I’m so excited with the progress I’ve made on the projects I have going on right now. This whole quilting thing is perfect for my need to be doing 20 things at once. I love having multiple projects and there is always inspiration to be found. It makes me so happy.
This Saturday my school made up some time we had missed from Hurricane Sandy. Now, any teacher who goes into school for a sixth day in a row, deserves either an extra jewel for his or her crown in heaven, or a trip to the fabric store. I chose a trip to the fabric store. After working on my granny squares I’ve realized that my stash is seriously lacking in some quality grays, oranges, purples, and navy blues. While I have a few bundles sitting in my cart on Etsy, I headed over to my favorite local quilt shop, Rock Paper Scissors, to bulk up my stash.
Don’t be too jealous, but my awesome hubs helped me pick out quite a few fabrics, single-handedly found all of the purples and… OK, and then he did head to the car while they were being cut. I can’t expect too much from the man. Admittedly, this was a lonnnnggggg trip. However, I do have much to show for it!
Now I have a fresh stack of beautiful fabrics sitting in my craft room ready to be cut. The only problem is that now I don’t want to cut them. I just want to stare at them. Is this feeling ever going to go away?
How can I cut this?
So, after the trip to the store, the husband was pooped and I was energized. While he napped, I had a good two hours to baste my first quilt, on his open office floor! Now, good thing it’s a baby quilt because I don’t know what I’m going to do with my larger quilts. Where do you guys baste these monsters?! The baby quilt was hard enough!
I followed all the steps. Taping my backing fabric to the floor – but not stretching it:
(and, yes, I even ironed it!)
Carefully laying the batting and the quilt top over the backing and smoothing all the layers:
Using the curved safety pins, not regular straight one, because that would be crazy:
Spending too much time on my knees, going round and round:
Until it looked like this:
The whole time I was completely paranoid that I hadn’t gotten the bottom layer. But I did! Woohoo!
Now it’s rolled up and hanging out in the craft room:
And I’m busy making color combinations for my Granny Squares.
I hope to work up the courage to quilt this baby soon. I’ve watched many a video, talked to others, and read books. And I’m still nervous to actually start. What color thread should I use for the quilting? Do I need to start an initial line in the center? Or can I start off of one of the edges? I’m planning on quilting it in straight lines a 1/4 inch from each seam to create squares inside of the squares. Or maybe I just need to find a class… help?!
I’ve also made all of my flying geese (after last weekends mishap) and am pushing through with the Love Lives Here quilt. I think I’m stretching this one out since it was my original project. The final stretch is proving the be the hardest. I’ve also made 12 Granny Blocks … F.A.D.D. (fabric.attention.deficit.disorder) strikes again!
Happy Sunday and Happy Quilting, friends!
I’m linking up with Plum and June!
Wasn't Quilt in a Day 