finally a finish?

A good week has passed since I posted last. I've been busy!! We had a couple of holidays the last few weeks. We actually have three long weekends in May...my oh my, how do we ever get anything done with so many holidays?? ;-) I hope to post the whole week what I have been up to. Today I am sharing my advanced sampler with you.

My quilt top and backing are now finally at the Quilt-Oase. I wanted to get this finished up last year, and it was on my last year's To-Do List. Do you remember? It was the very first one on the list!!

I finished up my last block and laid out my sashing. I was showing my blocks and sashing to other quilters, and they were steering me in a direction I didn't want to go. I understand that my XL sashing and borders take away from the sampler blocks, but that is exactly what I was going for.I wanted the blocks to become a complete design on its own collectively as if they were printed on another piece of fabric. I am proud of myself for standing my ground, by the way!

I made my backing panel...and boy with this a monster; it measures about 95 x 115 inches! Fortunately, I had enough fabric in my stash to make it. I bought this gorgeous pink and orange fabric at a very quaint fabric/quilt shop somewhere in North Carolina on a trip three years ago that matching quite well with Kate Spain's Fandango. It was at a killer price and bought five or six yards of it. (I am not going to calculate the amount, seriously I could be wrong...it could be seven). It was almost enough for the entire backing too! I made some quick large pluses to add some extra backing surface. I could have left the size as is for home quilting, but I want this one to be long arm quilted, since it it huge and will be time consuming! I went the extra mile to add ten inches to the height and width to accommodate the long arm machine. To do this, I first pieced the backing and then carefully slice it twice, once horizontally and once vertically where I eventually placed the white plus.

 

I even matched up the print in the backing when I sewed the WOFs together. I first sewed them using a 1/2" then realized I should have sewn using 1/4" to allow the pattern to repeat. I frogged it (ripped the seam) and sewed it again ;-)

So I bet you are a little curious to see how this is supposed to look in the end. This was my original design layout. It changed just a little, but the idea is still there! I reduced my border width by five inches each side to make better use of the white fabric. I used strips 11 inches unfinished for each side; therefore, I could get four strips from my fabric. You can see more pictures in my flickr album.

What did I learn this week? When you run into a problem, don't stress about it. Allow it to become a challenge and solve it with enthusiasm. Your new idea will be brilliant!

Thank you for dropping by! Time for me to go grab another cup of coffee and move on to another project. And no more samplers...well, I still have to finish up my patchwork group sampler, but that's it!!! How do you feel about samplers? Do you like to make them?

it's a mod/mod world

Good morning everyone. I am so happy today; the sun is shining AGAIN! This has been a really incredible year. Although most of you in the United States have had a really hard winter with lots of snow, we in Germany have had one of the most mild winters ever. It was great. And now, spring has come early contrary to last year; spring arrived in late May. Every day last week the sun shined! And we have been blessed with several days this week. It can't get any better than this!

It's a Mod/Mod World is my quilt sampler I am making with the MOD/MOD QAL at Block Lotto. I have yet to show any of my blocks and have been working diligently. I now have my first three months completed and here it is.

My daughter helped with the first chevron block. I thought we were going to make the whole sampler together, but it got a little more challenging. We do not know what blocks Sophie has lined up for us in advance, but we are given a layout. (Sophie is a really great host and blogger. She writes all of the block instructions that are easy to follow and simpler to sew together.) You can choose from several different sizes, and I have chosen the smallest - measuring about 40" square. This way, I can learn new blocks and get away with just making the minimum number. I also am enjoying making the different sizes that join up in the end. I think my chevron is a little small, and I may have to rip it apart and resew to get the right dimensions.

I was supposed to make three bead blocks, but just made two the get the technique. I might make an additional one, and I might not. We'll see later.

I sewed the last block together this week - the Star Chain Block at the BlockLotto. The white areas are given as green, but since I have an abundance of Kona Snow, I thought it best to save the prints and use this yummy turquoise gradient as my chain. Can you tell it is lighter in the middle and gets darker on the corners? It is very subtle.

I recognize that I am getting a little powered out by the seven different QALs and exchange programs I have entered this year. BUT, I like my progress. It gives me incentive to keep going. What are your thoughts on this? Do you enjoy participating in a QAL? What are your blockades or hurdles? I would like to hear from YOU! Remember, you can write in English or German - I understand both, but am just too lazy to write in German. It gives me more time to sew. ;-)

And, don't forget, if you have made something in preparation for Christmas, don't forget to join in the Ho, Ho, Ho and on We Sew Linky Party on the previous post for your chance to win a prize. We are looking forward to seeing your creations!

Sewingly yours,
Karen