Well, I took a break from my original block of the month quilt, in fact my very first quilting attempt of any kind. It was funny (but not at the time) because I thought they would teach me how to quilt! No, that's a separate class, one I had not signed up for. Oh, and I didn't sew, at all. I could barely hem jeans. After lots of stress and tears my husband, the carpenter-cabinet maker, finally got angles and squaring up through my head and it's been hunky dory ever since. You Tube is also a great friend, so full of demos!
The block of the month covered making only the 9 blocks you see in my photo. These are the squares that surround the very scary center block. The block you see as the center is part A and that is as far as the class went. Now this block will be surrounded by flowery crown looking pieces and then a border for the last section. There's a photo later on. It is complicated with templates and paper piecing plus Y seams which I have never done. I put it off, and put it off and put it off. I got very good at delaying this block. Oh no, I didn't have the center block turned properly in my photo but no matter, you'll see in the package photo below. There must be hundreds of flying geese for the sashing!
These blocks have much greater detail and require some real thought to put together. This block alone has 70+ pieces. Patience is required. I measure and then measure again with a seam ruler just to make certain I cut correctly. I will apologize for how wrinkled everything is. I have each block folded and labeled in a zip lock bag but didn't want to iron it all for the photos.
This is what it will hopefully look like in the future. I sure hope the finishing packet has enough fabric. There are no cut sheets to tell me how to lay out the fabric so I'm just keeping it as tight as possible using the least amount of yardage. I often cut out paper blocks and lay them out to get a good visual. I will start to do a little of this at a time, treating it as if the BOM was still in sessions. In between I'll try my hand at quilting my last kid sized project. I also have my winter disappearing nine patch to farm out to the long arm quilter. That's just too big for my machine!
This was a great experience but looking back I must have been out of my mind to tackle a BOM for my very first project. I suppose my reasoning was "it's just a 12 inch square, I can do that!" Well, I can and if I can, so can anyone else that is thinking about beginning to quilt. So for any of you out there who are hesitating, just sign up for a class and get quilting!
image credit
14 comments:
Kathy,
I LOVE the colors and patterns of those blocks. You did a wonderful job. It's hard to imagine this was a first project, wow. GREAT JOB!!!
Your blocks are lovely. It will be a beautiful quilt. It's a good idea to be accurate when you have so many pieces in a block. Measure as you sew the block together so it will be the correct size. It will save you heartache later.
Thank you- Our last class was May so I've really put off finishing it. I found a good Y seam tutorial on line too.
What a first project! I love your colors and your blocks look perfect to me! :)
Incredible Kathy, you sure took on a mighty task for a first one!!!!! Just remember when doing your Y sections to stop 1/4 from the ends and it will make all the difference. Lovely lovely quilt there you are making. Cheers Glenda
It's pretty amazing how carpenter skills transfer to quilting. Now, if I can just get you past your fear of saws, planers and all the other spinning blades in the shop I think you'd be a pretty good woodworker, too.
Since you haven't hurt yourself with that spinning finger guillotine you use to cut fabric or sewn your hand to the base of the Pfaff I'm figurin' you ought'a be able to run a table saw.
Wow!! lol - that's a *bugger* of a project for a beginner. No wonder it was daunting for you. It's so pretty, though, and your blocks look terrific. You are going to LOVE that quilt when it's finished. If you're going to do it BOM-style still, we'd love to see your progress at BOMs Away - helps keep us moving forward. :D
That's is awesome! Y love your colors! Thanks for sharing the link! A hug!
Oh, that is lovely! I am an avid crafter, but most of the sewing I do is clothing. This is your first project? I am impressed!
Your blog is wonderful, and I'm following now. :o)
My instructions call for marking it with a dot but the tutorial I found shows just taking out a couple of stitches does the same thing, then you swing the top piece around and sew the opposite seam. I printed it out so I can have it with me!
I am following you too now- I love the tutorials!
I added you and will look for the BOMs Away!
The blocks very pretty!!! great job.
That is an awesome quilt and a major for someone starting out.
Your blocks are fantastic and if you treat the rest of the quilt BOM style you will bring it together.
My DH is a builder/carpenter and he has taught me so much about angles and measuring, he is a treasure!!
His x F in L saw my book of foundation piece patterns, bought it for his woodturning and as done some amazing designs, so what goes around comes around.
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