binding. again.

The time has come for me to once again pick up the needle and get to work hand-sewing. Thankfully, I'm not shrieking in terror this go-around, though there is something still intimidating to seeing those thin strips ready to be attached. I've decided my corners are going to look hot this time, and no one (or bit of fabric) can stop me!

The quilt keeps tossing me around and making me change my mind from the idea in my head. It's a great thing--I like the emerging product better than I like the idea in my head--but sometimes it's frustrating, like when I cut enough black binding to finish off the quilt, then discover that maybe the black looks too stark against the top. Granted, the little over an inch of black that frames it now will be reduced to about 1/4" when the whole thing is said and done, and maybe it'll look fierce, but I worry that I won't know for sure until I finish the hand-sewing, and then, I'm not ripping it out to satisfy anyone. Also, the backing fabric, which I liked and thought was bold and fun and different from the front, but still in a way that coordinated, really needs a black binding to polish it off. My initial thoughts were to go with a green or purple, but when I decided on that backing, it had to be black. Which in the store, seemed like an awesome idea. And now I'm learning that things don't always work out as I plan. That's okay, but I'm hoping everything comes together in the end. Also, is it bad that I'm consoling myself with the knowledge this won't be staying in my home, staring at me?

I had planned to start cutting fabric for my next project earlier this month, and while the fabric has sat washed and pressed for some time, I just haven't mustered up the motivation. I think that's because I'm really hoping to have this quilt done by end of January, and starting another project, even just the fabric cutting, takes away from it.

My next sewing project is much much smaller and won't require any quilting or binding. When looking for fabric for quilt #2, I fell in love with a gray and white print that I tried to convince myself could work as backing, but ultimately came to my senses and picked another fabric instead. Then, when I had to go back to the store to buy an extra bit of fabric since I was THREE INCHES SHY, I couldn't find the gray and white print, and I wanted to weep. But that settled that. I would just have to find another fabric I loved.

When I slipped into the store another time to pick out fabrics for this project, I happened to peek around a corner and look up, and there was the fabric I loved, hidden on a shelf! There were almost tears. And when I discovered it was from Lotta Jansdotter, and she had an entire collection, I decided I loved her a little bit too. I also purchased her choma goldenrod fabric, and a handful of other gray and white fabrics (both print and solid) to cut up for pillowcases for my couch! (I may have "accidentally" purchased too much, just in case I want some later for other projects.) Both prints are large, but they're going into big 14" blocks for the pillows, so I'm hoping that they'll showcase well. If they don't turn out, there will be sniffling.

Speaking of amazing fabric, I kind of also love this collection. But then, how could I not love the work of someone named Tula Pink? Do I see ideas for my next next project emerging? (Alright, hold on there, killer.)

quilt numero dos.

Yesterday, my house was full of quilting and football. You might not think those two go together, but in my casa, they equate to a fantastic day.

Work has begun on quilt #2. Quilt #1 was super fun and awesome, but it was also an exploratory quilt. Would I continue the hobby? Perhaps more importantly, could I even make a quilt? The answer to both questions is yes, but I wasn’t freaking out about achieving perfection because hey! It was only my first quilt. And not that I’m expecting perfection with #2 either, but I’m working more on my skillz.

I chose an “attic window” design with sashing in between the “window panes”. There were many many factors that went into this design decision, including the fact that evil triangles were kept to a minimum, and my friend K promised to show me a handy dandy way of silencing their dastardly voices and keeping them from stretching out. I could sew the quilt more in an assembly line fashion, meaning I could even chain piece if my heart so desired. (At first, I was anti-chain piecing because it was new, and I don't like change, but when I realized how easy it was and how much time it saved, well, I caved.) With my brain becoming more forgetful, and the very real fact that my belly is going to continue expanding for the next three months, it seemed smart to choose simple block construction over trickier work, especially since the distance between me and the sewing machine will grow with my uterus.

And yesterday, while we watched the Taxslayer.com Bowl, then part of the Outback Bowl, then the Rose Bowl, finally topping off our football day with the Fiesta Bowl, I somehow managed to pin, sew, and iron my way through most of my block construction. There is still quite a bit of work to be done before I’m finished piecing it together--blocks need to be finished, sashing fabric needs to be cut and attached, then rows sewn together, THEN the border--but I finished four times the amount of work I was expecting or even hoping to complete. And in record time!

I'm particularly working on making sure my sewing is even and my cuts are lined up perfectly. With one quilt under my belt, I understand the importance of making everything as close to perfect as possible as early on as possible as it only makes things easier. Can we say that together? EASIER. And the end result looks prettier, or so I've been told since I don't have any practical experience in *that* particular arena. 

With both quilts, there was a cringe moment before the rotary cutter actually hit the first piece of fabric. Would the combination of fabrics go together well? Would it lay out the way I saw it in my head? But now that I'm actually sewing this puppy together, I think it's looking great, and I'm excited. I had originally envisioned something else entirely to go around my focal fabric. I was thinking greens in various colors, but when we got to the fabric store and put fabrics side by side, the plan shifted dramatically. The greens have been replaced with other colors, and now that the blocks are coming together, I'm getting impatient to start work on the sashing to see if it looks as smokin' fierce as the blocks do. 

When I mentioned to my friend V the time it takes to put into a quilt, she balked and couldn't understand why anyone would pick up the hobby. And yes, they DO take quite a bit of time, even if it's just a crib size quilt! But I enjoy it all so much. Okay, the binding was not as enjoyable, but it's a part of the process, and it really does make the quilt look so much sharper. And while I enjoy all of the hobbies I've picked up over the years, I may just like it the most!