I'm a quilter without a plan... that's just how I operate. Ok, well, I do from time to time make a plan for my ongoing projects, but a good majority of what I do, starts out with no real A to Z, start-to-finish, mapped out direction. Usually such quilting projects leave you with a pretty good story once you do finally make it to the finish line... so, are you ready for a sit back and grab a cup of coffee kind of tale?
I actually started my Churnstile quilt back in February of this year when I wanted to "audition" potential bee blocks for when it was my turn to be queen bee. It didn't take long for me to figure out that I liked the block so much, and had such a very specific color direction, that I decided to keep it for myself. After adding several blocks, I had my usual debate of layout and size. (I guess one could argue that since I do this with almost every quilt, that this IS actually the plan)
In the end, this quilt came with a nice surprise... it turned out way bigger that I thought it would, and even big enough to be a bed quilt! (I seriously didn't plan that one!?!) By summer I was able to get the back finished and the quilt basted just before our big move, but as you can imagine, pulling up roots in one spot, and setting them down in another can take some time to get adjusted. By the time I found my sewing table again, there were several quilts that had cut line, and it was hard to pick this back up since it felt that I wasn't really sure where I had left off. But there's nothing like the push of a deadline to put you back on track... aka end of the year Finish-A-Long.
For the backing I used two leftover blocks that didn't make it in the quilt top, and added two blocks of color. Somehow I really wanted a simple backing, and used a good bit of cream Basic Grey grunge fabric for the rest.
I kept the quilting pretty simple by following the extending lines of the blocks. Perhaps if I had stayed on track the whole time with this quilt, then I might have done something a little more creative... do you get that way too, just going with whatever gets the projects done? Well, I suppose that's not all bad because a finished project means getting to start on the next one.
Quilt: Pattern: Churnstile from Stitchery Dickory Dock, Churn Dash block from the January Sugar Block Club
Started: February 2016
Fabrics: Alison Glass,
Carolyn Friedlander, Cotton & Steel, Lizzy House, and various
additional prints from my stash. Low volume with color background
fabrics
Finished quilt size: ca. 66 x 82 in. (168 x 208 cm)
...behind the scenes shots are always such fun... can you spot my little helper?
Linking up with Let's Bee Social and 2016 Finish-A-Long
Don't you just love it when you carefully and gently pull all the finished blocks from your quilt wall to assemble them into your long awaited quilt top, and realize once it's together, that it appears that it is now half the size? (please note the obvious sarcasm)... the wonder and the mystery of "the great Shrink"
If you've been around here since I've been quilting, then you know that I'm a quilt size debator... usually battling the back and forth if I should make it bigger. (I suppose I figure that if you're going to do it at all, you might as well do it big) Even for this quilt, I seriously contemplated adding more blocks, because I had calculated that it would be a mere lap quilt after "the great Shrink".
So once the top was together, I quickly ran upstairs to take advantage of the bright, sunny day, and the fact that the kids were out of the house. I excitedly threw the quilt over my son's twin size bed and had my first surprise... it was too big and too long for the bed! (hardly a lap quilt!) Then I even more excitedly ran to my bedroom and threw it over my queen size bed... and much to my astonishment, found that it was almost big enough to fit my bed! (not quite, but again… not a lap quilt!)
Well, don’t you just love it when you over estimate, and are later pleasantly surprised with more than what you had originally calculated?
Quilt pattern: Churnstile from Stitchery Dickory Dock, Curn Dash block from the January Sugar Block Club
Started: February 2016
Fabrics: Alison Glass, Carolyn Friedlander, Cotton & Steel, Lizzy House, and various additional prints from my stash. Low volume with color background fabrics
Finished quilt top size: ca. 66 x 82 in. (168 x 208 cm)
What are your “the great Shrink” experiences?
Linking up this week with Let's Bee Social and Sew Cute Tuesday.
Once all the blocks of a quilting project are finished, one is all a flurry with excitement having reached the top of the first mountain. The next up hill climb is connecting it all together, where it can sometimes be slow moving.
After much debate about what size to take my Churnstile quilt, and some really good advice like "go with your gut", "consider the recipient", and probably the best advice from Kate to "let the quilt decide"... I actually decided to go for it and work on connecting the blocks! If it still feels like it needs more once it's all together, then I can keep going, right?
I've decided on using some of the same low volume fabrics that I used in the block backgrounds for the connecting sashings. I have fallen in love with using low volumes with a hint of color... Alison Glass has several in her Abacus series that I just adore, and Erin Michael's fabric Preakness from her Purebread collection, has reached favorite low volume status with me.
I've also been working on connecting the leaves on my Green Smoothie quilt. Once all the individual drunkard's path blocks are made, they have to be stitched together to make the beautiful leaf shape.
... and then a white strip to the top of each leaf before joining them all together.
What are you working on? Linking up the week to Let's Bee Social and Sew Cute Tuesday.
I have to admit that I've really enjoyed having a project in the works that is already cut and ready to go. For our Modern Patchwork Treffen in February, I ended up cutting almost all of the fabrics for my Churnstile quilt blocks... so when we met again in March, all I had to do was just sit down and sew! Ok, ok... so I think it's safe to say that this will not be my bee block, which is ok since it seems as if I've developed very specific ideas about the colors and fabrics.
I thought that I needed to add a few blocks with softer tones to give this a little more balance... this shade of periwinkle is just perfect!
For a lack of a better word, I've also been making a few "cornerstone" blocks too. (I'm sure there's a quilting term for these smaller blocks) It's been fun work on a few placement ideas to see how they would look best when integrated in with the larger blocks... always open for feedback! (hint, hint)
Since this had officially been labeled another "basket project", you'll see little bits of progress here and there. I've got a pretty big basting project to start on!
Linking up this week to Let's Bee Social and Sew Cute Tuesday.
Well, it would appear that I've gone just a little beyond auditioning blocks to slipping into a completely new project... but not without good reason! This past weekend was our Modern Patchwork Treffen (quilting group) here in Hamburg, and I needed something to work on. While I'm coming close to the end of quilting my Farm Girl Vintage quilt, I am now in the process of considering quilting options for the border... and I need to have a little more concentration (and space) for actual quilting. Not really the best take it with you project. But I have to admit that it was reassuring that I wasn't the only one with a new project in the works... in fact we all had new projects that we were working on!
It was so fun to see the variety of our projects... each person with their own style, different color palette, and range of tastes. As always the exchange was great... sharing ideas, quilting techniques... and come on, who doesn't love talking about fabric?!? In the end we arranged our finished blocks to admire them all in one spot.
As far as other projects in the works go, I've almost convinced myself that maybe I really can quilt my Facing East quilt instead of sending it off. All the ladies in our quilting group are cheering me on to quilt it myself! I've been playing around with a few quilting design options, but am still debating what is best for this quilt. I drew out a few designs on baking paper and placed them over the top of a picture of my quilt. I had thought either one large graduated circle or several smaller graduated circles with some straight line quilting... any thoughts? too busy? favor one over the other?
Few on words, but heavy on pictures... What's on your work table this week?
Linking ups this week to Let's Bee Social and Sew Cute Tuesday.
