First Quilt (proper) Part 5

Well, I am getting there - finally!  Made up the deficiency in numbers - 72 squares out - boy not really a deficiency is it?  Nearly another quilt - lol!

Anyhoo I have begun to sew my squares together.  Following advice from web-buddies on 'sewmamasewcircle', I am sewing rows of single squares and then sewing these single rows together.

I have also broken out the electric sewing machine too.  It is so much easier having two hands to guide the material through.  I won't become a convert though, I still love the sound of my hand-crank and love the control it gives me.  I can see the benefits of the electric one though and won't be so reluctant to use it in future - we all have to move on eventually or we get left behind!  Gosh, hark at me!

Apologies for the blurriness of the photographs - hubby did these on his phone - kids out and needed the photos now before I continued with the last single rows to be sewn together.

Now all I have to do is to decide whether to 'quilt as I go' or sew it all together and then quilt it.  Really not sure as this is the first quilt I have made and it is sooooooo big and going to be so bulky.  I was advised to maybe not put any wadding in between the top and backing layers. However I think this may not be an option as the seams on the denim are quite thick - don't want to sew it and then find that the seams are uncomfortable.

I will have to wait until the next ice hockey match to put the quilt together and pin it so I can see how much there will be to sew if I go with the wadding - I need the front room floor to spread the materials out.  Hey ho!  Updates to come..............

First Quilt (proper) Part 4

Well, I feel like a right muppet!!!

I had the afternoon all to myself last Wednesday, due to there being an ice hockey match on, so I thought I would have an hour or so with the squares I had been making for my quilt, the piece of fleece I have for the backing and arrange the squares into some sort of 'random' pattern.

I spent time ironing all the squares so they would lay flat, then moved the furniture around in the living room so I had sufficient floor space to lay out the backing piece completely and then began laying out my lovely piece of fleece.

I have already spent time (it seemed like hours) squaring each individual piece into a 6" square using my rule and rotary cutter but I am really pleased with the result and the iron just made them seem even better.  Once all were ironed, I had a huge (or so I thought) pile of them and took them into the room.

I took the squares and laid them into rows of 9 - not really taking any notice of the evolving design as I knew I would be 'faffing' with it later.  However, when I had laid all my pieces out I realised there was quite a lot of the fleece piece still visible!!  With a heart wrenching thud, I realised I was several squares short of my quilt!

This is not a euphemism but went some way to describe my mental state at this point as it was soon plain to see that it was more than just 'several'; in fact I was 72 squares short of a quilt............... gggggggggrrrrrrrrrr!!!! I was sure that I had enough to start stitching together....  How had I made such an error?

Needless to say I am now cutting more parts and sewing even more squares...........  Thankfully, as the pattern is random, I can use different pieces of 'odd' denim and other comparable fabric to continue the theme as some of my 'original' pieces have been used up.

Who knew I would not have enough squares?!

Note to self - measure, measure and then measure again!

Anyhoo.......... pictures to come when I can cajole one of the daughters to take them for me. Watch this space.........

Well pictures as promised.................... 

These are some of the squares already sewn - they still need to be 'squared up' and then, when I have made up my deficit,  the second marathon sew-in can start; sewing them together................  Looking forward to it.  Roll on the next hockey match  ;0)