neptune

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Seven more days

July 21, 2009 in Piecing, Quilt-Along, Quilting | 6 comments

I have about seven more sewing days before I leave, so let’s check in on my self-imposed quilting marathon!

The big pink and brown ragged square quilt for Mary is now basted and I’ve started the wrestling match that is quilting it. Squares with a walking foot on a twin-sized quilt with my machine? Let’s just say I’m making liberal use of the “reverse” button so I don’t have to cram quite as much of it in there.  But, slowly, I’m making good progress. Barring any unforseen derailment, it should be quilted and almost-bound in plenty of time to come with me to Chicago.

Quilting in progress

Yes, Mary, I’m taking it with me. Maybe I’ll even ship it straight to you from there! Hope you like the block preview. :-)

Pink/Brown Ragged Square blocks

I also have the fabric cut for two more ragged-square quilts, a request from Marie N for her boy/girl twins.  They’re small, so I’ve got a shot at making them before I leave, but we’ll just have to see how it goes.

Red Ragged Square Cuts

After this, I think I’m going to have to take a break from this pattern.  It’s awfully cute and kids like the raw edges, but I’m ready to do something different.

Blue Ragged Square Cuts

Other than that, I just need to make sure I pack enough needles, the right color thread, and supplies to make a few labels so that I can be well and truly done with these by the time I get back home!

Neptune squares cut for zig-zag

Oh. Ahem. That.  Well, it was raining this afternoon. I may have put on a movie for the kids and sat with them while I cut my squares for the ORBCo zig-zag quilt-along.  Heh.  I’ll likely get several weeks behind on this one, what with leaving town and all, but it’s started.  I’m committed.  Or, you know, maybe I should be committed. Whatever.

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Performance Anxiety

July 16, 2009 in Binding, Piecing, Quilt-Along | 5 comments

Because I’m a glutton for punishment and having five projects on my to-do list, I decided to add two three more. Gah!  As it is, I finally have all of the fabrics I needed for Mary‘s daughter’s quilt, and have started putting the blocks together. Mary, hope you like the little preview!

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As for new stuff, I couldn’t resist joining the next project that has grown out of the Old Red Barn Co quilt-along: zig-zags! I’ve done a zig-zag before, of course (the baby for whom it was destined arrived yesterday, welcome to the world, Marcella!). And I have another one on my to-do list (a “commissioned” quilt for my husband’s aunt). But the ORBCo version will actually be done with half-square triangles. Plus, I’ve got a fat quarter bundle of Neptune just begging to be used.  I think I’m going to do two small (40″ square) quilts, one a little more girly and one a little more boyish.  Yes, I have boy/girl twins and a thing for fairness and symmetry, why do you ask?  Thankfully, though, these have no particular deadline, so they can get bumped down in the priority list if they need to be.

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And finally, I’ve joined my very first swap!  I’m doing the DQS7, and I’m both excited and totally nervous. What if the person I get is actually a REALLY good quilter and I send my lame beginner stuff and they’re really disappointed?  Gah!  But I’m looking forward to having an excuse to try something new and send it to someone who will hopefully enjoy it.  We’ll get our “assignments” next week, so I look forward to trying to figure out what my partner likes and figuring out what swaps are all about.

In the meantime, I’ve got two nearly-finished items on the pile for the trip to Chicago.  Binding attached, all it needs is the hand-sewing on the back.  It’s the nine-patch quilt and a cute little sock monkey baby quilt for my friend’s second son, due to arrive in the next week or two.

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I’ve got (theoretically) 12 more sewing days until we leave… we’ll see how much more can get added to that pile! I’m hoping for at least one more, but who knows what life will throw my way in the meantime.

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9-Patch Quilt-Along, Week 5

May 27, 2009 in Fabric, Piecing, Quilt-Along | 2 comments

This was a week of starts and stops on the nine-patches.  Rather than the easy, methodical one-per-day, I found myself neglecting them completely and then chain-piecing four or five at a time.  Ah well, the result is the same, right?

9-Patch Week 5

I added some more bright colors this week, and apparently also had a bit of a thing for stripes.  It all evens out in the end.

Now that we’re nearing the halfway point (31 of 70 done), I’m grateful for the fact that this is a group endeavor.  If I had simply decided to do this on my own, I think I’d be letting it fall by the wayside in favor of newer, shinier projects.  Not that I’ll be publicly flogged if I decide not to finish, but sometimes a mob mentality can be a helpful thing.

And to add a bit of color to a rainy, gray day, I am delighted to report that the FedEx man finally got around to delivering my Neptune fat quarter bundle.  10 total yards of vaguely nautical goodness.  Oh, I am so excited.  No idea what I’m going to do with it, of course.  For the moment I’ll just, you know, stroke it lovingly and whisper sweet nothings into the folds.

Neptune Fat Quarter Bundle

And, though I’m sure the three people who read this blog are already on top of this news, don’t forget to hit up Sew, Mama, Sew for the ridiculous amount of giveaways this weekend!

Happy crafting, all!

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