I'm not usually one to make resolutions because, like most people, I fail at them. I've just never been a goal-driven person. It's not something that really bothers me, but I've really been trying to change my ways lately, and have been reading Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy (don't worry, that's not an affiliate link). This book deals with time management, goal setting, procrastination, and being successful. All of these are things I struggle with. I want to change that. After mulling things over, I decided to make one goal for myself this year. Something I need to complete within a certain time frame. It needed to be something reasonable, something I enjoy if it even has the remote possibility of being attainable.
I decided that I'm going to make a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt this year. This quilt is paper pieced which means that the top is stitched together by hand. Completely, BY HAND. Read that again. BY HAND.
These quilts are gorgeous, and so worth the extra work. Here are some that I'd pinned in the past and have been swooning over lately.
Aren't they lovely?
One thing that appeals to be about these quilts is that they're a great way to use up small bits of fabric that I have laying around. The other is that I love to have busywork to do while I watch TV. After knitting for the past 12 years, it's almost impossible for me to just sit and watch TV. I absolutely have to be doing something else while I'm watching. Paper-piecing is the perfect TV project. There are several steps involved before you even get to the actual sewing part.
First, you need a template. You can make your own, or you can buy them already made. You can also buy reusable plastic templates. I prefer to make my own because it's free, and it's something else I can do while I watch TV. I just duplicate a hexagon shape over and over in a Word document, and then print and cut them out.
I've found a short little tutorial for you, on how to make a small flower. This is how I do mine, except I whip stitch my petals together. You way want to try Heather's version since whip stitching can usually be seen from the front. This isn't a deal-breaker for me because it's not like I'm entering this quilt in a show or anything, and I figure once the quilt has been quilted and washed, those stitches won't bee too noticeable.
Another tutorial I found shows how to make freezer paper templates.
I'll be posting updates throughout the year, and then hopefully, a finished quilt sometimes in December. So far, I'm averaging one flower a week. I'm on week three now, and just started my third flower yesterday.
Here's where I am so far.
I'll confess right now that I have no idea what to do after I finish making the flowers. I haven't researched it yet. I was afraid I'd not even start if I knew how much was involved. I'll just cross that bridge when I get to it. I'm thinking that if I do a flower a week until early October, I should have a quilt large enough for a Queen bed. At that point, I'll work on putting it all together. Hopefully we'll all be back here in about 12 months, admiring by gorgeous quilt!
Sharing here:
I decided that I'm going to make a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt this year. This quilt is paper pieced which means that the top is stitched together by hand. Completely, BY HAND. Read that again. BY HAND.
These quilts are gorgeous, and so worth the extra work. Here are some that I'd pinned in the past and have been swooning over lately.
Pinterest upload
Aren't they lovely?
One thing that appeals to be about these quilts is that they're a great way to use up small bits of fabric that I have laying around. The other is that I love to have busywork to do while I watch TV. After knitting for the past 12 years, it's almost impossible for me to just sit and watch TV. I absolutely have to be doing something else while I'm watching. Paper-piecing is the perfect TV project. There are several steps involved before you even get to the actual sewing part.
First, you need a template. You can make your own, or you can buy them already made. You can also buy reusable plastic templates. I prefer to make my own because it's free, and it's something else I can do while I watch TV. I just duplicate a hexagon shape over and over in a Word document, and then print and cut them out.
I've found a short little tutorial for you, on how to make a small flower. This is how I do mine, except I whip stitch my petals together. You way want to try Heather's version since whip stitching can usually be seen from the front. This isn't a deal-breaker for me because it's not like I'm entering this quilt in a show or anything, and I figure once the quilt has been quilted and washed, those stitches won't bee too noticeable.
Another tutorial I found shows how to make freezer paper templates.
I'll be posting updates throughout the year, and then hopefully, a finished quilt sometimes in December. So far, I'm averaging one flower a week. I'm on week three now, and just started my third flower yesterday.
Here's where I am so far.
I love this one!
Sharing here:
0 crafty peeps said:
Post a Comment