Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Inside the mind of a quilter......

Ok, beware. I am admitting how I operate here. This is how things fly in this quilter's sewing room. This is an admission, but please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this way.

If you've been reading my blog, you know that I've been working on hand piecing these blocks.

Lovely Double Four Patch Blocks....for Dear Younger Son's graduation (he's 19, almost 20, but who cares if it's a bit late).

So, I get to the end of container of precut fabric and there are just little pieces left. So, I recount the blocks and yes, I am one short. Ughh.

No problem....really....I'll just dig through the cabinet and pull out the containers of reproduction fabrics. I just need one more piece of CW fabric I haven't used yet. (All the blocks main fabrics are different....yeah 100 different CW fabrics, I didn't know I had that many).

I find a piece of black fabric I like and cut it out. Then, I spy all the leftover little 1 1/2 inch squares....hmmmm. It's a shame to have them wasting away. What can I make?

So I begin sewing little four patches. And, I'm liking the way they are looking. They finish at 2 inches. Then, I think, I need some blues to go with them. So I start cutting out blue CW fabrics.

And I begin lining them up with the four patches. Too cute!

I love it.

Then, I realize that if I sew these chains of four patches and squares together and clip between each seam, I'll be at this for ever. So, I look and see there are still some 1 1/2 in. squares in the little container, and I start using them as leaders and enders....per Bonnie's instructions!

I made little four patches from all the leftover dark fabrics. Then, I needed more leaders and enders, so I cut some cream CW fabric...and alternated them with those four patches. Meantime, I am sewing two quilts at the same time. The Four Patch Furrows and the Little Four Patch Quilt.

Now, I wasn't planning on making either of these quilts.....all I was doing was looking for one piece of fabric to make one last Double Four Patch block - so I could start piecing Dear Younger Son's Long Overdue Graduation Quilt!!!!

I need some Tylenol!!! Happy Quilting!!!!

13 comments:

Patti said...

Perfect, perfect, perfect! I see nothing whatsoever wrong with what you are describing. Sounds like a perfectly normal quilter to me. Ater all, all the UFO's come from somewhere!

Libby said...

More 'Found' quilts *s* I like the way you operate!

MARCIE said...

You have how many quilts going at once? Good luck with all that! They all look like winners!

WhiteStone said...

Well, now I know why you call your blog "A Latte Quilts". But if all your Latte quilts are this nice, your problem is a very nice one. ROFLOL

Helen in the UK said...

It is scarey how the search for one piece of fabric leads to two new projects!!! I'm sure all three projects will be wonderful when they're done and as long as you are enjoying the process - go for it!!!
Love the log cabin you finished :)

Stina Blomgren said...

Oh..Paula...This was amazing...think what a little search for a piece of fabric could lead to!!!
And they do look good!!! Congratulations!! :o)

Eileen said...

This is how it goes! But wow.. I love both of those quilts. I keep meaning to make one with those tiny white squares.. that looks SO pretty!

Unknown said...

This is beautiful. The color combinations are fantastic. You can't go wrong with CW prints. Did I understand right that this is hand pieced? I can't get that much done on my machine.
Teresa

Diane said...

What a talent! You inspire me! When I grow up I want to...live near you so we can sew all day...and night! LOL And I will bring all my CW fabrics and we can share!

Marilyn Robertson said...

Wow - look what a little sidetracking can accomplish! Beautiful quilts! Who says that to be sidetracked by another project is wrong - it seems normal to me!

*karendianne. said...

I have to tell you this got me inspired and I've been playing with the idea ever since!!!

Diane said...

What a great post! Thanks for sharing your creative process with us. Some of the favorite quilts I've made have resulted from playing with leftovers. My other quilts are overplanned and overwrought. By the way, my son is turning 21 and his graduation quilt isn't nearly finished either.

The Calico Cat said...

A lot of my quilts (fabric bundles) sound like this...