Tuesday 10 June 2008

a new adventure (part 3)

i have a big scary exam coming up in less than a week, and i have been studying solidly for ages. it’s gotten to the point where i simply do not want to look at another book! unfortunately, i have to keep studying up until the exam, so i have come up with a marvelous compromise - i am re-listening to recordings of all my lectures while i sew. as a result, my quilt is coming along famously!
on saturday i finished my 100th block:

a stack of 100

then my partner and i went up to visit my mum for the afternoon. she laid a sheet out on the floor, and we all gathered around to arrange the blocks into a satisfactory configuration. it took ages (we kept having to walk away for cups of tea and slices of cake!), and everyone pitched in - even pip the cat!

pip the cat oversees construction

there were a lot of conversations along the lines of:
“see that one with the gingham edge? you’d better move that one - there’s too much red there.”
“yes, and if we move that, we can put this one in it’s place - but the gingham can’t go here either, so we’d better find a spotty one…”

rearranging the blocks

it was such a collaborative, challenging and enjoyable task, and i know that when this quilt is finished i will snuggle up under it knowing that my whole family had a hand in bringing it together. that’s precious.

Friday 6 June 2008

a new adventure (part 2)

oh dear. i can feel an obsession developing…

i’ve managed to cut all my fabric to the pieces specified in the pattern

fabric all cut to size 

and i have begun sewing them into squares. here is my very first square (i am immeasurably proud of it!)

essies first patchwork square! 

it seems like this whole process has taken over my brain. i’d fight it, but it’s too much fun!