Friday, December 11, 2009

More Than I Can Chew?

washed fabric
In yesterday's post I mentioned that I would talk more next week about Jacob's Momma-made Christmas gift. That was the plan anyway... I was going to start it next week and thus blog about it. However, last night, I started doing the math for his gift and had a mild panic attack. I may have bitten off more than I can chew with this one. Let me tell ya about what's going on...

cutting strips
If you have been reading for a while now, you might remember that Lauren and Andrew both received quilts for their birthdays this year. You might also have noticed that I didn't get around to making one for Jacob. I had way to much on my plate when his birthday rolled round, and although I had terrible guilt over it, I promised myself that he would get one for Christmas. Well, obviously, it's Christmas and the boy needs his quilt.

square before
I bought the fabric a while back, so I am all set there. I am using an Anna Maria Horner Palette Pile with lots of yellows, greens, and blues, with some browns too. I hemmed and hawed for a while over the pattern I would use and finally settled on a String Quilt with help from a tutorial on Film In The Fridge. I started drawing a little diagram, and running the numbers... I need to make NINETY SIX squares to get the size I want!! OH MY STARS!! Those 96 squares become 24 larger squares that make up a really cool diamond pattern... but dang, it is going to be a ton of work.

square after
So I am scrapping the mental timeline I initially had set for this project and making it my top priority. I cut all the fabric this morning and started piecing the facing together. I am about 20% of the way done with that. I may decrease the number of total squares so that it is 20 total blocks instead of 24, but we'll see. I won't be able to work on it again until Monday, since Jacob will be home all weekend. I hope, hope, hope to be able to finish the facing by Monday... or lunch time on Tuesday at the latest. Then, I will make the quilt sandwich on Tuesday.

sewing the facing 2
Then... I gotta spend Wednesday and Thursday doing book club stuff. You know, the cleaning and the cooking. Eeekkk!! Friday, I can start the actually quilting and hope to have it done by next Monday (the Monday before Christmas). I am getting tired just thinking about it. Good thing I have most of my other handmade gifts finished already!!

7 comments:

rosebud101 said...

It's going to be awesome for Jacob, and it will be well worth the stress and joy you will have in making it for him.

Cindy said...

Wow, Kerry, I'll admit the picture of the pile of fabric kinda stressed me out..but I don't know the first thing about quilting! And to think it's your book club week too!!! But your book projects are done (lucky!), and your dining room redo is not only finished but fabulous, so somehow after Thursday you'll get it all done. You just might have to stay up half the night like me! Elvira could use some company. :-)

Holly said...

That quilt is going to be SO AWESOME!

AMH palette piles rock.

Pretty Things said...

Wowwwwww (said in a hushed, awe-struck sort of way). I love what you've done! I'm ignoring the pile and focusing on the beauty!

Leslie @ Bei Mondi said...

That looks like a crazy amount of work. I so hope things work out for you. It will be stunning when it's done. The colors are amazing!

Right Turn ArtWerks said...

I love the retro look of this quilt. Great choice of colors and lucky young man!

Hearts of Glass said...

Wow, is that ever going to rock! I wonderful whether you could shave off some stress by relocating the book club to a coffee shop, just this once? Then you don't have to clean right away and can stay in the "quilting zone" but a tad longer.