It was my brother in law's 40th birthday on Friday so I guess the question on everybody's lips is whether he liked the quilt I made for him.
You know- the one I've been blathering on about since about February? The one I vowed to finish in time for his birthday in July. The one I've been endlessly showing as I theoretically progress through to completion? Yeah -ummm...that's still in bits. We copped out and gave him money in a card instead because apparently I cant finish anything when working to a deadline. Gotta say - Im not really arse kicking myself over it- I have come to dislike the putting together of that quilt intensely. Maybe it'll get finished and maybe not. I've never not finished a quilt before but the jury is still out on this one.
It hasn't all been doom and gloom and ignoring stuff on the quilting front . My Irish Chain quilt top is finished and I love how it looks. I have some cream embossed damask for the back that will pull everything together to give this an antique feel and best of all I'm sending it out to be quilted so in my head that means this one is almost done. I've even made the binding for it. My job is pretty much done!
I waged an inner war with myself on Saturday over whether to unpick the 5 rows of the triangle quilt I'd already sewn because I wasn't really happy with the way they were sewing up into a top. I've learned that triangles cut on the bias stretch out of shape and by the time you sew stretched triangles into row you can end up with some very interesting results. (Curved quilt top anyone?) My inner perfectionist spoke louder than my slack arse personality and I spent Saturday unsewing and re-sewing and first time sewing and squaring all my triangles post sewing into little rows . (Does anyone else think this talk of squaring triangles sounds odd or am I just having a moment of silliness?)
I got two rows sewn back together over the weekend and this is where I left the rest of it. I must confess looking at that pile waiting to be sewn into a recognisable quilt top makes me feel like I'm going to be mindlessly sewing triangles just about forever...
And to prove there's more than one way to skin a cat (ugh -I don't know why anyone would want to do that ) I finished this too. I saw this idea on Pinterest where someone had embroidered directly onto a paper map. I decided to go one better and print the map onto fabric and then embroider -but my hand stitches looked funky so I unpicked it and went the slacker way and used my machine. At this point I don't care that I sort of cheated ...its a finish.
And in other creative type news ...I have 1 and a half of these left to do before I can start making them into a quilt top ...hallelujah!
Couldn't resist the lure of a new project ...started cutting scraps but since I haven't start actually sewing them it doesn't really count. This could be the one that finally tips me over the edge.
Over the edge of what is what we're all wondering of course! lol I really do love the look of your (brother's) quilt, but I know it's really frustrating to work on something you're burnt out on. Maybe you need to applique something funky on a few of those nice blocks to get yourself more excited about putting it together? Okay, terrible idea. More work on something that's not feeling the love.:) Great progress on the Irish chain though--it looks great!
ReplyDeleteDo not feel bad on the missed deadline, you are in good company there. I completely missed the deadline on my 5. In fact 3 of them still need labels. Your Irish Chain turned out really well. Look at all your projects as just priming the pump, at some point you will have lots of finishes.
ReplyDeleteI almost never finish gift quilts by the deadline. I'm sure your brother-in-law appreciated being remembered (you can never go wrong with cash ;) and you can give him the quilt next year. See? As it turns out, you're ahead of the game.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE your Irish Chain quilt. It is beautiful! As are your triangles. I love the fabrics. And I've done a bit of unpicking and restitching lately too. Your trip map is very clever. I like how it turned out.
And every time you show those hexies, I love them more than the last. It it exciting that you're close to putting it together into a top. I can't wait to see.
Fun post!
xo -E
So its not finished for his birthday, there's always Christmas (some year in the future). If you're not loving it right now, stick it away out of sight for a while and come back to it in 12 months. At least fabric doesn't go off! I'd be just throwing a few of those triangles through the machine in between other sewing jobs, like a leaders and enders project. You'll have them stitched up in no time then. Cute idea on the map, who cares if its hand stitched or done on the machine - done is done!
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem Shay so you are not alone. You have been busy with all your projects. All gorgeous by the way. hugs.....
ReplyDeleteYou do have a bit of a triangle thing going on there - it is no wonder all those bias edges are tipping you over the edge!
ReplyDeleteLove the Irish chain in those gorgeous reds with the clean white. Great idea to back it with Damask too.
Pretty scraps to play with.
Enjoy the sewing.
Re the shirt quilt, I think you should:
ReplyDelete- get a box
- put the bits into said box
- close and tape box shut
- write my address on a label
- affix label to box
- drive to post office and send to me! :)
Just kidding, of course (sort of). Alternatively, you could forget the label and just shove the box in a closet for a few months (years?). You'll probably get an urge to finish it at some point and then it'll be there for you. And if the urge to finish never comes, it's all set to toss on the next bonfire (or mail off to me). Really, life is too short to waste energy on things that don't blow your skirt up.
Your Irish Chain quilt is completely adorable! You really put that together in no time.
I looooove the Irish Chain Quilt...just beautiful. And I know you will one day finish all the other tops. Who cares about when? I am just now quilting a top I have been working on for seven years...all Hand sewn, I must have had a blackout starting that.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your brother in law was happy with his gift; and as someone else said, you've got a real jump on next year.
ReplyDeleteLove the Irish Chain Quilt. Where is that going? or is it staying? and your triangles look great -- love the fabrics.
What's the new project?
I remember when i sewed my triangle quilt that I broke into a cold sweat when I filled my design wall with triangles then realised it was 2/3rds bias edges. I just sewed really slow not to stretch the sides and was very careful when ironing. I think you just need a break from the shirt quilt and then you might like it again. Your Irish chain is a winner for sure!! Love that shot of scraps, you're up to something fun with those...
ReplyDeleteLove the red and white irish chain. Glad the hexies are nearly finished, that's two projects nearly done and dusted...the BIL quilt you can rack up to experience, stick it in the back of the cupboard and think about it next year!
ReplyDeleteDon't be soooooo hard on your self. Bias triangles are always a challenge. There is always this week for finishing a few things off LOL.
ReplyDeleteI've got plenty of unfinished quilts so don't beat yourself up over one. There are rules to bias triangles, I know I was taught never to have the bias on the edges when you put a border on so try having the non bias side on the edge of the row that way each of the rows will be on the straight grain.
ReplyDeleteThe Irish Chain is beautiful. That is going to be one gorgeous quilt, and I love the idea of the damask for backing.
ReplyDeleteYou are not the only one who is crap at deadlines, I still haven't touched the quilt top I was making for my sister's birthday last year. It's her birthday on Thursday. Oh well!!
At least you've been busy and even though you haven't finished the shirt blocks top or the triangles, you have made lots of progress.
Your Irish Chain quilt is very pretty! Yep, I can get that those triangles have to be squared......of course. If you really truly intensely dislike that quilt, why not get it out of your life? You gave it a try and it's obviously not for you, but it might be for someone else. Declutter that quilt!
ReplyDeleteTurf the shirt quilt if you don't like doing it. Cut your loses. Quilting is what you do for a hobby and it's supposed to be fun !! You'll have a better design idea in about 5 minutes knowing you !
ReplyDeletePS. Marg's gone quiet ??? No new pics for ages.
Oh I see her there above me!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletewell one finish is better than none...IC looks Pretty.
ReplyDeleteSometimes deadlines make a noise as they die--your BIL's was a balloon popping! Lots of sewing time happening at your home and that is wonderful! Love the Irish chain, it is yummy!
ReplyDeletehe's only 40 there's always next year or by the time he's 50!
ReplyDeletelove the Irish chain ....
Och it's not like he doesn't have a birthday every year, and there's always Christmas, he must have a good few more of those in him too ;o)
ReplyDeleteYay on the 'finish', boo on the triangles, they are a complete PITA I found when I had to do bee blocks in them.
Cunning plan on the map, and yay on the flowers I don't even have the patience to get that far ;o)
If you don't like your project, donate it to a charity who makes quilts to give to a worthy recipient. I did that with the quilt I was going to make for #1 son's wedding... neither liked the quilt I already had made all the blocks for a queen size. Their loss.
ReplyDeleteI love your Irish Chain. I've gotta make one of those someday.
Hugs
Love the Irish Chain, it is one of my friend Helen's favs. I think it is the white that makes this quilt. The simple blocks. I don't do any quilts that have a time element. I've learned from you that this is futile...see you do help us along with our sewing.
ReplyDeleteGive it some other time. |Just for nothing is so appreciated.
I love an Irish chain quilt. You're getting stuff done, just not in the order planned.
ReplyDeleteHoney I always say...pick your battles! Great that one is down and ...a few to go! I love the map idea! and I agree with you..who in their right mind would want to skin a cat anyways...LOL...hugs girl! keep up the good work..you are getting there!
ReplyDeleteLizy
Don't worry about missing the deadline. One day you will get it done for him. I started a rug once for an aunt for her 60th birthday. It moved house twice with me and she got it for her 70th instead!
ReplyDeleteFabulous Irish Chain...and a finish to boot (I'm counting it as finished, you know I count a finish at the point of a completed top)...liking the triangles too even if they are being unco-operative, naughty triangles and I get the squaring up of triangles being somewhat of a huh? that doesn't make sense moment...fun idea with the map...
ReplyDeleteLooks like lots of fun projects over at your place! I totally get that you aren't loving working on a quilt, even though I am a finisher too, I must admit that I have "donated" a couple of projects to the local guild for the garage sale or orphan block projects over the years.
ReplyDeleteI'm two Christmases in on a quilt I've never finished, so no worries about the birthday quilt. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat Irish Chain is gorgeous! Absolutely love it. The colors, design, everything about it.
You've still accomplished more than I have. That stupid skirt lays atop the sewing table mocking me.
Hooray for your finishes. Can't wait to see what you do with the scraps.
Yep...I may have a quilt or two in the 'may never finish pile'. I get what you're saying sister! I totally adore your Irish chain. Do you need my address? And that map idea...I LOVE IT!!!!! You just always knock my socks off. :)
ReplyDelete