In mid-November, I targeted a small box full of 1-1/2" fabric squares set aside who-knows-when. Paired with loads of odd-sized strips and fabric chunks, I set out to use up those 1-1/2" fabric squares.
Over the holiday week, I finished up the small log-cabin inspired blocks (140 of them), set them in rows with sashing, and added a narrow background fabric border.
With the end in sight, I sandwiched and pin-basted the project, thinking I would eventually get around to the quilting.
I got a roll, and decided that there's no time like the present and started in with the quilting over this past weekend. Using the walking foot, I alternated curvy and straight line rows of stitching from top to bottom.
I was surprised at my progress once I placed my butt firmly in my sewing chair. With the rose parade as background noise, then a movie or two, I spend a good chunk of New Years day quilting. Then finished it off in the last couple days. Trimmed and ready for . . .
. . . binding
And now, look at those stacks of 1-1/2" squares down to three short stacks from at least five times that many.
There are a lot of bonus wins in this project:
- The 1-1/2" fabric square goal is nearly accomplished.
- This was very fun, very easy block sewing.
- Easy and fun to organize, too
- Lots and lots of scrap fabrics in different sizes and short strips have been put to good use; not to mention gobs of backing fabric that was previously set aside for who-knows-what purpose
- Another small storage box empty and ready for new project storage
- A twin-sized quilt finished and (nearly) ready for donation to Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Binding and label are all that is left to do.
- Background fabrics are cut and neatly stacked ready for a second, and possibly third, scrappy quilt of similar size and pattern.
There are also a few (I hesitate to call them) setbacks. . . .
- Aside from the stack of small squares that have 'disappeared', the dent in the rest of the fabric stash is hardly noticeable. I have *a lot* of fabric pieces! And therefore a lot more quilt potential lurking.
- In my basement work room, I have an old-fashioned wooden laundry rack. It has been a convenient place to store quilt tops that are waiting their turn to be quilted. It dawned on me as I finished up the pin basting on this project that I haven't really looked at what's actually hanging on that rack. . .
Oh. Em. Gee!
There are at least FOUR twin or large lap-sized quilt tops that only need backing and quilting. Plus there are a few other smaller items on each of the rack rungs - place mats, perhaps? Bags, maybe? It feels like I opened Pandora's Box as I 'discovered' more projects than I remembered putting aside.
Honestly, I had a moment of panic-y terror! It sometimes feels like I can't touch any storage space without unearthing a set-aside nightmare of unlimited unfinished objects!
Then it dawned on me. More storage space--I could/should make better use of that storage rack! More perfectly wonderful quilts that are *this* close to going on to their purpose, but for a bit of batting, backing, and quilting.
Who needs New Year's resolutions! All you need is Pandora's Rack!
Challenge accepted! Here I come 2024!
Happy Stitching!
Head Hummingbird
Hummingbird-Highway.com
Leave a Reply