Newer blades that have the rolled edges in the center do not require the stiffener. I have never tried it but I doubt a stiffener will even fit over them properly. Walt Conner

If only I had found out about WS sooner, now I'm scrounging in my kitchen for containers! Can't wait to get started! Thinking the nearest dollar store will have SOMETHING to get me going!! Yes dirtbert, I was planning on putting the paper pots crammed together in some kind of plastic tray with a lid, so when it is time to transplant I can just plop the whole thing in the ground without disturbing any roots. I tried starting veggies from seed indoors a couple years ago, had no idea what I was doing, spent a ton of money on seed starter packs, etc. and it was a complete and utter failure. Last year I bought some perennials from Walmart and such, but I couldn't believe the cost for such tiny plants! Can't afford to do that every year! Plus, there's just something special about starting from seed. I've been researching more and more about gardening the past couple months, and feel much better prepared to tackle my dirt this year! EEEK! Gardenweed your little sprout is just darling! One of my biggest worries, I know when they start sprouting you're supposed to take the top off your container, right? Well I know where I am, we could get spring like weather for a week or two and then suddenly plunge back into -20 C temperatures. Wouldn't this kill anything that's sprouted? LOL, here I am concerned about this and I don't have a single seed planted! I'm so excited to get started though! Hubby and daughter think I've gone off-my-rocker, but I don't care! Can't wait to see their faces in the spring when I have a ton of plants for the garden with little to no cost!!

"1. I've read that it's OK to compost office paper, paper plates, etc. These are usually bleached and contain who knows what other chemicals. Are these really safe to compost?" That it was bleached does not mean that it still has bleach in it. The bleach was used to whiten the paper and is long gone. There may be other chemicals, but I'd be surprised if there are any that are dangerous, and if there are, I doubt if they would still be dangerous after composting. "2. Is newspaper always OK, or do I need to check that my particular newspaper is printed with soy-based ink?" I usually recycle newspaper, but I wouldn't be concerned about composting it. Soy based inks are much cheaper than alternatives and newspapers are cutting costs wherever they can, so it would be rare to find a newspaper that doesn't use soy based ink. If you're concerned, call the newspaper office. "3. I know cardboard rolls need to be shredded. How do you do this? Electric shredder somehow? Scissors? Rip apart with bare hands?" I didn't know cardboard rolls need to be shredded. They'll decompose faster if they are, but they'll still decompose if they aren't. If you shred them, I don't think it matters how you do it, but few of the low end electric shredders would work for very long if fed a steady diet of cardboard rolls.

Thanks guys (ladies)... It makes sense now! Thanks also for the subtle hint that the Mayflower might be beyond my experience level... I do think I need a bit more practice before attempting something like that. I just finished doing this heart.... it was trying... I had to rip it out and start all over about 5 times... and I can't tell you how many times I had to use the seam ripper (not fun with small stitches). I kept putting the bulk of fabric on the wrong side of the seam and not having enough to flip over. I don't have an add a quarter ruler yet, and just because I'm practicing and not trying to make something real, I've been just eyeballing the seam allowance and cutting it with the sewing shears rather than the rotary cutter and ruler. It is really fun to see it all come together. My granny who also quilts said this is cheating, but she also thinks that using a machine for quilting is cheating and real quilts are hand sewn, so we will just have to agree to disagree about that. I actually thought it was cheaing at first, but you wouldn't call a cook who followed a recipe cheating, so this isn't either :o) I'm just glad that I'm actually making something that looks like what it is supposed to and not just sewing squares together.... and the no measuring thing is amazing. To take the paper off, I just stab it with the seam ripper and pull and it comes right off. My only problem is that it wastes so much fabric (I annhialated 3 fat quarters just to get this silly heart!).... of course messing up and having to start over doesn't help with that! I read somewhere that a lady said she needle punches the pattern first, and I think that would be really helpful to do. So exciting to see it come together... when I start, I think, "how in the world is this mess going to end up looking like the picture?".... but it has so far :o) Can you see my boo boo? I accidentally sewed on the wrong side of the fabric on one of the pieces and didn't realize it until it was too late.... the thing with the white swirls is the back of the fabric showing :o)