My First Fair Quilt

I have made quite a few quilts over the past few years, but have never actually entered any in the fair. So this year when it started getting close to fair-time, I decided that since I seem to do my sewing projects best "last-minute", why not this year? "Normal" people work all year on a nice quilt to enter, but I started sorting through my large stash of scraps on sunday evening, July 26th. And the final day to turn in quilts for the fair, is Saturday August 15th. And I am due with baby #3 (and also have 2 small children), on Sunday August 16th. Therefore, any sane person in this situation would probably choose a nice small quilt from a simple pattern for the new baby, or something like that. But this is my first fair quilt! I decided to do a Queen-size (we need it for our bed anyway), out of scraps (which takes much longer because you can't just cut up a nice big piece of fabric), and am trying a complicated pattern I've never done before. It is called a spiderweb quilt, and done by the paper-piecing method (which of course takes a lot more time also), and uses strips of various widths. Mom started teasing me that I was going to go into labor starting such grandios projects, but so far it hasn't worked. =)

First I cut out the centers of the blocks, which end up being stars, out of a couple different yellows.
Then I made piles of the different shades of blue strips that seemed to be of similar tone. Of the fabrics that I had a bit larger pieces, I cut 5inch squares for the border of prairie points. This is supposed to be a "scrappy" quilt, and the strips aren't supposed to be the same width- which is a wonderful scrap-reducer!

I saved some of the bigger pieces for later if necessary, as I didn't know quite how many scraps I needed to make the finished quilt size.

In order to keep the scrappy look, I organized the strips in piles around my sewing machine to make sure each block (consisting of 4 triangles) didn't have repeating fabrics. Towards the end I was getting low and had to have a few "strings" similar in one block. Most people do this sort of quilt with their entire scrap stash, so don't need to worry about keeping things different- but I wanted to keep just the similar blues and yellows in this one.

The 5inch squares I folded in half diagonally, then again; and pressed. These will be used along the edge of the quilt instead of the normal binding. I have only done this on a couple of quilts, and it is more difficult, but adds a unique touch.

Four of the blocks coming together. Once you lay them out together, they make a spider-web shape in the middle.

15 of the blocks together now, Breanna loved counting how many spiderwebs I had as I added blocks. =)

Once I had 15 blocks together (they took roughly 30-45 mins. each), I lost some motivation and took a few days off. Then one day I did 15 more blocks.... Mom was sure I was going to go into labor now! =) If you are wondering how I came up with this much time; I did most of the work while the rest of my family was sleeping and I was dealing with the "I can't get comfortable or sleep" pregnancy fun. I also worked some while the kids played.

Once I sewed the 35 blocks together to make the center of the quilt, it really started looking nice and making me get more excited.

Then I added the borders to make it the finished size, all of which I had to go and buy. I got very lucky and found a coordinating floral print for the wide border, though, that matches as if I started with it and chose the scraps to match it! I was also planning on using the wide-backing fabric for quilts but found nothing to match, so went back and got more of the floral print for that. I am hoping to be able to piece it together on Monday so that I can quilt it and be ready for prairie points. Then hand-stitching the back closed and I will be finished! Only 6 days till I have to be completely done....... I took a class on saturday about machine quilting, and learned a lot of new things that should make this quilt more interesting.

"Just a note to say I'm living"

While filing I found this poem my friend, Elissa Edge, sent me many years ago; thought it was quite appropriate for my posting record recently!

(Author Unknown)

Just a note to say I'm living

that I'm not among the dead.

Though I'm getting more forgetful

and mixed up in the head.

I got used to my arthritis,

to my dentures I'm resigned.

I can manage my bifocals

but gosh I miss my mind!

For sometimes I can't remember,

when I stand at the foot of the stairs,

If I must go up for something

or have I just come down from there?

And before the fridge so often,

my poor mind is filled with doubt.

Have I just put food away

or have I come to take some out?

So if it's my turn to write you

there's no need for getting sore;

I may think that I have written

and don't want to be a bore.

Just remember that I love you

and wish that you were near.

Now it's nearly mail time

so I must say goodbye, my dear.

Here I stand beside the mailbox

with a face so very red!

Instead of mailing you my letter,

I have opened it instead!

~author unknown

After reading this again, I realize this actually sounds like how well my mind works (or doesn't) when I'm pregnant! =)

I'm thinking once again that I will start posting things about sewing and quilting, and use picasa for family photos and such. Baby is due in a week now, so don't know how regular that will be either!