Bloomin' Nine Patch Progress Report

Way back in July I told you about Aaron and Leah's Bloomin' Nine Patch in this post.   Since I started hand-quilting it on July 16th I have been making some serious headway and thought I would give you an update.   


I am a notorious list-maker, chart-keeper, note-taker type person.  So obviously on a project this large (the quilt is 110" x 120") I want to keep track of my progress.  It kind of becomes a game to me that way, and it keeps me motivated. (And, yes, I am extremely competitive!)  


There are 1,010 blocks in this quilt.  I knew I would NOT want to regularly count them, so the first "list" keeps track of weekly progress.  I jot down a little hash mark for each block completed and then tally them up at the end of the week.  The second "list" shows how many blocks are in each row so I can just add instead of count as I complete a row.  (And, even though adding involves the dreaded math I would rather add than count!)  The third "list" shows how many blocks need to be quilted to get to certain progress points - 1/4th, 1/3rd, etc.

   


I want you to know that list-makers sometimes wear themselves out before they even start their projects!











Are you ready to see how much I have done so far?  (The "so far" at the end of the sentence indicates that there is hope -- I am NOT giving up!)

I have quilted from the center working out, and I have quilted to within 15" of the edge.  Looks like a lot, doesn't it?  Well, it's NOT.  I have quilted exactly half the blocks!  Looks are deceiving for sure.  That's the problem with list-making.  I would have thought I was almost done!!


It really is pretty, though.  I am quilting around each little square in the nine-patch blocks and using a great stencil in the solid blocks.  It's called "Quilted Ball" from The Stencil Company.    A great and inexpensive place to buy stencils, by the way.   Sometimes I just buy them so my grands can trace them and then color the designs.  They love stencils!

Another fun thing about the quilting is I am using different colored threads as I move towards the outside edge, starting with pale yellow in the middle, then light orange, dark orange, red, and finally black.  I don't think it will be real obvious once it's completed, but I am NOT ripping anything out!

You may be able to see the thread changes in this photo. Maybe not.  Either way, no critiques of my work, please. My fingers are awful sore and I have to be able to think the pain is worth it!

....and Speaking of Wedding Quilts

I guess we weren't exactly talking about wedding quilts, but since I blogged last week about one of the quilts I made for my older son I thought I would show you one of the quilts I made for my younger son.  And it actually IS a wedding quilt.  

Aaron and Leah went through my magazines when they got engaged and selected the Christmas Star pattern from the 2000 issue of Quilt It For Christmas, published by Quilters Newsletter Magazine.  Then, after they got married we went shopping for batiks at Colonial Quilts in Savannah, GA.  (I have a good excuse for their quilt not being ready by the wedding --- I made Leah's bridal gown, and that kind of took priority.  AND it kind of took a lot of time!)  

This is the completed quilt:  

It finished at 112" square.  The thought of basting it was a little overwhelming to me so I had a friend baste it for me on her longarm machine.  Then I hand-quilted it.  And I finished it before their 4th anniversary.  I really love this quilt!
Here's the quilt on their bed:

This is a close-up of the little wall-hanging over the bed:

Aaron had chosen the pre-printed black whole-cloth panel from The Stencil Company. When I was almost finished with the quilting, I realized I was using dark blue thread to quilt it.  Of course, I thought I had ruined it, but it isn't at all noticeable and may even make the quilting stand out a little more.  Having a wall-hanging framed instead of using a hanger is a nice way to display your work.  And having it hanging in your son's home, is an even nicer way!