The second half of the backing is now done. Just one more seam then I have to figure out how I’m going to quilt it. If the weather holds I’ll take it out side tomorrow to get a picture of the entire back.
Half a Back – Part 2
Half a Back
This week I’m off from work. I thought I would have a whole week to do nothing but quilt, but it’s not turning out like that. Monday morning I went with my mom to what was supposed to be a simple hour or hour and a half appointment. It turned out to not be so simple and Monday became an all day affair and it rolled into Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s not over yet, but I am grateful I have the time off from work to help her.
So, today is the first that I’ve gotten any quilting done. That’s not to say I didn’t sit at my sewing machine and pretend to piece earlier in the week. I say pretend because I couldn’t concentrate and everything I did sew I ended up ripping out. Just how hard is it to thread a sewing machine? Or sew a 1/4″ seam?
Anyway, I’ve finally got the first six rows of the back to the Music quilt pieced together. After explaining how I pin my rows so I don’t get them out of order, I got the last two pieces of the last row switched and had to rip them out. In my defense, earlier this week I picked them up off the floor without pinning them, thinking I’d lay them back out before sewing. Instead I put them on my ironing board in order – or so I thought. Since they weren’t next to the previous row, I didn’t see my mistake. In fact, I didn’t see the mistake until I was pressing the row. But hey — if that’s the only problem I’ve to this point, I’m happy.
My nephew’s Christmas program is this evening, so as soon as my husband gets home we are going out to my mom’s and brother’s. The guys are going to hook up a DVD writer and install some software so they can transfer home videos to DVDs. I’ll work with Mom on the paper work she needs to fill out and then we’ll have dinner before the program.
Tomorrow I’m quilting!
Music Star Top – Revisited
This is the top or front of the quilt that I’m currently piecing the backing to. There are 168 different pieces of music themed fabric in this top. Admittedly some are simply color variations such as Column 4 Row 3 and Column 8 Row 4 or Column 1 Row 5 and Column 14 Row 6. Black & White prints vs Color Prints. Column 1 Row 2 & Column 10 Row 5; is a bit trickier. Since it had multiple images scattered on it, I was able to grab two different images so it is not just the color that makes a difference.
There is also a piece of fabric I printed that no one else will have. Doesn’t look like much in the picture (Row 6 Column 8), but it’s a print of a scan of one of my husband’s original compositions – Large Egg Rag. You can hear it here.
What’s On My Design Wall? – 12/14
This week it’s my Design Floor. The design wall is only 60 x 80, so it simply won’t work for this project. This is the backing for Music Star. Each large square finishes at 10 inches, so the backing will be about 90 x 110 when I finish it. The first 3 rows are sewn together and the next 3 are waiting to be sewn. I hope when it is finished it is a pretty day out so I can get a picture of the entire backing.
To help me keep my place as I pick up each row to sew, I’ve taken some of my flat head pins and written numbers on them with a permanent marker. These go in the top left corner of the odd # block. Then I flip the next block over on top of it and pin the right edge at the top to show me where the seam is supposed to go. I do this down on the floor so when I get to the sewing machine I don’t get the blocks out of order – or more accurately put them back in the correct order. So far, it has worked well.
Check out other design walls by visiting Patchwork Times.
Stash Report Week # 50
This week I didn’t sit at my sewing machine very much. I find that after a finish, whether it’s a complete quilt, or a top, I tend to need a break. It’s not that I don’t have plenty on my list that I want to do – like finish the last few seams on DWR – but that it ends up becoming a chore and quilting is supposed to be fun. So once I finished the Autumn Splendor top on Monday, I read a couple of Lynn Kurland’s books.
Sometime this week I pulled out my music fabrics and started thinking about the back of the Music Star quilt top. Naturally the back is going to music as well. After all I conservatively STILL have 40 yards of music fabric. I based my calculation on the 156 unique fabrics in the quilt top — I had to buy at least a FQ and frequently bought more. However it’s probably closer to 90 yards since the music fabric is stored in 2 drawers about the size of my fabric boxes and they are stuffed. My fabric boxes can hold 45 yards of fabric. Of course since I made the top, I’ve bought or was given a few more FQs and I didn’t use every fabric I had in the top.
Anyway, I’m making the back ala’ Bonnie Hunter (scroll to the bottom of the page). So Friday after dinner with the girls, I started cutting 10 1/2″ squares, one from each piece of music fabric. I’ve got a few pieces which won’t work as 10 1/2″ squares such as this border print called Marching Band (It’s Pattern # 2923 from Andover Fabrics and was designed by Gail Kessler).
I love this print, and searched the Kansas City area for it when it came out. That was the year of the Iowa Road Trip (13 stores in 3 days). I found it on our last day at Quilting Connection in Ames, Iowa. I bought 1 yard of it then. I’ve since bought a 2 yard piece mail order. Other than going into the Music Quilt I didn’t know how I was going to use it. I cut one strip that didn’t quite finish at 10 x 40 so I pieced a couple of squares to make it work. (Any ideas for how to use the rest of the fabric?)
This panel is another pieces that didn’t fit.
I’m adding a couple of fabrics not already used in the back to it to make it finish at 20 x 30.
When it’s all said and done, I’ll need the equivalent of 99 10 1/2″ squares. I managed to get 91 cut Friday and Saturday.
So if you’ve made it this far, here is my stash report for the week.
Fabric Added this Week: .25 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 282.583 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 9 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 105.426 yards
Net Stash: +177.157 yards
See how everyone else is doing with their stash over at Judy’s blog at Patchwork Times.
P.S. That Snowflake FQ is for the Guild Christmas Party tomorrow. It’s the first thing I’ve bought in 5 weeks.
Autumn Splendor Top is Done
Cross one thing off my December quilting list. I just finished the borders for Autumn Splendor. The binding is also made. This is from the pattern Crazy Eights by Bits ‘n Pieces. I used 12 FQs instead of 8 and added borders. The top measures 63 x 78.
I Must be Crazy
I just found out that Dorothy Young is doing a Christmas Mystery called Raising Cane. I’ve made several of her mystery quilts – Spring Breeze, Diamond Links and The Chain Event and have loved all of the quilts/tops. (Only have Spring Breeze Quilted). I’m in the middle of Carolina Christmas and I know everyone thinks I’m crazy with the list of quilting stuff I’d like to get done by the end of the month.
I must be crazy is the only explanation I have for why I’m even considering starting a new quilt before the end of the month.
What’s On My Design Wall? – 12/7
I took my swap blocks down Saturday, so there wasn’t anything on the wall until I put Autumn Splendor up there for a photo shoot. Yesterday I finished sewing on the inner borders, and then cut the fabric for the outer borders binding. That’s 2 of my 4 yards to get me to 100 yards used for the year.
See whatever one else has on their design walls by following the links over on Judy’s blog.
Stash Report Week # 49
This week I cut the fabric for Part 2 of Carolina Christmas. No other fabric out and no fabric in. That makes it 5 weeks since I brought any fabric into the house. I might just hit 100 yards out before the end of the year.
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 282.333 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 3 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 96.426 yards
Net Stash: +185.907 yards
Check out how everyone else is doing over at Patchwork Times.
December 2009 Quilting Goals
Here’s a quick recap of November Goals first:
- * Keep up with the SBS BOW – no
- * Finish the hand quilting on Josh’s Quilt – Finished and given!
- * Finish piecing the DWR – no (why haven’t I got this done?)
- * Complete Finishing Instructions for large Kansas Spirit BOM – finished (technically in December)
- * Keep Scraps Cut Up – yes
- * Finish the hand quilting on Josh’s Quilt – Finished and given!
I’ve gone back over my goals that I’ve listed over the year both here on my blog and on the Quilt in a Day Forum. After a review here’s the list of what I didn’t get done that I’d like to see done by the end of the year.
- * Get the DWR on the quilt frame and quilt 11 rings by the end of the year.
- * Get the borders on Autumn Splendor
- * Get the borders on Ladder to the Stars
- * Catch up on November’s SBS Blocks (D1, E4, M7, B3 & J5)
- * Complete the quilting on my Green and Cream swap blocks (quilting in sections)
- * Prep the applique for a quilt so I have handwork
- * Quilt a baby quilt
- * Keep Scraps Cut Up
- * Get the borders on Autumn Splendor
If that is not enough, I’d like to get the backing pieced to my DH’s music quilt. That will push me over 100 yards of fabric used this year.
I must be crazy. Even with 2 weeks of vacation I’m not certain I can get all of this done.
