Over the last few weeks, I feel like things in the sewing room have been S-L-O-W. I had several projects started but none were getting finished. This week, I finally feel like the work I did the previous weeks is paying off.
You might remember that I was working on the extra blocks I had cut out from my Inspired by the Past Quilt. I sewed the blocks together and needed one more. I made that and got the top together…then I was stuck.
Here is where I was…
I was trying to decide what to do with the quilt. I didn’t like the edge because the squares weren’t a 16 patch as the center is. It didn’t look right to me as is.
I had asked blog readers what you thought I should do. I asked my kids. I ended up deciding this…A checkerboard border. I’m wasn’t done at this point. I only had the top and bottom borders on. I snapped a picture to make sure I liked it.
Yep…I liked it.
Gannon was at my house on Thursday and he was my helper. I just love this picture.
On Thursday I actually got a lot done. For several of the mornings, I’d been up early and did a little sewing. Then on Thursday, I declared it my cutting table day. Gannon hung out with me while I cut and trimmed.
I cut out more twosies for my border.
If you want to know how I cut these, you can watch this video I made on how I “cut squares so fast”.
Friday I have the afternoon off so I worked hard to finish up the top. Here it is finished. It is definitely a different look than the original.
Here is the original.
I had cut out too many blocks and ended up sewing them up. I don’t have a lot of yardage in my stash. It’s mostly fat quarters and smaller. I didn’t want to buy fabric so I opted to put neutral-colored scraps where the pink it in the original. Then the quilt was a little on the smallish size so I added the checkerboard border.
I’m content with it now. I’d consider it a large lap size.
From there I went on and worked on my leftovers project. I had a few units together and wanted to make enough pieces so I knew everything was working according to my intentions.
Here is a sneak peek. I’m loving it LOTS!
I decided I liked it so then I went into full steam ahead cutting.
I had a few of these cornerstones sewn so they got trimmed.
I moved on and trimmed up all the sashing strips.
Oh, this little basket of trimmed pieces made me happy. The pieces in the bottom left are small pieces that were leftover from trimming. These will go in my scrap crumb bucket with the hope that someday they will be in a quilt.
I went on and cut the blue I needed for the rest of the “x” cornerstones and the trim on the sides of the sashing blocks.
Then I ran into a little issue. I was happily sewing along…
I had 64 pink blocks and had designed the quilt around those leftover blocks.
Here I had three rows of them together.
Oh, but wait. I’m out of blocks. I only have enough for four rows of eight. What the heck is going on. I looked high and low for the rest of the blocks. Seriously, I looked for 20 minutes. Where could they be??
That’s when it hit me. I knew where they were…In Golden, Colorado in this quilt. I made this and it will be published in the fall issue of Quilter’s World. DRAT. I forgot to update the note on my blocks to a smaller number being I had used part of them in this quilt.
Now what?? Ugh. What was I supposed to do?
I had some other leftover blocks. Do I make more of the same blocks or toss these all into the quilt and be done?
I decided I’m going to toss them in. My goal was to use them up and this is definitely a way to use them up. I already had all the sashing and cornerstones made so I didn’t want to make a smaller quilt. So now imagine this only with random blocks.
I’m going to have to rip some of the rows I already have sewn apart and add in a few more blocks but I’ve done worse things.
I’m getting close to a top on this project. I’m so happy. Fingers crossed it will be a top next week.
A couple of weeks ago I was losing steam on this and had asked blog readers what they would do. Several of you said to pass it on to charity. Several said pack it away for a while. Very few of you said to persevere and keep working on it. I badly wanted to quit but I wanted, even more, to not have a UFO…and I’d done too much work to give it away. I’m just thrilled with this now even though I have had to make a few adjustments.
Very cute picture of Gannon and a special memory photo. Checkerboard border is great. Glad you decided to put all stars in and I look forward to your finish
Love the addition of the border and your helper. He is a cutie! And the other quilt will be nice with both sets of blocks in it. Maybe even prettier!
The quilt is beautiful – as usual!! Such a cute picture of Gannon. You are making many good memories with those grands. Very special time in their lives. You all are so fortunate!
Your left overs will make a great quilt! Love the picture I’d Gannon!
Gannon makes me smile. He is so cute under the ironing board. I always have a cat under there. You really make quilts with a lot of pieces. I like the 4 patch border
Forgetting to put the new count on your blocks was a wonderful creative opportunity. And used up more left over blocks. Good for you for persevering!
Gannon is a great helper and I like the checkerboard border. Looking forward to your revised quilt.
I really like your finished Inspired by the past quilt with the checkerboard border. It looks scrappy but it is beautiful with a different look. When finished it will be more beautiful
Love those x block cornerstones!
Hope you will teach us how to do that.
Love your revised quilt versions, good you can change gears. Loved the original quilt with the pink background, but this new version will be even better. Gannon looks so cute in his ready made ironing board tent. Happy Grandma days.
Love the checkerboard border!
Serendipity! It’s going to be gorgeous.
Great solution for that first quilt that was bugging you!
I’m glad you persevered-I voted for powering through. And I’m glad you’re tossing all those blocks into this flimsy. It’s going to be fantastic!
UFO prevention is good for our quilting health ;-)
Wishing you a fabulous week Jo.
I think the leftovers quilt is going to look even better will all the colors mixed in. Congrats on finishing up the top of the 2nd version of Inspired by the Past, Jo! I have to admit that I was wrong about what you should do about the border. I was in the “just leave it and call it good” camp. The added border looks great!
As usual, Jo, that quilt turned out gorgeous. Just beautiful!
It’s really beautiful Jo. Love the border. Your second quilt reminds me of the Renaissance era. The black reminds me of the old windows in my Queen Anne home in NY. They both are so beautiful. And will make the receiver very appreciative.
God Bless your hands and heart that Bless others.
Love the checkerboard border all around! I didn’t like the one you bought that just had it at the top and bottom but with it all around it looks fabulous!
I can’t wait to see your finished stars with the sashing. So far it looks great.
I really enjoyed seeing what you have done with both these quilt tops. Loved the cute pictures of Gannon.
Did Eli and Emmett have the surgery for their ears? I hope it was successful.
I think of you often and enjoy your blog. Thanks.