Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Samples Equals New Quilt??

Yesterday, I was thinking about making some samples for the upcoming class I am teaching at the end of the month. My Mother-in-Law is helping me with the samples for the Braided Irish Chain class as she is making her own quilt for my nephew.  So that easily took care of samples for that class.  My Flying in Squares class however was another matter.  I knew I needed samples on how to make no waste flying geese and then enough squares and geese to show how to put the blocks together.  However, I didn't really want to make 2 or 3 blocks that would end up being widow blocks and I wasn't really feeling like making a new Flying in Squares quilt.

So, I thought about it for a bit and then remembered a sketch that I had been playing with in EQ7 a few weeks earlier.  It has flying geese and squares, bingo!!!  It was easy to pick fabrics, I had a Cuzco by Kate Spain layer cake and it perfectly matches the Terrain prints in my Flying in Squares quilt.  Since I plan to hang this new quilt on the sewing room wall next to the Flying in Squares quilt it was a perfect fit!!


It was a little hard at first to cut into the fabrics.  I love Cuzco and that makes me want to just keep it on the shelf and pet it.  (Please tell me I am not the only one that has struggles with this)  But after a few minutes of admiring the beautiful prints and colors the cutting commenced.  I have to admit, there were several times when I was cutting that I thought to myself how crazy this is.  I have so many projects on my plate right now and I decide that rather than make a few samples, I might as well make another quilt.  Crazy but oh so much fun!!


I got all the prints cut and was ready to move onto the background when I realized I was completely out of solid white.   Horror!!  I was totally in the groove and didn't want to wait so I went to my scrap bin.  I had scraps in Kona white, Bella white, Bella Snow, and a few others I don't even know.  There was not enough in any one print but enough if I used it all :)  I debated for a bit and then decided, why not??  Neutral colored quilts seem to be all the rage at the moment so why not a mixed neutral background.  Time will tell if this was a wise decision or not :)


Oh, and the pattern . . . time will tell on that too :)  Now I just need to feed the kids and put them down for naps so I can get to some sewing :)
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13 comments:

  1. I have a TERRIBLE time cutting into my favorites so no you aren't the only one! In fact I have a whole shelf in my stash closet that I call The Untouchables (stuff I once bought for some project, my older Robyn Pandolph fabrics and my newer buys like Cuzco).

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  2. I think your plan will work out fine!! Love the Cuzco, so bright and fun!!

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  3. I think you have a great idea, and you will 'clean up' your white stash and be able to start all over again! Yay! I take pictures of my perfect bundles before I cut into them and sometimes I browse my pictures to remember the 'good days' (before they became eternal UFO projects).

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  4. I hate to cut up my favorite fabric bundles, too!! And I rub them!!
    jlgwyn's picture of the precious bundle is a good idea!

    I had been debating about using different white background fabrics, too! I think you are exactly right.... if you use different neutrals or low volume, why not whites?! Great thinking!!

    Can't wait to see the progress!

    Susie

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  5. I'm an unrepentant fabric petter... :) In fact I've changed my mind about what I'm doing with my terrain jelly roll three times, largely because it allows me to NOT cut into it yet!

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  6. My name is Mrs. H and I am a recovering fabric petter. :)

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  7. Someone asked if I was a quilter and I responded that, yes, but mostly I just accumulate fabric.

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  8. Can't wait to see more pics! I have the hoarding problem with my Joel Dewberry Aviary II. I need to find the PERFECT quilt for it.

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  9. The fabrics are scrumptious...and your quilt will be too! Good idea to use different lines of whites.

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  10. You are not alone. I too have a hard time cutting into fabric and tend to pull it out frequently to just look at it and touch it. I received quite a few fat quarters for Christmas and I just love looking at them. I can hold off making anything for awhile as I plan to quilt my 3 unfinished tops that I have before I finish anything new. Yes! more time to play with the fabric before I cut into it.

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  11. One of my goals this year is to make myself actually use my fabric. I buy it and then decide it's too precious to use and I might mess it up or use it on the wrong project. I just have to tell myself that I can always buy more :)

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  12. Cuzco is my new obsession! I adore it! I really want to get some for the quilt along!
    I don't really like scrappy, personally, but as long as they're all the same tone, I think they'll probably all work together! I just got an email newsletter just a few days ago, and it said something about scrappy neutrals as backgrounds work really well and add more interest.
    Jealous of your Cuzco and confident your samples will be great! Hugs!

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Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I just love hearing from you!!
Have a Happy Quilting Day :)

Melissa