As I wrote yesterday, Gail Kessler herself gave me some advice regarding the DWR quilt block I showed her. I knew I shouldn't miss the opportunity to have the actual designer check out my work in person so I appliqued one set of blue arcs to the background fabric before I left to visit her shop.
I made up a sample piece using my one extra arc and tried to get the smallest blanket stitch I thought possible. I attempted to sew using the magnifier on my OttLite but paired with my glasses, it was too much zooming and made me feel weird! I was quite pleased with how the 
block turned out just using my 'naked eye with reading glasses' and happy that I figured out how to place the arcs on the background. It confused me in the lesson because Gail arranges the arcs based on the creases made in the block fabric but then she also added a pencil mark at 3" on each side from the corner. I couldn't understand how to have the arcs touch AND meet that pencil mark but then I realized the corner triangles (which I hadn't yet added) were supposed to hit the mark, not the arcs.
However, when Gail saw the block she immediately told me that the blanket stitch should/could be smaller (of course, if I liked the look I could continue on). As I could clearly not see on her DWR quilt (click photo to see larger), her machine applique stitch was nearly invisible! Such fine and beautiful work; Gail's stitching was very, very tiny! This was the first time I'd ever used silk thread and it is like sewing with a human hair. The special needles I bought helped a lot and I did get gorgeous stitches - just a little bit big. When I have time to get back to the project I will shorten my stitch and try again. I'm not sure I can do it as well as Gail but at least I have a goal and have seen the 'real deal' in person so I know what I'm aiming for.
As far as the side arcs go, I already screwed up. I didn't realize that I needed to reserve all the arcs for the side and NOT glue down the seam allowances. Unfortunately, I glued them all (hmmm, maybe that's why I ran out of glue!?!?!) and will need to un-glue them! I'm glad I found out before I cut all the fabric off from 
behind the arcs! I pulled out the backing fabric as well and planned how I will piece it. I am not sure that I bought enough and I certainly don't want to be short so I did order some more just to be safe. I can always use any extra in the future quilt I make with my Downton Abbey fat quarter bundle.
All in all, I'm feeling confident and ready to proceed. However, August is going to be a very busy month and I doubt I will have much time to sew. The kids are going back to school soon and we have a full calendar of appointments and activities in between work and baseball playoffs. It's frustrating because I want to keep going and after seeing Gail's quilt in person, I can't wait to have the same quilt on my bed!
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