ONE LOOSE THREAD

 

This is a week I look forward to all year. The Myrtle Beach Quilt Party!!! 3 days of sewing with 200 'like minded' people while looking at the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.

I started attending this event maybe 10 years ago. It is always lots of fun with great classes, but, I usually opt to just work on my own projects. I plan our evening meals at our favorite restaurants. Pat usually goes with me. A couple of years ago, we invited Pam (total non-sewer) to go with us and we started a Sister's week. This year, Pat is cruising the Panama Canal, so it will be Pam and I in Myrtle Beach. Several years ago we had a snow and Ice event on our last night there but were able to leave and get home on Sunday. Now to this year.

It looks like we are in for the armageddon of ice storms starting Saturday. This is so disappointing since that means we will probably have to head home early Saturday morning. Or maybe, even Friday afternoon if this thing moves in quicker. So, it looks like I will spend today doing storm prep here at home. 

If you are from the deep south, you may or may not have ever experienced an ice storm. They are brutle. Broken trees, downed power lines, loss of electricity for days or weeks is possible. 

As long as Pam and I can make it back home, we'll be fine. I don't particularly like the idea of no power and being stuck in a hotel room. At least here at my house I have a generator, a gas fireplace, and a gas grill. This Girl Scout has dealt with this before, but, I 'had a husband' at that time to do the heavy work. This will be a challenge, but doable. 

So, Mardelle, we're coming!!!! I have restaurant reservations for Thursday and Friday night at some of our favorite places. I understand that 'Sara J's' is open (usually isn't this time of the year), so we'll stop there Wednesday night. Thursday night is 'Russell's' and Friday night will be 'Hot Fish Club'.  Have a few ideas for lunches, but, they are not set in stone.

I'll be stitching on 'Tumbling Cosmos' by Tula Pink and Pink Door Fabrics, while I'm there. Traveling lighter lately with several EPP projects and a longtime applique project on my 'to do list' over the next year or two.

So for those of you that are heading to the Party, drive carefully and be sure to say hello!!!!!

PS. remember to register for the One Loose Thread Retreat February 25-March1, 2026!!  Deadline for registration is next week!!

 Yesterday was sooooooooo frustrating!!! I spent a full 8 hour day trying to do a quilting technique that I have done at least a dozen times!!

All I wanted to do was stitch wavey or even straight lines across a wall hanging. Something that should have taken no more than 2 hours!

Nope!! 8 hours and did not accomplish my goal!

So, as I do many times, I turned off Penelope Statler and went to bed while thinking about this project and how to solve my problems. 

A recap would be:

 1) I'm using a very light weight thread that I have had problems with before. However, I am determined to use this thread. Anything heavier would be to heavy. 

2) I want to use a design that stitches left to right and then right to left. 

3) I am sometimes my worst enemy!!

Now, fast forward to this morning:  Having finished my coffee and my computer time I am standing at my machine and ready to tackle this problem.

Tricks that I am trying:

1) turn the needle a little more toward 5:30

2) loosen the quilt 2-3 clicks more

3) move the net on the thread down farther

As a side note, I have slowed the stitching down, using a new needle, have a thread net on this Glide 60. I did all of this yesterday.

Now, I have the machine and the design reset. Fingers crossed I hit 'Quilt'......... Off she goes on her merry way stitching beautifully!!

Completion of project in 1 1/2 hrs.

Sometime you just need to take a breath and sleep on the problem to find the answer. I have had success with this technique so many times. 

Now please understand, that the quilt top was not to blame for this delay. It was beautifully pieced and appliqued. My wonderful Penelope Statler was not to blame for this. Nor was the thread or batting. IT WAS ME!!!

However, now I can remove the piece from the machine, trim it up, take a picture, invoice it out, and call the client for pick-up.

All is well!!!

Now, back to this custom wool on wool. I will really be glad to see that one finished and I'm sure the client will be also.

Have a great day!!!

 

February 2026 QUILT RETREAT

4 nights or 3 nights!! Your Choice

Gravatt Conference Center, Aiken, S. C. 

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 – Sunday, March 1, 2026

This retreat is open to ALL QUILTERS!!

 This is a UFO event. You work on your own projects and just have a relaxing good time. Quilters of all levels from beginner to professional.
All meals are provided by the fantastic Gravatt kitchen!  No dishes to wash!!! 
Walking paths all over the camp so that you can get your daily exercise. Walk by the lake and just lose yourself in your surroundings.
Nothing is structured except meal times.
Your fee includes
Neat and clean lodging in either Cole Lodge or Our quaint cottages.
The rooms in Cole Lodge sleep 2 and have their own bathrooms.
The cottage rooms have adjoining rooms, each sleeping 2, with a shared bathroom.
Meals begin with dinner the day of your arrival and end with brunch the day of your departure.

A 6-foot table all to yourself as your work area
Raised ironing and cutting surfaces furnished by One Loose Thread

White Sewing center (Tommy Leitner) on site for one day to service your machines
Optional: Mystery quilt where everyone receives the clues

Snack Area

Massage available

Lots of Laughter
Of course, a few surprises will be thrown into the mix. 
Any Questions should be directed to:

One Loose Thread Quilting

https://oneloosethread.blogspot.com/

oneloosethreadsc@gmail.com

Questions? Call 803-776-5801---the Studio

 

 Dates have been posted for One Loose Thread retreats through February 2027. Check the the important dates listed on the right side of this page.

Please mark your calendars so that you won't miss out on these events. 

Thanks,

Joyce- One Loose Thread

 This was our last full day of retreat and we really made the most of it.

Breakfast was: eggs, bacon, REAL oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, avocado toast points, and juice.

Brandi was here for massage today for those that wanted it. Her schedule was packed from 9:00 until 5:30. She has been doing massage for One Loose Thread for over 10 years. Don't think we could get through retreat without her.

Lots of sewing was done today. Several 'Frayed Knots' have actually completed everything they brought to work on and are now just hanging around and talking.

The last night of retreat we always have a very special dinner provided by the Gravatt kitchen staff. Tonight was Short Ribs, creamed potatoes, asparagus, tossed salad, and for dessert Churros Cheese Cake. I don't know which part was my favorite. 😋

Tomorrow we will all pack up and head for home. First is Brunch, which is always outstanding. The imaginary banner will be signed and packed away. My truck will be loaded with all of the retreat equipment and all of my sewing stuff and we will, again, say good-bye to our friends and Gravatt Camp and Conference Center UNTIL February of 2025. When once again, we will gather for Fun, Fellowship, Fabric, Food, and Frolic!!

For tonight, we make the most of our left over time together.

Joyce One Loose Thread

 This day dawned bright and with the promise of more rain this afternoon. Sounds like a great reason to settle in and stitch all day with a chance of a nap. 

Breakfast was delicious! Eggs, Bacon, pan fried potatoes, REAL oatmeal, sliced avocado, and a coffee cake, with juice and coffee.

I'm working on 'Ring Cycle'/ 'Jacks Chain' for today. I started this quilt in a class with Cindy Page at Myrtle Beach Quilt Party in 2022. I have taken a class on this quilt TWICE, so it's time to really concentrate on getting this top together. I only have 7 rings pieced, so I have a long, long way to go. With the exception of making a ton of 9 patch blocks, everything has set in seams. I should get really good at that technique by the end of this quilt. 

As I sit in this room stitching, I am surrounded by seasoned quilters. I don't have any beginners in this group this trip. However, I am constantly amazed at the sharing aspect of my retreats. They share ideas, techniques, fabric suggestions and totally constructive criticism with each other. They are all in 'teacher' mode, even though most have never taught a class. There are no 'newbies' with me this trip, so there is  more  teasing/harassment going on between a few of us. We try to keep that to a minimum when there are new 'Frayed Knots' in the group until they get to know everyone and realize that it's all in fun and not malicious.

Lunch today was Ruben Sandwiches, potato salad, sweet potato fries, Chips and red velvet cookies for dessert. 

Now back to sewing!!!

I did spend my afternoon working on some side rings. Once I finished all of them for the left side of the quilt I had to stop and do more cutting and marking of the background fabric. That's what I'll do all evening too. 

The rain has really arrived!! but now we are off for supper.

On the menu tonight was chicken pot pie with puff pastry, a beautiful salad and Mango sorbet for dessert. FABULOUS!!

Now we are back in the Ireland Room with the music on and the machines humming for the evening. Looks like the rain will hang around for a while. 

I have decided to just cut and mark for the rest of the evening. Then I'll take down my machine and my sew-ezy table and work only on my project with English Paper Piecing (Tumbling Cosmos) tomorrow.

That's it for tonight from Retreat with One Loose Thread. Tomorrow will be our last full day of sewing and I'm sure that we will make the most of it. 

Joyce--One Loose Thread

It has been a fun filled day here at the One Loose Thread November retreat. We are all sewing in the Ireland Room of Cole Lodge. There has been lots of laughter. Many, many topics have been discussed and none having to do with politics. 

It was Taco Tuesday for lunch. (I ate too much) Dinner tonight was roast beef with gravy, potato wedges, fresh corn on the cob, tossed salad, and dessert. I did much better with portion control. 😉 

Show and tell was wonderful. All of the quilts can be viewed on the One Loose Thread Group facebook page. Stories were told and quilts were shown. That is always a highlight of retreat.

We did have rain today that was a surprise to all of us, but, we just kept sewing. 

That's it for tonight. 

Joyce--- One Loose Thread