a cotton blossoms finish

This weeks finish has appeared in more than one blog post over the last year and has been a WIP for about 5 years.

I've been working really hard lately on getting organized (although the state of my sewing room suggests otherwise), clearing out old WIPs, finishing them, or deciding to let go, as the case may be.

This quilt was started using a pattern called Once Around the Block, designed for jelly roll quilts and charm squares. I knew almost immediately that I disliked it, but I'd already cut out some blocks and (5 years ago) had zero confidence in my skills to change it. And so I lost my motivation and it became a big, fat, guilty WIP (work in progress).

I was really close to donating the project as is and calling it a day. But, I realized that I loved the fabric too much to do this.
After a lot of mulling, I decided I couldn't follow the pattern through to the end and revamped it and modernized it. I kept the blocks I'd made to date, and using the remaining strips (there were tons still) to make new blocks.

For the new blocks, I took the jelly roll strips and pieced basic four patches and which I then framed in linen to make a new type of block which would alternate with the original block. The linen gives a modern feel and texture and a place to rest the eye. It also completely brightened the look of the whole quilt.

The dimensions I used for the new block are a four patch using 2.5" wide jelly roll strips, two pieces of linen, 4.5" wide by 2.75" and then on top and bottom, two strips that measure 9" by 2.75". The block size will be 8.5" finished, or 9" unfinished.

The original block is basically a charm square that is used as the center of a log cabin with jelly roll strips working outwards.

The layout is 9 rows of 7 blocks, giving the quilt a finished size of 60" x 77". This includes 32 original blocks and 31 new blocks.

Once I'd changed the pattern, I fell in love with this quilt again, and couldn't wait to finish. I backed it in a cuddly minky fabric. For quilting I used an all-over loopy stitch - which has become my new favorite all-over design. It's SO fast. And since there were still lots of strips left over, I made a scrappy binding, also a new favorite.

This soft and cozy quilt will be headed to a family member that I love and haven't seen in years as she lives on the other side of the continent. I am SO happy I didn't give up and figured out a way to make a quilt that I both love and can be proud of in the end. I cannot wait to get it in the mail.

Photo Credit goes to my oldest son.

Hope you've had an awesome week!

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish it Up Friday.

a wip progress report

The last few weeks have been ridiculously busy on the crafting front (a good, happy, mildly crazy, kind of busy).

I am currently taking maternity leave. And, I'm dreading my return to work later this year. I have loved every single second I've been able to spend with my little one, and the time I've had with my bigger ones. It's been so precious.

When I return to work, not only will I not be able to spend as much time with my babies, but I'm pretty sure my crafting time will be massively curtailed. We'll have to see. Maybe I will forgo sleep entirely?

With this impending return, I've been working like mad on some ongoing projects as well as trying to complete my outstanding WIPs.

The project I'm showing today has been on my list for a good 4.5 years or so (I don't know exactly when I started it, but it was a LONG time ago.) It is a jelly roll and charm pack friendly quilt. I saw it at a quilting show, and HAD to buy the fabric, called Cotton Blossoms, from Moda. Little did I know at the time, but it was the first line of fabrics from of one of my current absolute favorite fabric duos, Bonnie and Camille.

The pattern is called Once Around The Block. I wish I had known before starting it that it is not chain piecing friendly. It's a sew on a piece, trim, press the seam to one side and repeat kind of pattern. It's slow moving.

I moved this project downstairs to my makeshift studio/dining room (still temporary), and readied it for piecing. Every now and then, I'll walk by, and make a block or two, or seven. If I need a break on my current deadline project, I'll make a block. This method seems to work for me and now I'm well on my way to finishing the blocks.

I keep vacillating on whether I should change the pattern to something more current and use the blocks in a different kind of way, but I haven't decided yet. We'll see. In the meantime, this is my new favorite method for working on a WIP, keeping it right out front and easy to work on alongside everything else.

Linking up to Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday.