ready to start stitching!

I have finally finished getting a new patchwork quilt all ready to begin stitching! All the preliminaries are finished -- washing, drying, and ironing the fabric (yucky job but helps the fabric feel good to work with), marked (this pattern has 71 patches in a 12" block), cut, and each block's pieces put into individual numbered envelopes (makes the sewing portable, keeps everything in order, and lets me keep track of how many blocks are finished and tucked away for later assembly). Just in case I have mis-counted I always have an envelope of extras of each patch. I even have the doubled bias binding made, ironed, rolled, and ready, tucked in its own bag. So NOW I can begin stitching! When I travel I always take quilting with me, and having some envelopes of blocks-to-be in a tote bag with my plastic box of needles, threads, etc. is great! I also take my tote bag with goodies to the church office when I substitute for the vacationing secretary. And before I retired I always took quilting to work for lunch hours with friends who did knitting, crochet, etc., and really got quite a bit done over lunch with friends. Yes, I do everything by hand, and never use a sewing machine. My big concession to modern shortcuts is using a rotary cutter and mat on the card table. Also "modern", I make template sheets, one for each size and shape of patch to cut. It's very simple, using the plastic grid sheets and cutting out the holes as stencils, and laying that on the fabric to trace the inside of the holes. The holes are the size of the finished patch, so the lines are actually stitching lines, which makes the patchwork fit together perfectly. Of course, the holes on the plastic sheet are 1/2" apart, so I eyeball the cutting and each piece gets its 1/4" seam allowance. I can get 35 1" squares on one plastic sheet, 24 triangles on another, etc., which is not only quick and easy to mark and cut ane sew but also an extremely efficient use of fabric. I always save the plastic template sheets in case I need the same shape and size of patch for another quilt. (I'm also a cheapskate.) BUT I put the card table, ironing board, iron, cutting mat, rotary cutter, template stencils, and pencils, etc. back in their appointed places, and am ready to begin stitching!!!!!!