Hi everyone! How are you doing? Friends, the last two weeks have been horrendous. Hellish, even. The less said about them, the better! I have had exactly zero time to sew anything or even think about sewing anything, but I finally escaped to the sewing room and finished something up while the roofers were banging away upstairs. Have you had a roof replaced? Good golly, the noise and the mess! And let's not even talk about the cost. . .
The less said the better, right? While I was taking refuge from the roofing and seriously wondering if I could nap on the cutting table, I was looking through the closet and saw today's project hanging with the other tops. Before we get to the story, here is the finished project:
Okay, it's cuter than I thought it would be. Cross hatching does work wonders, doesn't it? This is a 2-inch cross hatch, which is the perfect size for a small piece. The quilt is straight, I swear, but the edges look a little wavy in the picture because I used a wool batting, which never lies as flat as cotton. It's nice and puffy for a good texture, though.
I really don't know how old this project is. I got the blocks from somewhere at least 10 years ago, probably more. I put them together into a top a couple of years ago, and there it has hung in the closet ever since. I had so many ideas for quilting it up. It has high contrast, which for me meant quilting the darker colors separately from the white. So many ideas, none of which came to fruition. So the question when I saw it hanging there was "do I let this hang here for another winter, or do I just suck it up and finish it any way that works?" The answer was pretty obvious.
I grabbed a leftover piece of backing that's a map of Paris, which is awesome, a piece of leftover wool batting, and a pale blue thread and went for the cross hatch. It's easy and meditative, and since this piece was so small, about 36 inches square, it went quick. I bound it in a piece of blue that doesn't match the other blues, but after a decade, does it really matter?
As I feared, the lighter thread, which really does mostly blend all over, stands out like neon on the solid dark blue and shows every wobble. I could rip out those stitches and redo them, but I think we all know I'm not that kind of quilter, right? This is one of the reasons I used wool batting. After I wash it, I'm sure it will shrink up enough that the mistakes will just fade into the quilty crinkliness. (Is that a word?)
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| Hey look--it's the Eiffel Tower! |
I'm going to use this as a winter table topper since it's more 'winter' than 'Christmas.' Honestly, though, it's just a relief to see it as a finished piece and not hanging in the closet, mocking me. It's not perfect, but I know the hubs or a four year old is going to spill gravy or ketchup on it, so it's perfectly okay with me.
Everyone have a wonderful week! Mine is definitely looking up, as we are finishing finals and I'll be done by Friday. Okay, I'll get the grades in on Monday. Tuesday at the latest. Really. My incentive is Christmas cookies. I think that'll work, don't you?
Sharing at Finished or not Friday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Brag
About Your Beauties, and the Patchwork and Quilts linkup at Quilting, Patchwork, Applique.
9 comments:
Mari, that's so pretty! I love all the blue and white together - perfect for winter. I always count on the washing/drying/crinkling up to mask my wobbly quilting lines, so glad I'm not the only one. Hope those roofers are done (yes, we've experienced that here, too) and Friday comes quickly for you!
This is a wonderful winter table topper. It's very pretty. Glad your week is looking up finally. We replaced our roof about 8 years ago after a huge hail storm. And then they had to come back twice to replace shingle sections that were not the right color. It felt like the never ending project.
Your quilt is really pretty.
Congrats on finishing off one of your older UFOs. The quilting works well, it's a fun finish. Hope you get all your grading done and final grades turned in ASAP. Grad Girl had to have all her classes lab assignments graded by last Wednesday. She was so glad to have that part of the semester over with.
Oh, you are so close to your break - I'm excited for you! That little quilt finished up nicely. I have a blue/white quilt (small) that I need to finish; I have the packing and the binding. I just cannot figure out how to quilt it. I considered a crosshatch; might have to revisit that. I hope your roofing is done soon, so you can have some peace and quiet.
Ah, yes - we have indeed lived through a new roof (and I was recovering from foot surgery at the time so I "enjoyed" the racket from my recliner). Your finished topper is terrific - congrats on the finish.
Ack! Yes, we've had our roof replaced -- TWICE!!! The first time was because the shingles were flying off every time there was a storm with any wind at all. A couple years later we had a hail storm that did a ton of damage. New roof, new siding on one side of the house. The noise was awful!
Your Snowflake Quilt is very pretty. I like it fluttering in the breeze, just like a real snowflake would do!
I love this little finish - in spite of what crap the last 2 weeks sent your way. The backing is one I have in my stash...is it pinkish or is this the beige version of it. I don't know how old but I am guessing it is a good 15 years old...time is flying and my stash is aging. I am certain that the washing will be a help in minimizing what you see as glaring. I hope the cookies work as an incentive to get the grades in ... you are so close!
Ohhh I like it!! Now you really can curl up on the cutting table and take a nap!! Hopefully the roof is done, and silence is now happening!!!
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