Why hello!!!
I almost didn't see you there!!
I hope you have had a delightful weekend, and a wonderful Monday back at work. I have been a bit sick :-( BUT I cannot feel bad, because I have had some lovely comments coming in after my ramble/rant the other day. I think the overwhelming consensus is that we're all here for fun. Also I am not alone in my fabric envy/guilt over what everyone else is making.
In honour of this, as a treat for all of us overworked and under appreciated quilters, I would like to offer a giveaway. Now, I have no idea how to make this work. I have no concept of shipping or widgets or, heck even how to email replies to my comments, but here goes.
To enter my giveaway, please make a comment. Any comment. Maybe you could impart the secret of how you read so many blogs? Or what your favourite non-crafty down time activity is? Or where you get your inspiration? What ever you want to say, you have a chance to win a prize! And because i love having you as followers, you can all comment a second time for a bonus super dooper free second entry!!
But what will you win?? I am in the process of trying to organise a gift certificate to an onlie fabric store. This way you get soemthing pretty that you'll love, I don't have to ship and we can support a little quilt shop.
I did have a quick rumble through my stash to try to offer some of my own much loved fabrics but I couldn't bear to part with some and I didn't want to give you the stuff I don't love, so a thought a certificate might be a good compromise.
You'll also note that I am not offering to make you anything fancy, although I'd love to, because a)my stitching is dreadful and I don't want to lumber that on anyone who knows better and b) if I offered that it would mean you'd have to wait a month while I made it. Also it would be another job on my list, and we're trying to avoid that, right!
My only hope is that your day is a little bit shinier :-)
I'll draw a winner in 7 days. Probably not an exact 7 days... More like 7 1/2 days, coz I'll wait till I'm home from work :-)
****
Now I think we all saw that last week I was feeling a little overwhelmed from staring at growing piles of work and fabric.
But I spent last Saturday playing with my fabric and it made me feel much more content. I don't really have anything to show for it. I did the piecing for my next round of Handstitched borders. This did take me a while as it involved quilt maths. My greatest weakness. I normally avoid the maths and aim to overestimate and then just cut it, but I decided that I was going to do it right!! Also I don't want to run out of my pretty fabrics. The solids should be fine, but I only have half yards of my three prints.
So check out my maths!!
And I got it right first time!! That, my friends is how you make a border!!
Then I tried to work out the lengths I needed to attach... This is where my maths failed me. I measured the edge. It's 33". So I need two 16.5" pieces, right?? No. I forgot that I am adding in the central blossom, so I actually only need 12.5". Though that assumes I'm doing the patchwork corners... Not completely decided on that. I don't think I want to mitre the corners, just because I am doubtful I will be able to line up my pattern perfectly like I did on an earlier border. I definitely don't want more blossoms.
Maybe I could do a scrappy improv-y choppy corner? I don't know that that will work with the rest of the quilt.
Does anyone have any other ideas?
Once this round is on, I only have 2 simple sections and I can start with the quilting. Although I haven't picked backing yet. I'm tossing up between being thrifty and sewing all my scraps in a pile and trying to make something out of that, or just accepting that that will be too much work and not the effect I really want and buying something. Then the question becomes, do we want plain or pattern? Plain red or stone could look gorgeous, but will also show all the flaws in my stitching. Maybe I could do big pieces of both?
Oh well. A decision for another day!
I hope you have had a delightful weekend, and a wonderful Monday back at work. I have been a bit sick :-( BUT I cannot feel bad, because I have had some lovely comments coming in after my ramble/rant the other day. I think the overwhelming consensus is that we're all here for fun. Also I am not alone in my fabric envy/guilt over what everyone else is making.
In honour of this, as a treat for all of us overworked and under appreciated quilters, I would like to offer a giveaway. Now, I have no idea how to make this work. I have no concept of shipping or widgets or, heck even how to email replies to my comments, but here goes.
To enter my giveaway, please make a comment. Any comment. Maybe you could impart the secret of how you read so many blogs? Or what your favourite non-crafty down time activity is? Or where you get your inspiration? What ever you want to say, you have a chance to win a prize! And because i love having you as followers, you can all comment a second time for a bonus super dooper free second entry!!
But what will you win?? I am in the process of trying to organise a gift certificate to an onlie fabric store. This way you get soemthing pretty that you'll love, I don't have to ship and we can support a little quilt shop.
I did have a quick rumble through my stash to try to offer some of my own much loved fabrics but I couldn't bear to part with some and I didn't want to give you the stuff I don't love, so a thought a certificate might be a good compromise.
You'll also note that I am not offering to make you anything fancy, although I'd love to, because a)my stitching is dreadful and I don't want to lumber that on anyone who knows better and b) if I offered that it would mean you'd have to wait a month while I made it. Also it would be another job on my list, and we're trying to avoid that, right!
My only hope is that your day is a little bit shinier :-)
I'll draw a winner in 7 days. Probably not an exact 7 days... More like 7 1/2 days, coz I'll wait till I'm home from work :-)
****
Now I think we all saw that last week I was feeling a little overwhelmed from staring at growing piles of work and fabric.
But I spent last Saturday playing with my fabric and it made me feel much more content. I don't really have anything to show for it. I did the piecing for my next round of Handstitched borders. This did take me a while as it involved quilt maths. My greatest weakness. I normally avoid the maths and aim to overestimate and then just cut it, but I decided that I was going to do it right!! Also I don't want to run out of my pretty fabrics. The solids should be fine, but I only have half yards of my three prints.
So check out my maths!!
 |
| Quilt maths |
And I got it right first time!! That, my friends is how you make a border!!
Note that it's not actually attached to the quilt yet...
Then I tried to work out the lengths I needed to attach... This is where my maths failed me. I measured the edge. It's 33". So I need two 16.5" pieces, right?? No. I forgot that I am adding in the central blossom, so I actually only need 12.5". Though that assumes I'm doing the patchwork corners... Not completely decided on that. I don't think I want to mitre the corners, just because I am doubtful I will be able to line up my pattern perfectly like I did on an earlier border. I definitely don't want more blossoms.
Maybe I could do a scrappy improv-y choppy corner? I don't know that that will work with the rest of the quilt.
 |
| Medallion quilt so far |
Once this round is on, I only have 2 simple sections and I can start with the quilting. Although I haven't picked backing yet. I'm tossing up between being thrifty and sewing all my scraps in a pile and trying to make something out of that, or just accepting that that will be too much work and not the effect I really want and buying something. Then the question becomes, do we want plain or pattern? Plain red or stone could look gorgeous, but will also show all the flaws in my stitching. Maybe I could do big pieces of both?
Oh well. A decision for another day!
Go enjoy your Monday and I'll see you later in the week for a Swoon update. Don't forget to comment for a present!!!
E xx
Oh man, I love how your latest border is coming!! You're ahead of me now. :D You could just do a solid color for the cornerstones. Or a log cabin. Or a Half-log cabin-triangle (all the new craze).
ReplyDeleteAlso, YAY giveaway!!
My secret to reading lots of blogs is google reader, but that's going away so a lot of people are moving over to bloglovin'. You could give that a try! :)
Oh, and I am a subscriber, of course! :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks gorgeous! Way to go figuring out all the measurements.
ReplyDeleteI prefer large prints that are colorful so my stitching will blend better. Usually the base color is white or cream so I can match the front and back threads.
I became a new follower,too.
ReplyDeletelove how the quilt is working out, if you use some of the scraps from this project that will help you reduce some of the ever growing pile of fabric, and help you feel like you're at least making an effort towards control of it! Saying that, i usually buy a big piece, beacuse i'm lazy like that, and spots would look good, red and cream, that would hide any imperfections/design features.
ReplyDeleteI read quite a few blogs by having a blog list on my own blog which updates when people post, so I just read them when a new post or two pop up, and i don't have to go hunting for them.
And i am signed up for google reader with you which i know is going, but i use my blog link to find when you've posted! :o)
ReplyDeleteOh wow your quilt is just stunning! And I think you need to have more confidence in yourself and your maths, it looks like you've got it all spot on :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway by the way, very generous of you!
Your quilt is looking great, well done on the math, it's definately a weak point of mine! I read through Blogger, usually I sit down after the kids are in bed and read while watching tv, then I sew on evenings when there's nothing good on to watch! My other hobby is that I love to cook and try out new recipes for the family but I tend to use every pan in the place and tend to get left with loads of washing up! Thanks for the giveaway too :o)
ReplyDeleteWhat about a 9 patch for the corner stones....tie in with the other border? Loving the red/black/stone colours. I and agree with previous commenter...spots would be perfect for the back!
ReplyDeleteSee you in a few weeks for sewing day!
ReplyDelete