Jelly Roll Class Part 1

I took some better pictures! Here you can see the floral Main fabric and the strips that I have cut and the Yellow and Green in the background are fabrics that I am considering using. Not sure yet which one it will be, or will it be both??? I'll just have to wait for the class and sew some pieces up before deciding for sure.

It surprised me when I laid the focus fabric on top to see how it changed with the different background fabric. I like how taking a picture and then studing it can help with decision making!

To me, the green blends and the orange stands out. That will play a part in my deciding which fabric to use.

These are the strips and the rectangles that I have subcut from the strips. All put into a container and ready to take to class!

I have pulled all the supplies together and still need to get my sewing machine ready for transport and gather any last minute items. I am off to get ready for class.

See ya, Trish

I have had to put Double Delight Quilt on hold for a bit. I am going to take a quilting class Saturday and need to get the fabric chosen and cut out for this. It is a jelly roll quilt and instead of purchasing a jelly roll, I am making my own using fabric from my stash!!!! I have chosen a bright floral print and needed to find lots of brights to coordinate with it. I keep looking and digging and even found a bin with a project I wanted to start, but never did, which had lots of brights in it!! JACKPOT!! I've been busy ironing fabric and cutting strips and re-packing the bin up so that when I am ready to start that quilt a majority of the fabrics will already be ironed and ready to cut up!!

Above is a picture of the fabric. For some reason the colors do not seem very bright. I will take a better picture of my blocks so you can see how bright they are! I am getting some of the jelly roll strips subcut into rectangles before the class, but I have a dilemma. It is a two block quilt.

First block is cut 4 ½” squares. Sew 2 ½” rectangles around it. This equals a finished 8” block.

Second block .. ends up being a square in a square variation. Soooo.. center square is a nine-patch. Directions say to cut the pieces 2 3/8” … NOT 2 ½” which is what I thought it would be. Then of course cutting the triangles to finish up the block.

My question is this: I am tired of cutting!!! And truly don’t want to trim down my 2 ½” pieces to 2 3/8” pieces. I mean cutting 1/8” from 60 pieces of fabric!! GROAN.. (whine, whine, whine) sorry.

Does anyone have a good reason why these should be 2 3/8 and not 2 ½”? This is all the information That I have. I will not get the book until I show up for the class on Saturday morning.

I am half way considering 2 ways. 1. Sew the seam larger!! Or 2. Just sew it ¼” and deal with whatever happens next which may be corners that are chopped off.

What do you think? Any suggestions or ideas why the smaller measurement for the 9-patch?
I have put this question to two groups I am in and will see what answers I may get! I wish I had thought to throw this question out sooner. Oh well.. such is life!!

Off to deal with chores and dreaded housework.

Take care, Trish

The New Year!!

It is now 2009. I can't believe how the time just flies!! I also can't believe it has been this long since I logged in. Hi Swooze!!! See, I am actually here!!!

To get the New Year off, I have been participating in Bonnie's Mystery Quilt, Double Delight. I love all her patterns!! This time I have been taking it easy on sewing the pieces together. Getting up often and accomplishing other things around the house at the same time. I found this to be a great idea for several reasons. I accomplished other things (which husband liked), I moved often (which body liked) and more important I slowed down when I sewed, relaxed my shoulders and sewed my seams better than ever before. In the past I found myself RACING myself. HURRY, HURRY, Sew, Sew.... Not good. So I guess this means I am off to a great start for 2009.

Goals? Hmmmm yes, goals.. those darn UFO's that are hanging around my head have got to be swatted into shape. I've given thought to why I have not finished my quilt tops. Again, several reasons seem to surface. I haven't machine quilted much (one time?) and am not good at it. It seems I must be GOOD at it before I attempt it again. Silly, isn't it. How do I expect to be good at something if I don't keep trying!!!! So my Mom has been my biggest cheerleader and critic (don't you just love MOMs!!) and has been encouraging me to THINK about WHY I am not finishing up these tops. Thanks Mom!! Another reason seems to be that the beginning of each quilt is such a challenge to me. From choosing the 'right fabric' for the pattern, to 'can I really sew this block' to 'what type of border best suits this quilt' to the last step of 'how will I quilt this top'. well.. I seem to pass all the challenges but the last one. I am so excited that I have completed the top successfully and of course there are always those "other" patterns that are begging to be made that I convienently forget about that last challenge, fold up the top and start on another challenge. The last challenge???? The quilting???? well, there I get stumped. I don't know what I want to do for the quilting and, of course, it has to be "perfect". :( So it stays a UFO, folded up and bundled off to the back of the closet of wherever I have placed it.

This seems rather insiteful of me doesn't it! Now to work thru it and not bundle this insite into the closet with the other UFOs!!!

I mentioned my Mom as one of my Cheerleaders, but I cannot forget my others!!! Thank you Swooze!! Your gentle hints are truly appreciated and won't let me forget that these quilts are not truly finished yet!! My Daughter is another, her stern "did you finish your other quilt?" keeps the UFOs from being totally forgotten. My son, for asking what I am working on now, strangely enough keeps the thoughts of unfinished quilts in my brain and won't let them 'rest' quietly.

I started today with talk of the quilt I am working on, so of course, I have to show pics.








This is Clue 1 all sewn. The upper lefthand pile of blocks has been trimmed to the appropriate 3.5"!! Still have lots more to trim up.







This is Clue 2. Again, all sewn but not trimmed. This is what I will be doing today.

This is all for now, My brain just shut down and I have no more information to pass on!! So, Hugs and Have a Great Quilty Day!!

Trish