I am doing with them yet, or how many I am doing. My plan is to see what I get back and go from there. I might do some more myself of particular colors of fabric to do what I want.
Diane/Wyoming

[Kathryn S.]

Alright everyone. The sorting queen is here. (self appointed of course) It is my job to organize and direct the sorting. We have rented the Astro Dome. We will line 615 chairs with flannel with the names of quilters on them. Then we will bring in a jet plane and point the engines toward these chairs. Slowly we will release a giant bag full of the HST and the jets will project them toward the chairs. Naturally the sorting will take a little time preparing. I've never backed up a jet plane. Could get interesting. We will need many people to cover the chairs with the flannel slip covers, but all in all we should be done in time for lunch at Papasittos for some much needed fajitas and margaritas!!!
Clara

Clara, maybe instead of trying to back up the jet, you could have a helicopter which can hover, and the blades would mix up the triangles really fast!

I'm not going to stress about any of this, I'm grateful to you and Debbie for plunging in to this. I wonder if there has ever been such a large swap before? We're making history, maybe!

Believe me, if I lived in Texas instead of California I would come over and help out the Generals of Sorting. Alas, I'm too far away!

Kathy

[brenda h.]

Kathy I like the idea of the helicopter. Clara, I know someone in LifeFlight, maybe they can do this as a public service!?!? I am really excited about this exchange and cannot wait until my papers arrive and I can start sewing. I have already cut the strips of fabric. . .twice since I didn't check the instructions first and cut my first fabric into 2 1/2 inch strips!

Brenda

[brenda h.]

Brenda
maybe you can find a 2-1/2 inch strip exchange. :-)

[brenda h.]

Hummmm. Helicopter. Got me thinking. Clara

[brenda h.]

Sisters and Brothers, We all make mistakes sometimes. I will be happy with a couple of ironed open HST's. I'm sure we can make it work. I also made a mistake. Sameone twice!! My Bernina goes back to a default stitch length every time I turn it off, and a couple of times I forgot to shorten my stitch length. I was afraid of ripping the paper if I tried to remove stitches and restitch. They are not cut apart yet. What do you think, should I remove my longer stitches or leave them?? Not a whole paper was involved either time. I have 14 papers done and 11 to go. I am heading to Omaha tomorrow. I have a stiff neck from sewing. I need a break. Everyone stay happy and healthy.
Cathy

Why don't you just sew another line of (smaller) stitches over the existing lines? I wouldn't think it would cause any problems.

I'm not very familiar with paper piecing but could you just run the needle without any thread in it, just to score the paper better? (Honestly, would that work? I liked using the paper and can see making that exact mistake.) Although I did have an issue with my bobbin thread at one point and had to remove several lines of stitching, the paper held up, I just had to be careful.

[brenda h.]

I just now had a chance to read up on the comments posted here in the last few pages and I am shocked at how complicated some are making this. I, for one, signed up for this just for the sheer fun of it. It will be my first exchange so maybe I'm just being naive but I am not concerned in the least about how they will be sorted or what I will receive in return. (well, other than to be extremely thankful to the ladies who are actually doing the time consuming job of the sorting!) To me, it's the part of not knowing what exactly I'll get back that makes it exciting! I just think it will be neat to end up with something made from so many different hands!
I haven't even started sewing mine yet so I haven't decides how many to send. I hope that isn't a problem.

[brenda h.]

I just now had a chance to read up on the comments posted here in the last few pages and I am shocked at how complicated some are making this. I, for one, signed up for this just for the sheer fun of it. It will be my first exchange so maybe I'm just being naive but I am not concerned in the least about how they will be sorted or what I will receive in return. (well, other than to be extremely thankful to the ladies who are actually doing the time consuming job of the sorting!) To me, it's the part of not knowing what exactly I'll get back that makes it exciting! I just think it will be neat to end up with something made from so many different hands!
I haven't even started sewing mine yet so I haven't decides how many to send. I hope that isn't a problem.

For me, the fabric used is not important in the least. It wouldn't matter if by the strangest twist of fate all the HSTs were all blue and white (not that it would ever happen). My 37-year-old son died exactly 1 year ago today. People are the special feature of this exchange for me---the people behind each and every one of those beautiful HSTs (for I know all of the HSTs will be no matter what)--that's what is so meaningful to me.

Pat--"Keep Calm and Carry On"

[Diane M.]

I agree that this is just such a wonderful thing and maybe we are creating a record of Guiness porportions. I like thinking that my quilt, when finished, will indeed have people across the nation and possibly the world who have had their hands upon my quilt - better yet, their hearts. We are the Sisterhood, of the traveling triangles. SISTERHOOD, first and foremost. Think of a person, not feeling well, or perhaps mourning. Laying on a sofa with this quilt wrapped around them. Now instead of a quilt, picture the many hands reaching out and giving comfort. Ah, yes, many hands. Hands of joy or sorrow, hands of labor and leisure. Hands of prayers. Hands of love.
Diane/Wyoming

[Diane M.]

Diane,
That is beautiful. I see it.
Connie

[Pam D.]

Diane, that is so beautifully put. I am not so good with words, but I think of it as an international friendship quilt. I have made many friends across the waters through TQS in the past 4 ro so years. These friendships are very precious to me.

[Pam D.]

I just received 2 of Edyta's books; Friendship Strips & Scrapsand Friendship Triangles. Now I'm really getting excited trying to decide which one, or two, or three of her beautiful patterns I want to make. Just returned from a three day Quilt Retreat and have a good start on my triangles. I plan to send 616 since that divides by 28 with extras for the special projects. Keep up the good work my special sisters, I look forward to loving each of your beautiful fabrics.
Pat MacGowan :P :P :P

[Pam D.]

Good morning Sisters and Brothers! I am also just so happy to be a part of this that I just plain don't care if everything's not perfect. Nothing in life is really perfect is it? If I get a few wrinkly squares I'll iron them happily. If I get some that I don't like I'll use them anyway because they are so special. I always put some "uglies" in my quilts anyway. It gives them interest and 9 times out of 10 they look great in the finished product. There are over 600 people participating in this and there has to be a glitch or 2. I, for one, will love every square I get back. If they aren't all perfect goodie! They'll be just like me.

Roine