It’s another row of partially completed rings for my Double Wedding Ring quilt. Last week I added the row of 5 rings and fixed those spots where the seam was too narrow. I discovered one spot that I completely missed the background!
Before I can go any further, I need to cut more pieces, but first I’ll do this week’s SBS BOW.
Check out other design wall by visiting Patchwork Times.
Nothing in — that I’m going to count this week. I’ve got 2 1/2 reusable grocery sacks of fabric out in the car from a friend. She was clearing her stash of stuff she’ll never use and wonders why she bought. There was more, but I did my best to limit myself to stuff I really liked and thought I would use. Once I bring it inside I’ll count it.
Outbound, I did a bit better. I cut, with my new templates, some backgrounds and melons for my DWR and I pulled sashing, cornerstones and binding from my stash to complete a baby scrappy quilt. I’ve selected the backing, but until it gets sandwiched, I won’t count it either.
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 168.25 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 1.43 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 67.236 yards
Net Stash: +101.014 yards
See how others are doing over at Patchwork Times.
Last night I pulled out a set of 5-patch blocks which I made from my pre-cut fabrics Spring of 2008. I’m not sure that this was the original intent, but they didn’t look right w/o the cornerstones and sashing.
I’ve made the binding from the cornerstone fabrics, and dug around in my stash to find a piece of fabric large enough for the backing. I found this:
Now to get it quilted — one of these days.
The table runner is finished.
I’m sure you are thinking haven’t I seen this table runner before? What wasn’t finished on it then?
Three things.
1 – I had to decide if I was going to do the raw edge applique.
2 – I found a strip which did not get caught and it needed to be repaired.
3 – It needed a label.
I choose to skip the applique because if I use this on the table, I want dishes to sit flat. That and generally speaking applique is not something I do.
The repair took a bit of thought. I came up with a solution, which although is visible to me, shouldn’t really be visible to anyone else — especially if I’ve got the table set on top of it.
The label I printed a label and then ‘bound’ it with the backing fabric. A bit of sticky fusible to hold it in place while I hand stitched it down.
This project is done!
In the last 24 hours or so, numerous individuals have commented on my DWR delemma. Not only did I blog about it here, I posted the question to a couple of my e-mail groups and the QIAD forum.
First, I thank you for the compliments and comments on the quilt top. I still have a ways to go, but I’m confident this UFO will grow up to become a loved quilt.
Overwhelmingly the majority said to leave it alone. The few who said ‘fix it’ did so with the qualification that I had to do what I thought best and could live with. Someone recommended watching Sharon Schamber’s Beginning Quilter: Magical Basting which I did. Very interesting and when I get to the top done, I will review this video again.
Since I am torn between seeing my progress as a quilter and knowing I tend to lean toward the perfectionist side. I still needed to do something.
I flipped the quilt top over.
Look at that seam. The muslin caught maybe an eighth of an inch. Since I plan to USE this quilt and wash it, I sure don’t want the seams to pull out. I’ve tried to get away with tiny seams before and I had to still need to repair them after the quilt was washed a couple of times.
As it turns out some of the worst places have these weird seams. My solution is to fix the seams so they have a better chance of not ripping out. I’ve fixed two and there are a couple of more, including the one pictured above.
I think this is a solution I can live with.
Apparently I can’t count. Back in July I have a post with this same title. It’s was a reference to the number of pieced blocks I had left to quilt on my nephew’s quilt. Well, I’ve finished the rail fence block — it only took a month – and now I really only have 5 more blocks to go.
I’ve just added 5 rings to the right hand side of the Double Wedding Ring. I still need to sew the 4-patches, but I thought I’d lay it out to see how it looks.
Awesome! if I do say so myself.
However, everyone is their own worse critic.
The last time I had this quilt out and did any significant work on it (2 or 3 years ago), I saw all my flaws – puckers and lumps and all of those other things which you hope no one sees. I decided at the time, if I went back and fix them, I’d end up taking the entire top apart.
I’d like to quilt to lay somewhat flat, so, I’m leaning toward adding the rings log cabin style. I added these 5 rings to the right, so I’ll add 6 rings to the top, 6 rings the left side, 7 rings to the bottom and then 7 rings to the right side making the top 7 x 8 rings.
But as I look at the quilt, the 3rd ring from the left on the 2nd row has got way more ‘poof’ than I’m going to be able to hide with quilting. There’s also a melon or two which need significant help.
So what to do?
Should I decide which two or three spots simply have to be fixed and limit myself to them, or leave well enough alone as a testament to how my skills have improved?
B-9 Irish Chain
I got a buy this week, as I did this block back in March 2007. I should do another block – I’ve got another 107 to go, but I’m focused on the DWR. Maybe later in the week when I need a break.
For those of you expecting the Blue and Yellow Stars, I’m happy to report I finished that top last week.
I am now on to my oldest UFO, the anniversary Double Wedding Ring. The saga thus far is told in this post.
Saturday night I ripped apart the arcs which had not already been sewn to the melons. Sunday I carefully trimmed the pieces with my new templates. By dinner I had reconstructed 4 arcs, sewn them to the melons and attached the melons to the background. I already had 4 rings sewn together in the box, so I added my new ring to the row.
I’ve got to cut more pieces. Before I can do anymore.
Over the next few weeks, this will be my main project, with a few SBS BOW and swap blocks thrown in. I have 26 more rings to piece before I can call this quilt a top.
To see what others have on their design wall, check out Judy’s blog at Patchwork Times.
No fabric in this week.
Fabric going out included the borders on the Kansas Spirit BOM, the setting triangles on the Birthday Quilt and a tiny bit on this week’s SBS BOW
This week (and for the next several weeks) I’ll work on my DWR, so there will be no need for fabric to come in. Since I count when I cut the fabric, I need to stop and measure what I have left in my bucket for the quilt and then figure out how much I use each week.
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 168.25 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 3.3.188 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 65.806 yards
Net Stash: +102.444 yards
Check out who others are doing with their stash over at Patchwork Times.
