I rummaged around in them a bit and found a cute little kit I received at one of Shop Hops I've been on with my Quilting Buddies. I pulled it out, thinking it would be nice to work on a small project. Here is the progress so far.
It is going to be a pin cushion. Now, I don't need another pin cushion, so what in the world am I going to do with it?
Tell me....WHY? Why did I feel compelled to work on this, when I don't even know what I will do with it when it's completed? It will be 6 inches square when I finish it as is. Maybe I should put some little borders on it and call it a doll quilt? Any suggestions?
While I was rummaging around I found a Ziploc bag (imagine that, a quilter with a Ziploc bag). In it was stuffed with, what I finally determined to be, the rest (or at least part) of a top I had folded on a shelf in my closet. When I ran across that quilt 2-3 weeks ago, I wondered if that was all there was to the quilt, or if somewhere there was a bag....hmmmm. Mystery solved. I unfolded this quilt and it was needing two more sides of the muslin border. And here in the bag was the two pieces cut and ready to sew, plus this hand drawn diagram of the quilt. And even some of the last four patch units for the outside edge of the quilt.
I know this quilt has been around a while.....it has the telltale marks of being a "VERY OLD UFO". Here are the clues....
Inside the baggie were the following:
1. A piece of graph paper with the hand drawn quilt diagram. This dates it to the period before EQ anything!
2. A piece of template plastic measuring 2 inches square. This tells me that this quilt was cut with a pair of scissors and drawn onto the fabric with a pencil.
3. Four patches sewn with thread of undetermined pedigree.
4. Four patches which were also sewn, by hand and with large stitches. (Dear Sister in law remembers these days in my quilting past, I am sure.)
5. There are not enough of said Four Patches in this Ziploc bag with which I can finish said quilt top!
Here are the pictures to prove my insanity!
So tell me....WHY? Why would any quilter in her right mind, leave a top unfinished when it has such a little amount of work left on it? Why would I stuff those muslin borders into a Ziploc bag, and not leave enough muslin left to finish the Four Patches? That muslin is probably in another project bag to finish some other quilt!!!!!!!! Have you ever tried to "match" muslin???? Ha ha ha! It's impossible!
So, maybe I will try, using my more advanced skills to do something to finish this top! I really did like it when I started it. My question? Should I continue finishing this quilt by hand or forget that all together and zip it out on the machine? Let's hear some opinions on this one!
And, can someone tell me....WHY?
9 comments:
If you have already done that much by hand---by all means finish it by hand! Most of the work is already done! And "why" is an excellent question that applies to almost every aspect of life. :) I'm afraid I don't know why, Mrs. Wy. tsk,tsk.
Perhaps you could use the 6 inch square in a bib apron for young daughter....
tyranny of the urgent caused you to put up the quilt for a day or week or month and then, poof, it is forgotten.....
I don't know why we do that. I have found a couple of things started and almost finished but for some crazy reason I put it in a box and walked away. Who knows! My thoughts for finishing the top, I hate to say is finish it the way it was started. I have my thimble top I have hand pieced and have it about 75% finished, and I tried to convince myself to finish it by machine. I just couldn't do it. It felt wrong. You know the seams were not as soft as they are by hand. I didn't want to change the feel, so ripped the 10 or so seams I had made. Also, I am glad you had a good rest and are home again jiggity jig. love ya
I like the idea of a bib on an apron or jumper for a little girl, and I also like the idea of a doll quilt, maybe a pot holder or trivet.
Why is a good question...I guess we work on things because it makes us happy. I keep asking myself why do I make more quilts when I have more than enough to have 5 or more on each bed!!
As for your found quilt top...I say just get it under the machine and finish it!! You'll be glad to have it done and then you can play with a different project. Just my opinion.
That quilt from "the olden days" is very pretty. I can understand your dilemma, but I would go with the speedy sewing machine myself. Why put it off any longer? Aren't you glad we have progressed after so many years of having to do it by hand! Sew like the wind!
I would go ahead and finish it by hand. Something must of happened in your life to side track you from such a beautiful project. As for the pin cushion...I suggest a pot holder or a mini wall hanging.
I like the idea of a bib top for a little girl, or a blanket for her dolly would be nice, too. Possibly a wall hanging in a nursery.
I would use the electric needle and zip up that quilt so it can be used and enjoyed.
But, why? Something the quilter had in mind got displaced with a new idea or something more urgent. Life is like that, isn't it!
Have fun!
Paula, you need to finish that quilt! It will make a fantastic addition to your finished pile. If I knew the answer to your question, I wouldn't be in the same boat as you. VBG
Post a Comment