8/13/19

Legendary Sewing

Before we get to the "legendary" part of yesterday's sewing, let us all pause here for a moment to admire this legendary tummy.


Formerly feral, Sadie tends to be an anxious and shy cat. During our morning slow-stitching sessions, however, she finds time to relax and ready herself for a day of frenetic activity.

There was housework to do, and I promised myself I'd stop sewing by 3:00 p.m. Liar! Three o'clock came and went, and I was still sewing. In fact, I sewed the whole live-long day. Possibly I've made peace with paper-piecing. The object of my desire was this unicorn.


As I was trying to think of a title for this post, I looked up unicorns to see what kind of stories I could tell about them. There's actually quite a bit written, given this is a mythical creature. Check it out right here. The pattern was created to make the unicorn's mane in one color, but there was also this rainbow version in photograph, and I wanted to make mine like that.

My first task was to decide how to do the background. My friend's granddaughter possibly likes blue, and so I knew I wanted blue. (The granddaughter is only just two, and so she hasn't really made any decisions about what her favorites are yet. Blue is only a guess, based on her grandmother's assessment of what amounts to baby talk.) It didn't seem as if it would work to make it scrappy blue. I worried the rainbow mane would get lost if the background were too busy. I was thinking I wanted something "magical" with stars or metallic. Opening my drawer of blue fabrics, I found the perfect thing.


This yardage has been in my stash absolutely forever. I must have used it at some point in time because it was washed and cut. I have no idea when. It is completely unfamiliar. But anyway...I got started with the first section, and decided that would work just fine.


And then, I was on my merry way.


By lunch time, I had the first of three sections finished.


And then I spent the remainder of the afternoon working on the section containing the horn. I auditioned a couple of different fabrics before settling on this rainbow stripe.


This is not a pattern for beginners. When I did the zebra, there was a helpful diagram showing the individual sections with letters, labeling the colors, and showing where the seam lines would be. This one was originally created to make the unicorn one color, and so it has symbols labeling the colors. Making it rainbow colors means figuring out where one color ends and one begins. I've used a highlighter to mark the sections as I work on them, and giving them letter labels as well.


The rainbow photograph is detailed enough that I've been able to use a chalk pencil to help me along with that.


When Mike called to let me know he was on his way home, I stopped. We had dinner, and then he had some work to do outside. I used the opportunity to get out with my DSLR and macro lens to get some pictures of the echinacea. I've been meaning to do this for quite a while, and the flowers are showing their age. Nevertheless, I did get a few pretty ones.




This volunteer pansy is one of the stars of the garden.


And Mike was still busy, so I went back into the sewing room to work on the unicorn a little more. My nosy kitties had to get in on the act too.



When I left it for the day, I was piecing together the sections of the face. I need one more section, and then I'll be able to sew this second part together.


Of course, I gave it a proper flower eye, although it won't look like an eye until I've sewn it all together.

The whole quilt top is made up of three large sections, and I'm nearly finished with the second of the three. I'm hoping I'll finish off the third section today, except I absolutely must get at my housekeeping chores. I did the laundry yesterday, but the rest went begging when I couldn't tear myself away from the paper-piecing (pun totally intended). Matthew and Lyndsay are here too, and so that might interrupt my flow. Also, it's a CSA pick-up day. With all that going on, I'll be surprised if I can finish it off today, but I'm going to give it a go.

12 comments:

Mary said...

I really like the Zebra but this Rainbow Unicorn is wonderful. Your "helpers" are certainly an invaluable asset in your quilting room. Smitty is a handsome guy and Sadie is a precious soul. I am almost finished with my 4-Sisters times 4, and a good thing because I only have until Sept 21 to quilt up the last 2. Meeting up with my 3 sisters in Illinois, the first time in 13 years that we will be in the same place at the same time. Keep stitching and quilting.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

What a great find in the stash for that background - perfect for the Unicorn. Oh, that Sadie does know how to use that lap time to the fullest. Beautiful flowers. A few of our local farmers markets have Mumms out already.

Julierose said...

I like that starry background for the Unicorn--very mystical...
nice work...
We have had a rainy day here--finally; so refreshing...
hugs, Julierose

Kate said...

What a fun little quilt! You picked a great background and the rainbow mane is perfect. Hope you do get a chance to finish it up soon.

Denise :) said...

Oh my goodness! The unicorn is quite incredible ... I love the flower eye! The youngest of my California grands, Olivia, loves unicorns and purple. I may have to try my hand at this one. I love cat belly petting ... it's the best! Will she suffer it? Nice how they help out by making sure your fabric doesn't walk away mid-process. Whew! :)

Dots said...

Wow! Love the unicorn. You make it look easy. But I saw the pattern and, well I do not see that in my near future. But boy! Is that beautiful, or what?! That little girl will love it forever! Both the zebra and unicorn are wonderful patterns. But your fabric choices are what really make those spectacular! You are fast and extremely talented at what you make.

piecefulwendy said...

I've read that cats feel secure if they expose their tummies, so if that's true, Sadie feels very secure with you. I love it when they sleep all stretched out and relaxed. I'd love to sleep like that, rather than tossing and turning. Your unicorn is coming along really well, and it's going to be so cool. Love that background fabric; funny that you can't recall when or where you got it. I have some like that, so I feel better knowing I'm not alone!

Natureluvr57 said...

what a wonderful type of day. Rainbow Unicorn is looking great. One of our feral cats is timid and shy and if you pick her up she acts like you're killing her. It took her months to come out of the kitchen, months to get past the living room to Mom's room. We eventually let her out at night to sleep in Mom's room because we also took in her arch enemy. They got into a fight when they both lived outdoors and he ripped her ear. They both got sick and we took them in so we could doctor them and we didn't have the heart to put them back outside since they needed double doses of drugs which meant a month inside. It was rainy and cold when they got well-seemed like forever, one of those springs. When he's in his cage or my room she thinks she owns the place but runs to hide when he's out so we have a "system" to give each their own time. We have a brother and sister and I'll be darn if he hasn't started chasing his sister. Everyone is fixed so I thought that wouldn't happen but I was wrong. I just want everyone to get along but it just gets worse. Me, I have a shed to go work on since I took yesterday off when it rained in the morning.

Auntiepatch said...

I loved the zebra but the unicorn is beautiful!

kc said...

That background couldn't be any more perfect! And I love the rainbow mane - much more detailed than if it were just all one color. I think it's absolutely stunning! Love the bumblebee & furry belly photos too!!

gpc said...

Just seeing that diagram makes me know For Sure that I will continue to avoid paper pieceing at all costs. But your unicorn is amazing, and the background choice is perfect. Love your macro photos, too.

quiltzyx said...

Yep, definitely a legendary tummy! I think she likes you.

Oh, I think having the unicorn's mane in rainbow colors is brilliant! Good job on that.

The macro photos are fabulous! The blues pansies are wonderful.