Top together

I am excited to say I finally got all my blocks sewn together.  I haven't started the borders but they are next on my list.  I apologize for the terrible picture - I just don't have a large enough room to get a better one.
Nancy

More words

I marked my quilt top yesterday and posted pictures on my blog.  Since I'm feeling too lazy to repost everything here, please stop by if you're interested.  I wouldn't normally post pictures of this step, but since the quilt top is so big, I thought someone might want to see how I handled it.  If not, that's okay, too.  This should be the last post about mine until I finish since you all know how to baste and quilt.  I'm hoping to get a large section basted today but who knows.  

http://gwendiesquilts.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

Thank you all for your wonderful comments.  I appreciate each and every one of them.

To answer a couple of questions, I'll use Dream Cotton in Request weight for the batting.  

Second is I called a long arm quilter about basting but I don't want to wait.  You'd think after two years stitching the blocks, another month wouldn't be that bad but I want to get going now!  I had a really hard time waiting for each block to be posted.  It's not so much that I'm a Type A because the older I get the more relaxed I get about a lot of things.  It's more that I'm a start to finish kind of person, a do it now or it may not get done at all type.   You know, the out of sight out of mind type.

I'll be posting progress on my own blog but when it's completely finished, I'll be back with a picture.  Just don't hold your breath because this is going to take a while.  Until then, I'll be checking back to see how the rest of you are doing.  I expect to see progress!

Finished!

Applique′ and piece the top - check!  I still have to mark, baste, and quilt it.  But the top is finished!

I cleared the table and chairs out of the dining room and used the floor for the picture.  Obviously, there's still furniture in the corner but it was too heavy to move so the top isn't completely flat for its portrait.  

I have a 4x8 table I'm going to use for marking and basting.  Then I'll hand quilt it.

And I have to get backing fabric.  What are the rest of you planning to use on the back?  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's quilts. 

Inquiring minds want to know..

Well, actually there have been a few of you who were interested in how I was going to do my borders scrappy.  

Tonight I laid out my completed center on the basement floor and auditioned my remaining background fabrics.  I had already cut them out to 8 1/2" wide strips and now just needed to know where they were going to be placed.

I now have them all cut to size and sewn together. 

Now to get busy appliquing. 

Tonight is going to be devoted to tracing more leaves and getting the freezer paper for them cut out.  Most of my cherries are made and I guess I am going to have to make yards of vine.

I didn't have a whole lot of background fabrics left, so I feel fortunate that I was able to get the borders out of what I had....although I did go and buy some 1/4 yard pieces of French General.  In the end, I only used one of those newer fabrics.  It's not used in the quilt, but it is a coordinating fabric, so I am not worried about that. 

Once all my ducks applique pieces are in a row. I will be stitching feverishly.  I want this quilt!!!

Four borders

are finished!

Now to stitch them to the quilt top.

Final Border Pattern Available

I just checked Sentimental Stitches and the last border pattern has been posted. I can't wait to see a completely finished piece!

Block 21 Finished

There is a lot going on in this block so I have left out the leaves on each side of the vase and I'm contemplating the bird in the center of the top two buds. Since it is a heavy block, I tried to keep the vase a bit lighter.

I'm working on my next block, I have the stems all glued down ready to stitch and a cup full of cherries and grapes ready to go! Oh I can see getting the center finished by summer? Six more blocks to go, is that a realistic goal? I hope so!

Sharon

Here are all my blocks

I tried figuring out the mosaic programs....couldn't.

I tried putting my picture on a Word document.....couldn't get it over to the blog.

So here are all my blocks on the floor after moving furniture and standing on a step stool.

Tried not to get too many heavy reds together, no like backgrounds together, not too many vases together, not too many wreaths together.  Argh!  Lots of work.  Anyways the picture above is the best picture of the blocks as a whole.  The next picture is my final positioning of the blocks.

Picture is not as good as the first one, but now my blocks are numbered and ready to go.  I am going to sit and look over the instructions (haven't looked at them since I started this whole thing) and see if I need to trim down the blocks and once I do what needs to be done, I am going to stitch them together and then get busy on cutting out the "let down" (can't believe I am even thinking that way), but wow...it's been a long time.  It certainly seems like it went fast NOW.

Which way do you make bias tape?

Just posted a new blog entry about my recent experience with making bias tape for all the miles of vines we need in the borders...thought you might be interested in the Simplicity Bias Tape Maker if you haven't tried it yet. 

Drop by for a visit when you have a chance.

Pat

http://thoughtsfromtaylorsoutback.blogspot.com