Basting, Batting & a steep learning curve...

I have learnt a load of new words like 'sashing post' & 'basting'.  I had a great time watching & reading some on-line tutorials about quilting like this one ... http://sewinspired.blogspot.com/2007/09/quilt-basting-tutorial-with-bonus.html .  I have always liked to read up on something if I don't know what to do, and the web is so helpful. 

Anyway, Chef helped me to sew the quilt pieces into 'strips'.  All went well till I came to sew the strips together.  That's when the steep learning curve hit me hard.  It LOOKED SO EASY in  the tutorial.  For some reason the pattern did not match up.  It was OK... and with hindsight I should have shrugged & thought 'never mind, it's my first attempt, it's not perfect but I can live with that'.  Is that what happened? NO of course not.  I then spent HOURS fiddling and sewing/unpicking/resewing etc etc...I killed all the joy and got SO frustrated.  Finally, today, I had to just 'GET IT DONE' and yes I was tempted to give it all up as a bad job.  My quilt is now far less lined up after all the fiddle faddle than it was last night!  GGGrrrr.  I want to learn the 'embrace imperfection' thing but it's not coming easy. 

Smurf and Tigergirl helped cut out the backing fabric, from the recycled quilt cover.

It has been so lovely the way the chids have wanted to get involved (did I mention we have no TV?!)

I got the batting (padded stuff) from a nearby quilt shop and Husb also bought me a roller cutter and quilting ruler.  Smurf wanted to buy me some buttons as the range is HUGE and he loves to help me pick them, but in the end he bought me some thread (as it would be part of the quilt, unlike the buttons).  He's such a giver (it was the last of his birthday money & he wanted to get me something.)

Also, I got this amazing little tool which puts teeny tiny plastic tags through your 3 layers, holding everything steady while you sew the quilt sandwich  together.  This stage is called 'basting'.  Smurf LOVED helping me with this part. 

I'm at the stage now where the 3 layers are held together by tags and are ready to be quilted.  Who ever thought the gentle art of quilting could be so character forming?!

Comments

[Gail]

Wow. It sure is looking good! You should see all the imperfections in mine! hehe... oh well, all in a day's fun, I suppose! I'm enjoying reading about it though, and yes, it's lovely to see the chids so involved!

[maz]

Just caught up with all your going-ons. Great stuff! I wonder where you get the 'perfection thing'?! Also loved the 'wiggie episode'. Speak to you soon.