Quilt Update...IT'S DONE!

After finishing the front and back of my quilt, I wasn't able to even touch it until 2 days ago.  My daughter started pre-k, I'm helping my parents out while they remodel their kitchen...life is just busy for so many reasons.  I had it in the corner of my kitchen where I would see it everyday. Everytime I looked over there, I was dying to get it finished!  Saturday My hubby helped me lay it out and get it ready to baste.  While the kids were napping, I basted it, and got started quilting.  I LOVED quilting it...when my machine cooperated.  It kept skipping several stitches, and at one point the tension went whacko on me.  They quilting is SO far from perfect, it isn't even funny, but I feel so accomplished and proud that
I did it!

  I finished the quilting on Saturday and did the binding yesterday while the kids were napping.  Oddly, I really enjoyed doing the hand binding.  I am so anxious to buy the rest of the fabric for my daughter's quilt. I have been picking up fabric here and there that I love for hers. Hopefully I can start soon.  Life is getting busier though, so it may be a while before I can. :(

I want to say thank you to Care over at Obsessively Stitching for the easy and clear tutorials on making this quilt.  The gave me the confidence that I really can do this.  She has so many great projects and tutorials over there. Please go check her out!

Today I am thankful for my crazy busy life!  I wouldn't change a thing!

Quilt Update

I posted yesterday that I have decided to take on a quilt.

Yesterday's plans were to cut the fabric, and hopefully start putting the squares together.

I got them cut.

Pieced them together in rows of three.

Pieced the rows of three into blocks of 9. 

Cut those sets each into quarters.

...Spent what felt like YEARS trying to arrange them and figure out a layout that didn't have the same fabric touching each other.  I finally came to the conclustion that it was impossible with the way I had sewn the peices together, and called this good.  After spending 7 years aranging the peices, I labeled each one in the top left corner (1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and so on for row 1, piece 1...I was determined to make darn sure they didn't get out of order!)

I'll admit. This was the most difficult part thus far.  Making sure the fabrics are evenly distributed, not touching, cohesive. It was daunting! But worth it.

I was even able to cut the pieces for the strip in the back, and make the back.

This morning I sewed the front together, now all I need to do is add the border, and wait for my darning foot to arrive so I can QUILT it!

Woo hoo!

I have really ejoyed making this, and definitly encourage you to give it a try! Care's tutorials are amazing, and so easy to follow.  She even has some Q & As in there that answered a lot of my questions.

I just wish that I didn't have to wait for my quilting foot to get here before I can really do more! 

I started yesterday morning, just working here and there (and after the kids went to bed). I can't believe what I was able to accomplish.  I honestly thought this would take so much longer than it has so far. 

The quilting will take the most time (and patience) I'm sure.

It looks like fun though!

Today I am thankful for that ice cream pie.  Oh, my! Have I been enjoying that!

Excited and, honestly, a bit terrified!

Yesterday I bought this:

...in hopes of making a quilt, more specifically, this quilt.

That's right.

me.

a quilt.

YIKES.

I am confident that I can do it, but a little intimidated by how big of a project it is.  I literally started sewing about 7 months ago.  (My granny used to sit me down in front of her machine when I was a kid, but all I was interested in was sewing a couple of straight lines to make her happy, so that I could go outside and ride their 4 wheeler. I was a tomboy. A serious tomboy.  My granny is the main reason I want to learn to quilt. She used to make quilts for everyone. She was amazing at it too.  5 1/2 years ago, she had a brain aneurysm that changed all of our lives, and she isn't sewing or quilting anymore.  I want to do something that makes me feel connected to her.  My big goal is to make one for her, all 4 members of my family, and eventually for neices, nephews...people I love!

My hubby bought me a sewing machine earlier this year when I got a wild hair and decided that I wanted to learn how to sew.  I LOVE doing it, but I usually make little things like applique stuff for kiddos, camera strap covers, keychains, wrist clutches, cricut covers, sewing machine covers...so this quilt is a big leap.

I have been following Obsessively Stitching for a while, and apparently haven't been paying much attention.   I have been searching and searching for a basic quilt tutorial-start to finish-for over a week.  I was browsing Obsessively Stitching a couple of days ago, and there it was...a big button that said "1st Quilt EVER"!! If it had been a snake, it would have bit me.  Good grief, I can't believe I missed it.  I know for a fact that it was there before I started following.  I clicked on it, and Care has broken down an awesome quilt, step by step, and makes it look really do-able.  So, I'm going to give it a try.  (I still want to make this quilt, but I'm having a difficult time deciding on fabrics.)

 I am setting myself up here by telling you guys about it!  I can't just start on and it put it away.  I have to finish it. This little blog will hold me accountable!  Not to mention that at the end of this, I will either revealing a complete mess, or something I'm proud of.  Let's hope it's the latter. I will be blogging about the process as I go, so stay tuned, folks. ;)

This morning I did the cutting. I am hoping to get started on assembling the blocks this afternoon, or tonight after my babies are in bed. It's a busy day around here, so we'll see. Here goes nothing!  Updates to follow! :)

Today I am thankful that my hubby embraces my crazy ideas, and supports me in everything I do!