Quilt Obsessed

Once I get started on a project, it's pretty difficult for me to stop. Last night was no exception. I didn't actually get time to work on my quilt until nearly midnight. I tried to go to bed; I really did. Sleep was not happening for me. So, I got back up and finished this.

I fixed everything I wanted to and made a new center block. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Now, I have to decide how to quilt it. This one is very small; I could probably do it myself.

My original goal was to have this pieced by Valentine's Day; I made it.

Quick Progress

This quilt looked pretty complicated in the picture, but the individual hex "blocks" went together pretty quickly. I actually had fun. It was a bit like building a puzzle.

I went through and cut all the pieces at once.

Then I would lay out the individual hexes based on the instructions.

 Then I would slowly go through and build the pieces.

 You needed to build the pieces so you ended up with straight seam lines.

Last hex block finished!

I debated just sewing the thing together and being done, but I think I'll go ahead and try and make a new center block with all the points aligned properly . . . tomorrow.

New Quilting Project

I found a new project I could not resist; I've got to make this quilt for Jeff. It's called "Space Crystal, Too" and I found it in my ABC 3-D, Tumbling Blocks and More quilt book by Marci Baker.

Lap Quilt Panels Finished

I put borders on both panels of the lap quilt. I put a wider border on the bottom panel for the machine quilter because they always need the backing to be larger than the front.

Front of Quilt

Back of Quilt

I also figured out how to use the squares I messed up on the first attempt making this quilt. I goofed up while cutting and made them slightly rectangular rather than square. I saw a picture of a bag this evening and had an "ah ha" moment and ran back upstairs and immediately put this together.

I lined the bag with another cotton fabric. I haven't attached the handles yet, because I'm not quite sure how I want to do it, i.e. whether I want to add some additional reinforcement around the top edge.

Lap Quilt, Side 2

This evening I finished putting together side 2 of the lap quilt. This side has a lot more different fabrics and the process went much more smoothly; almost no seam ripping.

Tomorrow I'll do borders and this project will be ready for machine quilting. I'm not entirely sure if I'll send it out to be quilted, or if I'll try to quilt this one myself. I've never done anything bigger than a pillow sham before, so I may send it out.

Met Another Blogger

OK, no new blog. Now I won't feel guilty for posting my quilt-related activities here. Though, I plan on posting stashbusting related activities over there.

Today I had the pleasure to meet Donaleen, who also lives in Laurelhurst; she came over for a visit this afternoon and I had fun chatting and showing her around our house. I ran across her blog, Spit and Vinegar, pretty recently and we've exchanged a few comments. She's a very nice lady and we're planning to go visit her and her husband on Friday.

I've been surprised, and pleased, by the number of Portland folks I have met through blogging.

I've been steadily working on the new quilt back. I've got all the small pieces built and now I'm trimming down the diagonals. It's not the most fun task so I've gotten a bit stalled working on them. But, once they're done, I can just start building the blocks. This second quilt will likely become the new front as I used more different fabrics in it.

New Blog or Not?

Well, okay, I got three comments with a strong don't do a second blog. Are there followers who like the crafts stuff separated off? Here's your chance to leave your comment.

If not, I'll skip the second blog and restore the removed posts.