Instead of making the last seven stars, I played with the setting blocks. I’ve decided to go scrappy — not that its easy to tell in this slightly blurry cell phone picture.
Two More Sets To Go
The next set is cut out.
One More Set Done
Three sets to go.
Year of the Pig – Question #8
Jill’s Year of the Pig Question #8 is —
What part (or parts) of the process of making a quilt are your least favorite? The part (or parts) that you just dread and that make you throw your projects back into the dark recesses of your stash closet? Have you found any tricks to break the cycle of being held up on the parts that aren’t your favorite?
This question got me thinking. Is there any part of making a quilt that I dread?
It’s not the binding. Once I get a quilt quilted, I want to get it bound. I don’t sew the binding down by hand, so that is probably why this doesn’t bother me.
I used to hate sandwiching the quilt. It’s hard on the knees crawling around on the floor. But I’ve figured out how to get it done on my big board ironing board (I generally make twin size quilts or smaller these days).
One could argue that I must not like the process of quilting itself. Putting stitches through the three layers which makes the quilt top a quilt. I say this because I have around 40 quilt tops waiting to be quilted – three from September of 2006.
It’s not that I don’t like this step, it’s more a case of not knowing what to quilt on a top. Until last fall, all of my quilting was done on my sewing machine. I’ve tried free motion quilting and I need more practice, but don’t want to do it on my “good” tops and mess them up. So, I’ve been limited to straight line quilting and soft curves — especially on anything bigger than about 40″ square.
But last fall I discovered Rocking Chair Quilts in Butler, Missouri rents time on their longarm. It’s an hours drive, but well worth the time. My oldest completed top was from 2005. I think it was 96″ square — no way for me to get it done on my sewing machine and not “good enough” to pay someone to quilt it. I took it down to Butler and quilted it in an afternoon. It won’t win awards, but that’s not why I quilt.
Hard and fast deadlines also get me going. I’ve got a stack of 5 quilts w/backing fabric which need to be quilted by the middle of June. All of them have been waiting to be quilted for at least a year or more. A couple I’ll quilt here at home and a couple I’ll take down to Butler. I have a rough idea of how I’m going to quilt at least 4 of them. The fifth one is giving me fits, but I’ll figure something out.
Click over to Jill’s to see how others get past their least favorite part of quilting.
Not Quite Halfway
Small as they are, I can only fit a dozen stars on my scanner bed. Seven more done last night. I’m not planning on doing any yard work tonight, so maybe I can get two sets of 7 done tonight. Of course, I’m thinking about two other quilts and I’m itching to play in my fabric.
I’ve gotten the last name I need for the crossword puzzle quilt, which is really more of a Scrabble quilt, and now I need a “theme” for the rest of the fabric. I’m leaning toward red — which is probably the color I have the least of! I wonder if it’s an unconscious decision so I can go fabric shopping?
The second quilt is one more that needs to go on my 7 by June, which would make it 8 by June if we hadn’t already added another quilt which means the count is up to 9 now! At least the other quilt just needs quilting and I’ve been thinking about that as well. But back to the second quilt. I’m leaning toward using Bonnie Hunter’s Strip Twist and doing it in neutrals – scrappy of course.
My EQ drawing looks so elegant. I hope my stash delivers. (Yes, shopping is required on this one for the border and backing).
What’s on my Design Wall
It’s mini stars for the mini quilt I’m supposed to have finished by the 28th (1 of 7 by June). Actually they aren’t so mini. These are 265% larger than my original mini stars. Originally the stars were going to finish at 3/4″, but since I put off finishing the quilt, I’m going bigger at 2″ finished. I’m still having to rip out a bit, but it’s much faster to make the larger stars and the finished quilt will still meet the guidelines. I suspect it will also be easier to quilt.
Only 35 more to go.
Follow the links over at Patchwork Times to see if anyone else has a crazy project like this on their design wall.
Stash Report
Since I was at a Retreat last week, this report covers two weeks.
A pillowcase to go with the Dresden Plate quilt, handing sleeves for 4 quilts, finished the red, white & blue twin mystery quilt top and the rest of the letters for the Crossword Puzzle quilt – just over 9 1/2 yards out.
The inbound fabric includes backing for two quilts, a piece of fabric which leaped into my arms and said “take me home”, FQs from my Secret Sister, and more fabric for the mini quilt which I still haven’t finished – just over 13 yards in.
The good news is I’m still a head of the game (more out than in overall).
Fabric Added the last two weeks: 13.175 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 46.269 yards
Fabric Used the last two weeks: 9.58 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 53.341 yards
Net Used for 2011: 7.072 yards
Checkout the links over at Patchwork Times to see how others are doing.
Appliqué is Sneaking In
I’m not sure what is going on. Yes, that’s Roxanne’s Glue-Baste-It which is used in appliqué. This afternoon I went out shopping specifically to buy the product. Three or four weeks ago, I picked out some fabrics for Lillebet’s Garden, a gorgeous pattern by Beth Ferrier.
Then there’s the kit I bought in 2008 — Tulips for Beginners — another quilt with both piecing and applique.
Then of course there are those Dresden Plates I finally finished, not to mention all the letters for the Crossword Puzzle quilt I’m working on. I thought my ‘mantra’ was “I don’t do appliqué”. In fact I blogged about it in 2009.
If my own projects are enough, I found this in the mail when I got home from the retreat earlier this week:
It’s block #107 from Volume 2 of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks. Diane Harris made it and it’s called Paisley Punch. Who knows what I’m going to do with this block. Whatever I do, it will push me outside of my comfort zone which is occasionally good thing.
Twin Mystery Top Finished
I really should have re-hung the quilt and waited for better light, but I’ve got a mini Ohio Stars quilt to make this weekend.
Design Wall Teaser
Just borders on 3 sides and this top will be complete. Since I haven’t counted this fabric in my Stash Report yet, it will help offset the fabric I bought last weekend, which hasn’t been reported either. One more evening, then it will be off to tiny Ohio Stars.
