Sunday, January 29, 2012

The one person quilt retreat

I decided on Australia Day to quilt most of the day, without interruption. And I did.

Sewing table malfunction

Mostly. I had a sewing table malfunction when the castor wheel for my overlocker return fell off and couldn't be screwed back in. It's now detached from my sewing table and is sitting in the naughty corner with a business card box "chock" until the home handyman can get to the hardware store to get thread repair.

Kaffe Fassett diamonds quilt

First quilt on my agenda was the Kaffe Fassett diamond quilt I'd started in a class with him last year. I laid the remaining diamond on my spare bed, ready to sew into strips, and put the design wall back into action.

Kaffe Fassett diamonds quilt

This is all I had done before I had lost interest in my last quilting session. Personally, I find piecing diamonds HARD. My brain just doesn't tend to work beyond straight horizontal and vertical lines.

Kaffe Fassett diamonds quilt


Kaffe Fassett diamonds quilt

Before I knew it my design wall was getting full.

Kaffe Fassett diamonds quilt

Fuller.

Kaffe Fassett diamonds quilt

I was finding new uses for washi tape as the width of the quilt moved past the boundaries of my design wall.

Kaffe Fassett diamonds quilt

And by the time my shoulders started screaming at me to stop, I had this on the wall. I still have to sew the strips to each other, but I think this is great progress. It is going to be a massive quilt.

Kaffe Fassett diamonds quilt

Since Australia Day I've sewed two more strips as time allows. I'm really loving this quilt. It's kind of turned into a spectacular thing and I'm not sure I'm worthy of it. But I'll get over it.

Wonky quilt

With my shoulders refusing to cooperate at the sewing table any longer, I moved to the sofa, where fortunately I could hand quilt while watching the tennis. I enjoy the slow process of quilting this quilt. During an insane/tired moment, during the fifth set between Murray and Djokovic at about 12.20 am, I thought I could perhaps finish this quilt in time for show and tell at the first guild meeting for 2012.

And then I remembered that I don't do deadlines any more.

It can wait until the March meeting. Or April.

Or November.

14 comments:

  1. Absolutely stunning quilt. And thanks for showing your process - I find it fascinating.

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  2. I took your lead and started hand quilting the meadallion on one of my quilts while watching the tennis. I am looking forward to tonights match so I can finish it.

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  3. The Kaffe quilt is looking spectacular! And I love the washi tape! =)

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  4. Wow, that will be a huge quilt! Spectacular! And love that it's running off the design wall haha.

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  5. Stunning quilt, looks like you will have to enlarge your design wall, come to think of it you may need to raise the ceilings. Next would be to find floor space to add the backing! Kxx

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  6. Love it - and love the fabrics.

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  7. Love the quilt. Nice job. And yes, no deadlines and just enjoy the process.

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  8. You're a machine!
    I love both these quilts and can't wait to see them in person in 2013 ;)

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  9. The diamond quilt really is so gorgeous. Such fantastic colours. Love it!

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  10. Your Kaffe quilt is looking gorgeous. I'm with you, diamonds? give me a square or rectangle any day!! Maybe it's time for me to challenge myself?!! Enjoy the process ... no deadlines, I like that!

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  11. Holy moly, woman! It's a diamondy Work of Art. Nothing like starting the year, setting that bar waaay up high!

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  12. I really like the idea of the one person quilt retreat. Might try that myself, soon1
    And I love those colours

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  13. You're an inspiration...I think I'll live out my quilting dreams on your blog....especially that one at the bottom that you are hand quilting, it looks spectacular!

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