Quilting is a process for me because I am such a process person.
So my first step is to take the first step, which seems to be the hardest for me most of the time. I think that is because I need to have a general idea of where I am going so I know which direction to head toward. I think I approach my quilting projects the same way. I get an idea I want to explore or a color combination I want to try or see a pattern with a new technique I really like but until I can formulate the general plan for the whole projects I can’t seem to get started. It doesn’t have to be perfect or exact but I do need to have an end product in mind and I have to be somewhat excited about it.
I have too many quilting projects in the works so I am focused on getting some finished and holding off the urge to start more. It doesn’t always work but I am trying. The one I have closest to the finish line is a baby quilt that was a challenge to use someone’s abandoned project. I believe this was a panel to make a fabric book 5 Funky Monkeys, but since I make quilts the challenge was on. First step was to find fabrics from my stash that were the right colors. Next was the layout and it needed to be interesting and give the quilt some size. I have used the Circle of Nine technique several times because it works great to add size and interest. Someday I will show all the quilts I have created using this layout technique. (https://jeanannquilts.com/wp-content/cache/all/product-category/books/index.html) Now that I had the general overall project in my head I just needed to fill in the blanks. The layout required 9 blocks so I designed a couple of blocks using the coordinating fabrics I had found because I only had 7 pages I could frame to make blocks. I chose a simple one fabric piece to insert for the layout and added borders to use up as much of the fabric I could. I even used more scraps on the back and just pieced it all together to get the size I needed. I quilted this using QCT (Quilters Creative Touch) on my Juki 2200 QVP, that I refer to as Ethel.
The next quilt I am in the finishing stretch on is Pretty Petals. although I haven’t totally committed to the name. I found the hand dyed 9” unique flower panels at a Paducah Show several years ago. This is the third quilt I have done using a pattern I designed to highlight a larger print fabric. I am hoping to have this pattern, which I am going to name Fancy Frames, written in the near future. I am quilting Pretty Petals on my Juki 2200 QVPS (sit down long arm), that I refer to as Lucy, using the “Shirley” small ruler from The Copper Needle (https://thecopperneedle.com/) along with some custom FMQ (free motion quilting).
Next up on the quilt sandwiching frame that my wonderful husband made for me, is my version of Winter Village by Edyta Sitar-Laundry Basket Quilts. (https://www.laundrybasketquilts.com/tablet/index.html) I wanted a quilt that would fit a full size bed so I adjusted a few filler pieces and added a small border to get to the size needed to add the 9-patch pieced border that used up some of the scraps leftover from the center. I also have a Summer Village version that I am still working on finishing the quilt top. I have had the privilege of attending a presentation from Edyta at the Grand Rapids quilt show and was so inspired by all of her quilts and found her to be so delightful to visit with later at her booth.
I find I like to have several quilt projects in different stages so I always have something to work on depending on my mood. Does anyone else do this? Here are a few of my other projects that keep me busy with any extra time I have.
This was my recap for January 2021. Happy quilting.