Something different

…a project that’s not the Tattoo Quilt!

The quilt on the design wall in the Bottoms Up! studio in 2013

I’ve gone as far as I can on getting ready to quilt the Tattoo Quilt. The top, backing, binding and threads are in a bag. The trip to Katrina’s has been rescheduled thanks to a bout with the flu—yes, I always get a flu shot, but I had a reaction to the last one and wonder if that’s why I caught the flu. I haven’t had the flu in decades and was completely caught off guard by it. It was not fun, but I know it could have been much worse.

Anyway, I finally felt well enough to venture into the cutting room on Sunday. While I wanted to start something brand new (the Sierra quilt kit), I decided after reviewing the pattern that maybe finishing a UFO was in order. I pulled The Bin with the Down & Dirty Civil War Repro Quilt and put the pieces on the design wall. I started this one in 2013. I know this is not on the list I posted last month, but this one has been on my mind. Our youngest son, David, and his wife, the lovely Emma, purchased a new home and will be moving into it in a couple of weeks. Wouldn’t it be great to bring it over to the new house? I thought so. This particular quilt is also one he requested. 

I do not want to overthink this one. A dozen years can erase some ideas about the size, the sashing, the borders, etc. Combine those thoughts with the idea of tariffs being tacked on to textiles, steel (think pins and needles) and you start thinking about dealing with what you have. I have a vintage quilt made in the trip around the world pattern that I purchased almost 30 years ago at an auction, and one of the discoveries from that quilt included making do with scraps that don’t necessarily match but work together to make a cohesive look, and I love that look. I think I had intended to completely sash all of the blocks, and use another fabric to border the quilt and make it larger (David is 6’5”). The reality is I had enough of the cornerstone fabric to cut the setting triangles, but not enough for the corner triangles. Also, there was not enough fabric to completely sash the blocks. I no longer want a border to make it larger. I’m loving how it’s turning out.

Hey, I told you how cramped it is in here. One day I'll have a tabletop tripod. 

I hope to finish the top this week. I have an idea for the quilting (using the Luminaire), but may take it to Katrina’s with me and put it on the longarm. I hope to show you the flimsy soon. In the meantime, go make!