Hi Friends! Please tell me I'm not the only one with a huge box of forgotten unfinished projects. It's so easy to forget them when you can't see them. Should we take them out of hiding? Come on in and join me with the first of many of posts about "What's In The Box".
The sewing room plan for yesterday was to tidy things up a bit before starting to sew. That's what I was doing, sweeping under the quilt frame. While moving things out from under the quilt frame I became distracted by the containers of UFO's. The two marked with stars are partially quilted quilts. I didn't like the custom quilting on them, so they have been stored away until I feel like taking out the stitches. Those can be dealt with at another time. Honestly who likes ripping out quilting, not me. The tote marked with an arrow is full of UFO's. It's time to sort through them and make a few decisions.
The first thing to do is sort them and find a better storage solution. Ideally, each project should have its own storage bin. Preferably a clear container, labeled with the project name. My plan is to slowly sort through them over the last few days of this year. Hopefully by the start of the new year I can have them organized and stored for easy access. Maybe if they are staring me in the face, I'll be more inclined to finish them.
Let's take a peek at the first one out of the box. It was folded and laying right on top. A Mariner's Compass.
This was started way back in 2012. The foundation paper is parchment paper. This was drafted by me with a pencil and a ruler. Wow, I don't think I would have the patience for such a project these days. You can see the original blog posts here. You'll also get to see the canoe he made from 1/4" wide strips of wood, it took 3 yrs to make.
The Compass turned out beautifully, but it became a UFO because I couldn't decide on the method for adding a background fabric in order to make it square.
The plan was to add these blocks around the squared Compass. The blocks are from a block of the month program by our local quilt guild. 12 blocks total.
Because I still dread trying to square up the compass block, I think the quickest way to finish this project would be to quilt the Mariners Compass as is and call it a table topper. Then the 12 blocks would be made into a quilt. What do you think? I'm open to ideas!
See you soon with "What's In The Box ~ Part 2"
Wow, this is impressive! The work and planning that you put into your compass! I can't begin to imagine how to draw it out!! IMHO I don't think that the blocks "meld" with your compass so I like your idea of binding it and using it as a topper. We replaced our basement flooring nine months ago where my sewing room is and I cleared out or finished all of my UFOs and that felt so freeing...except now I have 5 or 6 flimsies hanging in a closet that I don't want to spend the money on to be quilted! Who knows how long they'll sit in their next phase lol! Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what's in store for you! I have sooooo many unfinished tops -- and a few to put together -- once my husband gets my "new to me" sewing room done - I hope to have more room to be organized and find what's hiding in all my totes! We downsized 2 years ago and moved -- WOW - what a challenge - I still have not found all my things from my old sewing room (basement)! It will be like Christmas when it does happen! Please keep us posted on your progress!
ReplyDeleteThe compass is beautiful and of course it's blue! You do how you want to finish the blocks, they will all be lovely no matter what. Happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteI think you have a perfect plan. The mariner's compass will make a beautiful table topper.
ReplyDeleteThe mariner's compass is very pretty. Go for the table topper and separate quilt of the square blocks. You'll have a double finish and feel twice as good.
ReplyDeleteThe compass would make a great table topper, and give you the satisfaction of a quick finish. Otherwise I could see it needle turned applique onto a background to make it square.
ReplyDeleteThe table topper and second quilt with the left over blocks sounds like a sound path forward. I went through and got all my "loose" block projects sewn into quilt tops. I'm hoping that gets me to more finishes next year.
ReplyDeleteHa, ha! We do think about the same...Your idea of using the mariner's compass, as is, is just what I was thinking. It would make a wonderful round table topper. Then, of course, you showed all those fabulous blocks that you'd made and thought you'd add to make it squarish. I did like your idea of making another quilt which the other blocks. What fun..."What's in the box." Super idea!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite methods to sew a circle on a square is to do reverse applique. I center the circle on my square of fabric, face down and pin it in place. Then I baste, by machine, a circle where I want to turn the fabric under. I would sew with the mariners compass side up so I could sew to make the tips of the flying geese sharp. I trim the circle (on the fabric square) out of the center leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance. I clip all the way around the circle and then pull the basting stitches out as turn under the seam allowance and I hand applique around the circle. I hope this makes sense. It's a really lovely mariners compass block.
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