Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Crown of Thorns

Primitive Gatherings Frivol #7
Crown of Thorns
Fabric:  Primitive Gatherings Songbird Gatherings

Ever had one of those projects?  The excitement builds when you first see it and you quickly add it to your shopping cart and can't wait to get home to start it.  And then. . .the wheels start coming off the bus.

Yes, that's me.  I fell in love with this quilt the minute I saw it.  The problem with making this little quilt started when I put myself on a "you must complete older projects before you start another project" diet. The North and South quilt using the five inch charm squares took much, much longer to complete than I had anticipated.  Annie Magnolia, the sampler had travel arrangements to Arkansas and she had to be finished and framed.  October/November in Nashville has been one of the hottest and driest on record--my quilting motivation is challenged when sweat is dripping off me while I am making a quilt.

My biggest problem is thinking the quilt has to be perfect and finding fault with my color selection and placement and my less than perfect sewing results.  My quilting friend, Lori, says "excellence is good enough, stop finding fault and finish the darn thing."

I finally, finally, finally finished sewing the sixteen crown of thorns blocks!  

Sewed the boogers together, hoping the flimsy would be square and not all wonky for the long armed quilter to sort out.  Added the inner border.

Put the pedal to the metal on the sewing machine and made the 68 1 3/4" HST's for the border.  Where would the quilt world be without HST's?  Practise makes perfect and I have been making so many quilts with HST's and using my Itty Bitty ruler for measuring and squaring, I am becoming more efficient in making them.  Piecing papers are also helpful.

Added the larger outer border, and I have a flimsy.  Am not really happy with the outer border.  Time to step away from the quilt for a couple of days and come back with a fresh prospective.  Whew! It was a struggle and am glad it is this close to being finished.  Quilting, binding and label still to be done.

13 comments:

  1. It really is a beautiful quilt. I actually stopped quilting because I am a bit of a perfectionist. My stitching some how does not bring that out in me like quilting did.

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  2. Oh, it looks grand to me! I'm glad you made this so I don't have to. *LOL*
    It has tempted me too much!

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  3. Beautiful! And, I love the outer border. Maybe you will like it tomorrow too!

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  4. Congratulations on a beautiful quilt!!

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  5. I think this quilt is really sweet! I cannot see the imperfections and I think having a rest from a quilt can give you a different perspective, sometimes its a long rest, but nonetheless its a good idea.

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  6. Beautiful! I think we are all our own worst critics. You did a beautiful job!

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  7. Yes, I agree with Margaret, we are our own worse critics. I love those classic patterns and those blocks are as sweet as can be. I like the wide outer border. It will be a fun place to add some nice quilting.

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  8. How pretty! All your stewing about it may or may not have been necessary, but the results look fantastic. I do have to tell myself from time to time to JUST GO WITH IT!!

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  9. Congrats on a finish! The "finish old stuff before starting new" diet really dampens the creative process... and being creative is all about being fun.... so, just (as they say) roll with the muse... and enjoy! Those solid borders usually perk up after quilting...and then a colored binding is added...

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  10. Positively beautiful.


    Blessings
    Catherine

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  11. I think I'm going to take the advice of your friend Lori and "finish the darn thing!" with a few of my projects. The 'Crown of Thorns" turned out lovely, well worth all the HSTs time and effort.

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  12. Betty, I giggled WITH you the whole time that I read your charming post. This little quilt is quite wonderful! Kudos to you!

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  13. It is wonderful, so glad the bus had its wheels replaced😉! You have done such a great job, I really do love that block, always have; your project is inspiring~

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