Thursday, July 19, 2007

in the projects

On Monday, once I'd had confirmation that I do indeed have a job for next school year, The Husband told me we'd do whatever I wanted that evening.
So I took him to JoAnne's (duh!). I decided to use the last few weeks of freedom to make a queen-sized quilt for our bed. I'm a little afraid of working on such a large project, but I figured that it was "now or never" and decided to just jump in.
Naturally, I've been knee-deep in quilting and sewing projects ever since (I'm planning on cutting the pieces for the Big Quilt today).
The projects, they are numerous. Curtains, chair cushions, place mats, a blouse, another skirt... the list goes on.
The one thing I've actually completed (and within less than 24 hours) is a quilt for another friend in Germany who is having a baby in September. They're not finding out if it's a boy or girl (which, to the quilter in me is incredibly frustrating because of color choices, but whatever), so I decided to use the 10" squares of the Dick and Jane collection I just HAD TO HAVE a few weeks ago.
First, the quilt was going to look like this:
squares and sashes
Then, I realized that I made the white sashes and yellow squares really small because (SMART!) I forgot to add seam allowance (should have had breakfast before starting!). With time constraints and my need for this project to be FUN (rather than the inevitable fudging of corners and ripping and re-sewing of tiny seams), I decided to go without the sashes:
just squares
I chose 15 of the large squares and cut each of them into four 5"squares. Then, I arranged them "randomly" (making sure to mix them well and not make the pattern look like the pieces are arranged "on purpose").
Once the top was completed, I ran to JoAnne's (after all, it had been two days since my last visit!) for batting, backing fabric, and yellow quilt yarn (okay, and a fat quarter, BUT HOW CAN I HELP IT? THEY ARE STILL ON SALE!). By 8:30 last night, the three layers of the quilt were safety-pinned together and I was quilting and watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Your mother was a hamster, and your father smells of elderberries! I fart in your general direction! I pick my nose at you!).
Two movies later (Serendipity and Calendar Girls, FYI), the quilt is done:
bubble quilt
Now on to cutting the Big Quilt...
(PS: Pictures are larger on flickr!)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for explaining! I like stories about how other people create. :-)

I am slightly jealous of your movie-and-quilting marathon. I used to do that all the time with crocheting before I had my daughter. Now, it takes me months to finish one blanket. *sigh* But one day, she will be grown (she's only 3) and I will probably be watching movies and crocheting with her.

Anyway. Thanks. The quilt is beautiful--I love the colors and patterns!

Karyn said...

Holy cow is that quilt ever adorable!!!! I can't believe how fast it came together for you!!!

I really like the fact that when you realized your error you changed your approach. Good thinking!

lera said...

Fabulous!!! And so quick, too.

Now, I can't wait to see you pull off the quilt for your bed!

tweetey30 said...

Bethany actually I still crochet and I have a 3 and 6 year old. I do it after they have gone to bed or while we are doing quiet time before bed.

Sonja that is beautiful. I should send you my material I have for the girls quilts and let you do them LOL... I just dont have the filling and the backing for the quilts.

Yummers! said...

Congrats on getting a teaching job. I live in Wisconsin and the jobs are scarce. My brother-in-law has been looking and looking. Nothing here! I just retired from teaching... was a Reading Specialist. Where are you from in Germany? I taught school there for a year and my oldest daughter was born there.
Joni

Natasha said...

First congrats on the job!!

The quilt came out great, i think I like it better without the sashing!
Can't wait to see the next one!

Rabbit, it just a little rabbit!

Chara Michele said...

The quilt looks lovely!

(Just found your blog a bit ago through Karyn's:)