Design Wall Monday, July 19, 2010

I got quite a bit of sewing done this week, despite being much more busy than I like to be.  In addition to the items I showed you in my last DWM post this is what I worked on this week:

These are two blocks from a BOM called "Checkerboard Flowers."  I had the first one, "Winter Roses," finished, but I had the border put on wrong.  Some of the dark squares butted up against dark and there were light against light, if you know what I mean.  I tried visualizing what I needed to do to make it come out right, but I  fried my brain trying.  So I took the borders off one by one until I could put them together right.  Altogether, I had to remove three and re-sew them.  There was a time when I wouldn't have worried about it and just let it go.  But as I improve in my quilting, I expect more from myself.  I knew I wouldn't be happy with that once it was all finished and sewn together.  I'm glad I took the time.  It only took about half an hour, and the block is so much better off for it.  The other is block two of the same quilt, "Crocus Up."

Then I got the Downy Quilt that I've been working on quite a ways along:

I still need to quilt it.  I'm just going to do a grid in the center with a decorative stitch on the inner boarder and hearts on the outer border.  If you've never done one of these, it's a lot of fun.  They send you the kit, you sew it together and quilt it, then send it back.  It's a great way to practice free motion quilting.  As you can see, this one has a tennis theme and so I'm calling it "Grand Slam."

I'm getting ready to start on one of Judy's patterns:  "Peaches and Dreams."  This is the quilt pattern I found that turned me on to Design Wall Monday.  I haven't started yet, but these are my fabrics:

I hope to get it cut out and ready to go sometime this week.  I don't know about you, but I generally don't cut the whole quilt at once.  I cut enough to get me going and then use that up before cutting more.  Cutting is my least favorite part of quilting, and so I don't want to wear myself out doing it.

And last, but not least,  I'm just starting the embroidery on "Winter Wonderland."

I looked at this pattern for the longest time.  It's red work, and I wasn't sure I was up for all that hand work since I have arthritis in my right hand (my dominent hand).  It was one of those things where I couldn't get it out of my mind.  I just kept thinking about it and thinking about whether to buy it.  I finally decided that even if I never make it, I would regret it if I didn't at least try.  So while I was at the Tater Patch quilt shop, I saw it for the final time and decided to purchase it.  I'm going to do mine in blue--so I guess that makes it "Blue Work."  I started on the "Snow Family" that is kind of the middle block on the left-hand side of the center panel.  I'll take a picture of it when I have more done.  I expect this will be a years-long project, but I'm not in any rush to finish it.  I've set aside some of my blue stash for the blocks, and I'll just work on it while I watch TV and while I wait in waiting rooms.  Eventually, it'll be finished.  I don't mind these long-term projects when I have no deadline for them.

 

I hope you like my projects.  I'm looking forward to seeing yours!