Clothesline upgrade!

The floor- the original “place to post quilts”.

it’s been about 4.5 years ago now that my son and I put my line up where I hang my quilts. I have been thankful every single time I use it as it has given me a great place to show off quilts. In fact, in reviewing my records, I got it some time in the fall of 2015.

This is how I used to have to take photos of my quilts. Big quilts had a hard time fitting on the floor.

Either that, or this -

Once my younger daughter left for college and I only had my youngest son here, I desperately needed something better, so then I got the line - the one I’ve been using constantly since Daniel put it up.

Children - especially tall ones - are great quilt holders!

This large charity quilt was the first quilt I put up on the line for a picture!

The line consisted of a simple hook on the tree on the left and the cable was carefully attached to it. Then, the other tree had a guide at the same height as the hook, and all I did was wrap that plastic coated cable around the tree 2x and wrapped it around another hook about chest high. It held well enough. Sometimes it would drop an inch or two once I let go It was hard if the quilt was large and still wet when I hung it up to keep it as straight as possible as I couldn’t always get it as tight as I wanted!

But after 4.5 years, the line itself had started to crackle a bit - the outer plastic coating was breaking up and my friend Ewa say that the end was kind of biting me as it was fraying.

So, Ewa thought it was time for my line to get an upgrade.

She volunteered her husband (!) to put a winch on my line - and get a new line as well. I was taken back. Of course, a winch would be wonderful, but I know how husbands don’t particularly like to be volunteered to do a job like that. I know how I wouldn’t particularly like to be volunteered if the situation was reversed. But apparently he was game to do it.

But I said, Yes, I would take if they wanted to do it for me. My only requirement was that I didn’t want the tree hurt or damaged.

So, a few days ago, they came over to our house with a winch and some some new cable - and my husband and her husband put up that new system for me while Ewa and I came into the house and talked and she showed me what she’s been up to with her sewing!

The winch will pull 1200 pounds! I just laughed. So much overkill!

Now I will have to be careful that I don’t wind it too tight or I’ll pull the hook right out of the tree!

So far I’ve only put a test quilt on it - the new cable doesn’t have the plastic overcoating on it so it is more slippery than what I had.

However, since it is straight and I can use the winch to tighten things, it should all even out! I’m eager to try it with a nice heavy quilt. Unfortunately I don’t have such a quilt right now ready for pictures!

Guess I’ll have to change that.

I did bring these extra big clothes pin over in my suitcase from the states several years ago now. I bought them at the Dollar Tree - 6/$1 I think it was. Through the years I’ve managed to break several but they’ve held up surprisingly well considering I leave them outside.

And now you know!

Clothesline upgrade! Who knew one could be so nice?

Have a great day wherever you are reading this!

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