Quilt-a-thon 6:00 Wednesday

Four blocks attached now. I'm going to take a little break for dinner and give my brain a rest.

Denise asked about the stitching. I traced each pattern by taping the paper pattern to my window and taping the fabric over it. I used the finest point micron pen (.01 I think?) to draw on the fabric. Each block is stitched in stem stitch with #12 perle cotton. I like the way perle cotton looks, although you could use floss.

Once all these blocks are added, I will be embroidering all the seams. There's a lot of detail in this quilt!

Quilt-a-thon 5:00 Wednesday

Now comes the really nerve-wracking part. Trimming the blocks. I made freezer paper templates that I ironed on to use as a cutting guide. Here is the first one as I peel it away. Freezer paper is such wonderful magical stuff.

This has to be done so slowly and carefully. Some of the blocks are horizontal, some are vertical, and the corners are square. Basically a whole bunch of ways to totally mess it up.

Here's the work in progress with the first two embroidered blocks attached. It's going to be a big quilt.

Quilt-a-thon 3:00 Wednesday

This part is done. Now to trim the embroidery blocks. Hold me. I can't make a mistake now.

I have to jump in the car and drive one twin to gymnastics and one to a haircut. Since this one has her hair up and is wearing a gymnastics leotard, I assume the other one gets the haircut.

Quilt-a-thon 2:00 Wednesday

Still sewing blocks together. I'm so excited that I get to add this ric-rac later. Isn't it funny? Giant ric-rac. I am so easily amused.

Got the kids, fed them, and got a roast going in the crock pot for dinner tonight. It's getting hot down in the garage with that steam iron going for hours. I turn it off as much as I can but I need it all the time.

Quilt-a-thon 1:00 Wednesday

A little more is together. I also did some laundry and answered some emails. Darn real life!

My most important tool to get this job done? The "zingers" on my scissors. I wear my scissors and never have to stop and look for them to clip a thread. I just keep them clipped to my shirt.

Second most important tool might be the hershey's kisses stashed in my sewing drawer.

I've got to pick up the kids now and feed them. Don't expect to get much done this hour.

Quilt-a-thon 12:00 Wednesday

I did shuffle the blocks a little bit and now I've started sewing them together. Diagonal lines are so magical. They make things look more difficult than they are.

Once this center part is finished, I'll add the embroidery blocks around it.

Why am I in such a hurry to get this done? My original deadline for myself was September 1, so I could finish two more Autumn-themed quilts during September. Stop laughing, I enjoy my delusions.

But now I think I really really want to get this up on my wall to enjoy for the whole Halloween season, which I have arbitrarily decided starts October 1. Which I was reminded by my friend Lynn is sometime next week. What happened to September?

So if I put on the binding next Wednesday, I'll have to finish the quilting by Tuesday, so I'll have to get it basted by early this weekend, maybe Friday, which means I need this top done by tomorrow.

I told you I enjoy my delusions. You can go ahead and laugh now. Or place bets. Don't forget I have a whole lot of real life that needs attention around here too.

Tracey asked where to get the pattern. It's designed by the clever minds over at Crabapple Hill.

Quilt-a-thon 11:00 Wednesday

Taking a short break now to eat wheat thins get a load of laundry in. I got the pieced blocks and alternate blocks up on the design wall, which is a big piece of neutral flannel stapled to a plywood cabinet door in my garage. I used to get the best perspective on my quilts when we parked the car in the garage and I could gaze at my quilts as I backed out and they diminished. I might have run over a few cats by not looking behind me, but I don't think so.

These days, in lieu of backing out a car, I use either a peep hole from the hardware store, or for a big layout like this, a reducing glass. It's like a magnifying glass except it does the opposite. I'm sure Alice in Wonderland would have found it a handy tool.

The next step is deciding if I want to shuffle around any of those blocks, then I'll start sewing them together. Back in an hour. . .

Quilt-a-thon 10:00 Wednesday

Here is a shot of my design wall downstairs with most of the embroidered blocks on it. They all have to come off now and be trimmed soon. I'll put the pieced blocks up when they're finished. Sorry about the pile of stuffed animals. My sewing room is the garage - which is a multi purpose room if there ever was one.

Just a few more blocks to piece. I still need to cut some fabric for them. Someone said they couldn't see the mistake in my stupid block - just look at the direction the fabric design is going - they all run one direction except one.

Good luck on the baby blankets Lynn - is there something you haven't told me?

See you back here in an hour.

Quilt-a-thon 9:00 Wednesday

I am determined to get this Hocuspocusville quilt finished! So join me today as I pour on the steam (or my iron does) to put it all together. A lot of hours are left. Here is my first check in for today.

In addition to the 12 embroidery blocks that are done (but not trimmed yet), I have 11 of the 16 pieced blocks done. And regarding the stupid mistake in one - I'm not taking it out because it's cut on the bias so the fabric would just shred. It will just have to remain my "If I only had a brain" block.

No coffee in the house today of all days. Off to make tea. Check back here in an hour for my next report.