I’m in the mood for a few finishes. I like having several projects on the go but sometimes it gets a bit on top of me and I start to procrastinate instead of just getting on with stuff. Pinterest is a great timewaster with the unfortunate use of being able to argue that it is ‘research’ or ‘inspiration’.
At the beginning of the year I took the rash move of applying to hold a stall at a local Christmas Dickensian Fair, it’s really busy so hopefully I should be able to sell some of my wares! I didn’t get confirmation til August that I actually had a stall so I didn’t want to make lots of things before then…but I now need to knuckle down and make things. Of course now I’m worrying ‘what if they don’t sell?’…yes I’m procrastinating! Then there’s the other half made projects which need finishing but I don’t finish because I feel guilty doing them when I should be making stuff…you get the picture!
Well today I decided to clear one of those other projects and then I can crack on with stall stuff after!
I’m making an elephant quilt for Helen, she asked for one just before Christmas and it’s taken a while to get it planned and sorted. I finished the top a couple of months a go, it just needed quilting and binding.
My original plan was my usual all over quilt pattern, a sort of meander with a point! This is the biggest quilt I’ve tackled on my sewing machine, which only has a standard size throat, the quilt is about 70″ square. I decided it would be easier to quilt it along the stripes of the pattern. I started with a grey thread just quilting either side of the double strips. I then got a bit braver and chose a variegated thread from my stash which is turquoise and purple, it matched the colours in the quilt beautifully.
Along the double strip sashes I stitched various simple patterns, a different one for each sashing, there’s waves, hearts, loops…
At the top and bottom of the quilt is a row of piano key blocks, so I did another pattern along those.
I was left with the elephants. I did contemplate stitching a different pattern in each of these too but I decided in the end to use my usual pattern which is a mixture of waves, leaves and scrolls really, I just stitch nice curves and finish with a corner or a point. I find it much easier to stitch than a meander as I can regroup and plan my next move at the point.
Quilting in strips did seem to make it quicker to quilt, it’s quite motivating to finish a specific area rather than just continuing round and round a big quilt. I will certainly consider it again, it’s also seemed much easier to manoevre the quilt in strips. I’m getting a bit more confident with my free-motion quilting, so long as I stay in my comfort zone of patterns I can get a reasonably neat result.
All I’ve got to do now is sew the binding on and embroider a label!
thecraftycreek 
I think you’re worse than I am at taking on projects you don’t really have time for… The elephant quilt is quite gorgeous, and your daughter is going to adore it!
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Thanks Kate, I don’t think it helps that I’ve got four longer projects on at the moment, and then I want to fit other stuff around them! Two more are nearly finished!
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Looking good, then! I’m waiting for Down the Rabbit Hole, personally 🙂
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Love how you wrapped the tail of the front elephant around the other elephants trunk,so cute!
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Thanks Deb, I’ve got one on each row holding tails 🙂
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I love the colours in the elephant quilt. I’m like you, I like to have a few projects on the go at once, but if I have too many, it can be overwhelming.
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Thanks Kate, I usually like having several things on the go, but as you say, every so often it just gets a bit much !
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It looks lovely 😍
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Thank you!
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A friend visited today and, whilst showing her round my workroom, it made me realise just how many projects I have on the go or in the pipeline. It’s nice that we’re enthusiastic though isn’t it?
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It is great to be enthusiastic, I just feel the need for a few finishes…of course I’ve another half dozen projects in the pipeline 🙂
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I love the variegated thread to complement the gray! On to the craft stall wares!!!
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Thanks Kathy, I do like my variegated threads! I really must start making things for my stall!
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This is a great quilt, I love it! Though I chuckled when you said you ‘only’ had the quilting to do – that would have been more procrastinating if it were me!
Good luck with your makes for the stall!
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Even more fabulous with the quilting – the close ups show how great it really is and I love the thread you’ve used.
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