Well, I am happy to say It have made great progress on my vintage double nine patch quilt. I have all of the blocks done and have been sewing the rows together. It worried me to set this as my goal for June but it appears I’ll be able to finish it this week and we are only at the middle of July! Just never know.
Here are a few rows – they are not yet pressed though.
This quilt has been fairly mindless to create. Lots of repetition in making the smaller nine patches and then sewing those into the 9″ blocks. For the most part I have been happily listening to music and stitching away. I usually have either music or a podcast on when I am sewing, unless I really have to focus on the pattern. This week I indulged in lots of oldies. I had my playlist set to include music from the early 1970’s (which would have been junior high and high school for me). Carole King, Van Morrison, Cat Stevens and The Lovin Spoonfuls, to name just a few.
Music doesn’t seem to distract me when I am sewing but TV is not such a great idea. When I was cutting the smaller background squares for this quilt there was an episode of “The Office” playing. (Julia recently discovered this show.) It was so distracting – I think that show is so funny. I ended up cutting 3″ squares instead of 3 1/2″ squares. Dang it. I have tons of the fabric so that wasn’t a problem but now I have a pile of 3″ squares ready for another project and I had to spend the time to cut a new stack in the correct size. Clearly watching tv doesn’t work for me when I am sewing or cutting.
The quilt will have two borders of the cream fabric with a narrow border of navy blue in between them. If you remember, the small nine patch blocks are made with the vintage fabric that I received last spring. I need to look through the vintage stash to see if I have a big enough piece to make the navy border. I think I need about 1/2 yard and doubt I have a piece that big, especially since the vintage fabrics are 24-36″ wide. Looks like a trip to my LQS is on the agenda for tomorrow, darn it. I am really excited to sew the rows together and put the borders on. Hoping to have a quilt top finish for you by end of the week.
So, what’s on your playlist when you are sewing??? Do tell.
Linking to Lorna at Let’s Bee Social and Connie at Freemotion by the River. Links to both of these parties are at the top of the page, under Link Ups.
I love your vintage nine patch. The negative space will be fun to quilt, too! I like your playlist, but no playlist for me. I’m not sure why, but I’ve never gotten into listening to music while I sew. I do watch TV while I’m piecing and sort of listen to it while I’m cutting. I do most of my work in the living room, which is right next to the family room (joined by a pocket door that’s always open). I could listen to music while quilting upstairs. I should try it. Maybe it would help me with my treadling rhythm?
Bernie, I was reading Lets Be Social #81 on Sew Fresh Quilts and saw your photo. I think that you have created a spectacular quilt. Sometimes, simple quilts really catch my eye. They (for me at least) demand a close look because even though they appear simple, choosing the right fabric combinations, matching up seams and rows, plus the quilting all look perfect and that takes a lot of skill and patience. You have done an excellent job and have really inspired me to create a “simple” quilt as soon as I can. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful day!
Brenda, what a wonderful comment. Thank you! I do love the simplicity of this pattern. It is traditional and I thought that was the perfect thing for these 1940’s fabrics. It is the first time I have made something like this and I am really happy with the look of it. This quilt will be auctioned off at the benefit in the fall and the event has a 1940’s theme. Hopefully it will raise a few dollars!
Thanks for coming by to visit and for your kind words.
Bernie
I, too, enjoy listening to music. I think tv would be way too distracting, and I certainly don’t need that. lol. I just turn on the radio though, listen to the ‘oldies’ station…which plays 60s to early 80s light rock. You’re 9 patches are looking great.
We must be of similar age! I love music from the “oldies” station – but how did it happen that our music came to be played on an oldies radio station? Hmmm…. not so sure I like that!
Thanks for the visit Dorian.
Take care,
Bernie
I’m enjoying your updates on this quilt! I’m still jealous of your score in those vintage fabrics. 😉 What size are you going for?
I don’t listen to music unless my husband is playing it in his room. He loves music and plays it frequently, and I enjoy it, but I don’t crave it. We love the oldies from the 60s and 70s that take us back to high school and college days. The songs I like these days tend to be dance-type songs like Uptown Funk – lol! And that just makes me want to dance, so that doesn’t work in my sewing chair. 😉
Dancing in your sewing chair – fun but could be problematic! You’re so funny.
This quilt will be lap size and probably somewhere around 55 x 65-ish?
Take care and keep in touch.
B.
I like how you will continue the look and feel of the nine patch into the border with 3 stripes, I think that is going to look great! Music playlists… hmm, well, I have a classical playlist that suits me sometimes and I update a more modern playlist about every other month with music from favorite bands (Coldplay, Chevelle, Linkin Park) along with lots of new music (I have just recently discovered MTNS and really like their song “Lost Track of Time”). Honestly, these days it is a toss up between having music on or just having a bit of quiet, though.
Yvonne, You have a knack for putting things into words that I cannot. I liked the idea of the triple border and using the light/dark/light which mimics that 9-patch but I couldn’t put it into words until you did it for me. Someday I want to take a class from you!
And, yes, sometimes quiet is best. Especially if I need to focus or plan anything.
Thanks so much for your input!
Bernie
It’s been awhile since I’ve quilted and listened to music. If I’m the only one home I will turn Netflix on to something I’ve watched over and over and listen to it. I find it distracting if it’s something newer that I want to actually set and watch because I can’t give both my attention. We love The Office at our house so it’s one I can turn on and quilt to. It just never gets old, I love all the characters and want to work there. The double nine patch looks like it is coming right along. Do you know how big it will be yet?
My kids can quote any episode of The Office. It is such a funny show. But it totally distracted me and I couldn’t believe the stack of squares all cut 1/2″ too small! Ugh! No more tv – I need to stick to music. 🙂
I am making this as a lap size quilt and I think it will be about 65″ x 75″? Depends on how big I cut the borders.
Take care Tish.
Bernie
This is so pretty Bernie! So soft and lovely. It’s going to be really pretty all quilted up. I agree, the blank squares will be great to show off all the progress you’ve made in free-motion. Looks just beautiful!
Congrats on a lovely finish : ) I hand quilt so I am not certain what is all possible with the machine but were I to hand quilt this I’d do feathered wreaths in the blank spaces. I did a baby quilt like that years ago and it looked very nice.
Whatever you do it is going to look sensational…I’ve no doubt of that 🙂