# Do Something Thread May 16th **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804 "2010-05-17T19:47:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/41 "2010-05-26T03:19:21Z")
> [@maggenpye](#): > > Synthetic cotton batting? The squishy bit between the top and bottom. Dacron’s apparently a trademark, but that’s what the local sewing supply shop uses to label the huge rolls of the stuff in varying thicknesses, from 1/4 inch through to 6 inches thick. 1inch thickness is giving a nice ‘puffy’ effect. > > Sorry if I’m not clear - the painkillers are causing mejht otwt hzzzzz in random bursts. I’m on the computer now because I can’t deal with sharp objects till the latest batch kicks in. > > Can’t see yours sorry, I am an unfriend of facebook. Ah, okay, now I get’cha. I couldn’t get my head around “dacron” and “inner”. One inch is pretty thick for a batting. I bet it’s gonna look great when it’s quilted. Does this link work? [a different link](http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31248608&l=c24e4f85a0&id=1481555485). If not, believe me, the top is nothing special. Just two blocks, one a 25-patch (scrappy) and the other plain white with a patch at each corner. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/42 "2010-05-26T04:31:55Z")
I like it! Like a scrappy Irish chain, kinda. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/43 "2010-05-26T09:30:19Z")
It’s beautiful. Do the material scraps have memories / stories attached? I think I’ve used ‘ribbons’ where I mean satin binding’, like [this](http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn187/maggenpye/Marysquilt.jpg). This is what happens when you know no quilters IRL. The dacron (Dacron ™) is _very_ squishy, it’s used for those designer cushions that look all super stuffed, then offer absolutely zero support when you actually sit against them. It loses at least half it’s volume in the gaps between stitches and sews down to nothing. It’s more effective with a wider [pattern](http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn187/maggenpye/100_0251.jpg). Oooh - Lost (2nd to last episode here) and painkiller time! Bye for now. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/44 "2010-05-26T16:29:31Z")
> [@maggenpye](#): > > **badbadrubberpiggy** , this is a great achievement. Me and the kid seem to spend half our lives on the edge of losing furniture. And ice cream? Mmmmm. Congrats to Mr BBRP. Cherry/mango sherbet, and strawberry, vanilla, and fudge walnut ice creams! The only think I have left to do is freeze the base for the fudge walnut. I’ve been very disciplined, and have actually not eaten any of it except a spoonful to taste each one. This amazes me. On the knitting front, still have not much more done, but I’ll be able to do some work on my blanket today. I have a doctor’s appointment and a glucose tolerance test (the standard gestational diabetes test), so I get to sit around the lab for an hour with nothing to do but knit and wait. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/45 "2010-05-26T17:13:20Z")
> [@maggenpye](#): > > It’s beautiful. Do the material scraps have memories / stories attached? Nope. Just “Damn, but I’ve spent a lot of money on fabric!” and trying to remember where I used the fabric before. I’m gonna have to check out that Dacron stuff. I like a puffy look, and I’ll bet it’s really warm. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/46 "2010-05-26T17:31:56Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I’m gonna have to check out that Dacron stuff. I like a puffy look, and I’ll bet it’s really warm. Actually, as **maggenpye** noted, a very fluffy high-loft batting tends to squish down when compressed. That means that at the quilting lines the quilt is basically just two layers of fabric, meaning that it doesn’t insulate very evenly. If you want a really warm comforter, it generally needs to be channel-stitched rather than quilted, so the insulation layer is more or less uniform throughout. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/47 "2010-05-27T00:51:42Z")
I am having a hugely frustrating time with my next quilt project. I did the top some time ago, in black and acid green–there’s velveteen, silk dupioni, and linen as well as regular cotton. It has been waiting for a border. So I lucked out and found more of the green dupioni, and made that into the inner border–gorgeous. I wanted more black velveteen for the outer border, but had to settle for a not-entirely-satisfying, but adequate, black velvet. I know, sounds tacky, but it’s going to be great! If I can get it to work… I sewed the velvet on to two sides, and it was a disaster–even though I’m using a walking foot, the silk scrunched up against the velvet, with the result that the quilt part went all poofy and wrong. I had to unpick it, which was very very tedious (luckily I had a _Campion_ to watch). Argh. I think I’m going to try basting it all together–if that doesn’t work I’ll go for some other black fabric. :(:mad: ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/48 "2010-05-27T01:23:18Z")
Wow **dangermom** , it sounds gorgeous, but yup, off the top of my head I can’t think of a more challenging seam combination than silk dupioni (crinkly, stiff, papery) and regular velvet (heavy, thick, fluid). Yes, I’ve heard that basting helps when sewing velvet (especially with long-and-short stitches and/or backstitching, rather than just a running stitch that the fabrics can slide along more easily). Some also suggest sewing with tissue paper or stabilizer between the layers, so you might cheat and try that first: if it works, then you won’t have to bother with basting! ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/49 "2010-05-27T09:41:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by \*\*Kimstu \*\* > Actually, as maggenpye noted, a very fluffy high-loft batting tends to squish down when compressed. That means that at the quilting lines the quilt is basically just two layers of fabric, meaning that it doesn’t insulate very evenly. If you want a really warm comforter, it generally needs to be channel-stitched rather than quilted, so the insulation layer is more or less uniform throughout. Absolutely correct. I had enough warmth from the overlapping backs of the hexagon segments and the dense cotton backing so I wasn’t concerned with the batting. Another thing to be wary of is that with high usage the dacron will compress and go lumpy - this quilt is intended mostly for looking pretty while folded up across the back of the couch. A third of the flowers are done. **dangermom** , ouch! I can only say that basting cured the same issue with knit fabric to satin that I had with the T-shirt quilt. Kimstu’s suggestion sounds easier than double sewing every seam though. **badbadrubberpiggy** mmmmmmm! And mmmm again! ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/50 "2010-05-30T00:08:30Z")
[This](http://www.flickr.com/photos/25761150@N07/4650779989/in/set-72157624038256553/) is the start of my next project. The glass pieces are Fenton Art Glass broken ware. The color is violet carnival glass and the pattern is “Strawberry.” Perhaps they were from a piece similar to [this](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170429388595&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=M*F%3F&GUID=098c9f1811b0a09c18346a64ffa055d7&itemid=170429388595&ff4=263602_263622). These are going to be worked into a freeform necklace. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/51 "2010-05-30T00:25:51Z")
Oooooh pretty, **freckafree**. How do you get the beads to “stay on” the glass? Are they a sort of mesh that’s actually enclosing the glass piece or what? As for me, I put my garden in today!!! (About two weeks overdue, but I still hope to see veggies before the end of July.) Was it very stupid of me to plant a couple of morning glories in the corner next to the fence? Morning-glory seeds are poisonous but I don’t see how they could really hurt or taint the veggies… Anyway, I dug up the weed-infested leftovers from last year’s garden, removed weeds and stones, dug up and mixed in the compost dirt from the compost pit, dug trenches for the raised beds (we have very heavy clayey soil here and the raised beds help with drainage), laid out the soaker hose, and planted the following: Nasturtiums Baby lettuce mix Peas Edamame (saved seed from last year and also some bought seeds) Bush beans and some unidentified beans my landlady gave me. I think she said something about her son having traded a cow for them at the fair but I wasn’t really paying attention. Potatoes (some sprouted organic russets from the pantry and some volunteer potatoes from last year, don’t remember what kind) Green peppers Pickling cucumbers Shallots A few tomato plants that my downstairs neighbor got from the place where she works and didn’t know what to do with. A bunch of herb seeds (coriander, thyme, parsley, basil) and a potted basil plant next to the chives in the herb garden. Bees _love_ chive flowers! I also planted some sweet peas and garden heliotrope over by the fence, which is by no stretch of the imagination “good garden soil”, so we’ll see how competitive they can be. Finished up with watering, cleanup and putting tools away: total time 5 hours. Whew! To do: Transplant nasturtium seedlings, re-pot violets and heliotrope, plant more morning glories and sweet peas and garden heliotrope and cosmos if I can find places to put them. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/52 "2010-05-30T01:59:50Z")
I’m working on finishing my calendar for the year. I only made it up to May earlier, because, well, it takes forever. It’s just an Illustrator file I add holidays and pictures to. Part of the problem is that I have something like 250 holidays. I’m currently up to November, except for adding pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/53 "2010-05-30T03:37:09Z")
I doubt anyone is immensely interested in seeing it, but since I spent all day finishing it, here’s the last seven months of my calendar. [June](http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/silvercat17/6-june-2010.jpg) [July](http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/silvercat17/7-july-2010.jpg) [August](http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/silvercat17/8-august-2010.jpg) [September](http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/silvercat17/9-sept-2010.jpg) [October](http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/silvercat17/10-oct-2010.jpg) [November](http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/silvercat17/11-nov-2010.jpg) and [December](http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/silvercat17/12-dec-2010.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/54 "2010-05-30T15:14:26Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Oooooh pretty, **freckafree**. How do you get the beads to “stay on” the glass? Are they a sort of mesh that’s actually enclosing the glass piece or what? Yeah, you can sort of see the process on the one piece that’s not finished (on the white backing). The glass is glued to the backing (which is heavy nonwoven interfacing), and a base row of beads is stitched through the backing around the glass. Then the beaded bezel is woven up the sides of the glass. When I get to the top of the piece, I switch to a smaller size bead, and that helps snug the edges in to hold the glass. Your garden sounds great, **Kimstu**! I don’t think there’s any chance of your morning glories poisoning your other plants. Running wild and taking them over, maybe! ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/55 "2010-05-30T15:37:45Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > I warn you that I’ve been on a binge lately… > > I’m working on [this quilt](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vBMG0kK63HI/S_Gsb7_0w6I/AAAAAAAACjA/0kqZhpuTass/s640/P5170042.JPG), which is made from a collection of Japanese-style taupe fabrics and an acid-green silk/cotton as an accent. I am very excited about this project; I’m in the quilting part now. > > I’m trying to conquer my pile of UFOs, so in the past couple of weeks I’ve finished two quilts (here’s the [silly one](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vBMG0kK63HI/S_GsevTwVjI/AAAAAAAACjI/2DXoOjgCr04/s576/P5170044.JPG)), and I have two more quilts after this taupe one. I’ve been neglecting quilts for quite a long time in favor of clothes, so the Quilt UFO Project is very fitted to this thread! > > Also because I’m proud, I just finished my very first baby daygown the other day. And I’m going to show it off now because I just can’t help myself. (You don’t have to click.) [Daygown](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vBMG0kK63HI/S_GsWTHBqOI/AAAAAAAACio/o4JeXrLYLFI/s576/P5150034.JPG) of blue batiste with smocking and embroidery. [Slip](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vBMG0kK63HI/S_GsUVpm0vI/AAAAAAAACig/sD5HCPffeSc/s576/P5150032.JPG) with shell edge and embroidery. I’m not just being nice here but I honestly think that you could start a little part time bussiness selling these quilts. They look totally proffessional to me, better then the ones you see in the shops. Caveat, I am not a quilt expert. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/56 "2010-05-30T20:36:06Z")
**STG** , I just wasted half an hour that I needed to spend working in looking at your calendar pictures. That is _REALLY_ cool! Holidays, geek trivia, nice designs, and even Doper birthdays! Would you make these to sell? Are you thinking of doing one for 2011, a little further in advance than the 2010 one? ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/57 "2010-05-30T23:36:38Z")
Here is something I just did this weekend- A mural on all 4 walls of the bedroom od a friend’s 18 month old little girl. I was pretty pleased with it! [![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/046.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/046.jpg) [![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/047.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/047.jpg) [![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/31872_1421722296546_1037359935_3132.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/31872_1421722296546_1037359935_3132.jpg) [![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/31872_1421724336597_1037359935_3132.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/31872_1421724336597_1037359935_3132.jpg) [![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/044.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/044.jpg) [![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/041.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/041.jpg) [![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/042.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/Artwork/042.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/58 "2010-05-31T04:00:48Z")
Very nice, **PapSett**. I kinda want a raccoon peeping out at me now. 🙂 Well, I finally got some more pottery done. I’ll have to take some pictures and upload them - I’m experimenting with tiles for hanging as wall plaques right now. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/59 "2010-05-31T04:58:38Z")
**PapSett** , that is lovely! I wish you could come paint my girls’ room! > [@Lust4Life](#): > > I’m not just being nice here but I honestly think that you could start a little part time bussiness selling these quilts. > They look totally proffessional to me, better then the ones you see in the shops. > > Caveat, I am not a quilt expert. Thanks! The problem with selling things like this is that no one is willing to pay what they’re actually worth. A quilt I sew is, in fact, better than the mass-produced quilt you buy at Penney’s or Target. It also cost more in materials and took much more time. So the quilt at Target is $60, and mine (say the taupe one) would be well over $300. Quilters mostly do this for fun, not to save money. A very quick, simple baby quilt is about the only thing you can sell easily–I have a friend who does that. It’s the same with the fancy heirloom things I can sew. I can make a lovely smocked dress for a toddler that is very special–and which, if I sold it for enough to make it worthwhile, would run at least $150. Well, who is going to pay that? So I stick with gifts and things for my own kids. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804/60 "2010-05-31T09:00:42Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > **STG** , I just wasted half an hour that I needed to spend working in looking at your calendar pictures. That is _REALLY_ cool! Holidays, geek trivia, nice designs, and even Doper birthdays! Would you make these to sell? Are you thinking of doing one for 2011, a little further in advance than the 2010 one? I hadn’t thought about it. They’re mostly for me, with all my family’s and friends’ birthdays and stuff. I do it every year, and I’m hoping next years’ goes faster because I have a template and stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-something-thread-may-16th/539804.md?page=4)