Nine Patches And Sashing On The" Go"...

Saturday was a busy, productive quilting day. I really had fun and accomplished a lot. I really love the time I spend creating in the studio.

Remember those four patches that became nine patch quilt blocks? Yesterday, I added sashing and assembled them into my basic quilt top. I still have a second sash in a different fabric to attach, but the "bones" are there and I'm tickled with the look.

I used my Accuquilt Go© Cutter with the 2 1/2" strip template to cut the sashing. If you haven't seen or tried the Go© Cutter, you can't believe how cool it is. Instead of having to rotary-cut fourteen strips the width of the fabric, all I had to do was cut the fabric with my scissors narrow enough to sit on the cutting template and run it through the Cutter. I did three folded layers, 44" long on each pass. This way, each pass yielded nine sashing strips. I was finished in a jiffy!

After cutting the 2 1/2" strips, I then sewed together rows of four blocks separated by sashing. My last step for the day was to sew each completed row of nine patch, sashed blocks together into my basic quilt top. I ironed at each step to be sure that my squares would line up nicely.

I wanted to take a photograph for you so you could see my progress, so I laid the quilt top on the carpet in our living room and ran to get my camera. When I got back, my "little helper" decided she should be in the shot, too. This is what I saw upon returning to the living room. I guess it has her stamp of approval, and it's not even finished!

I'll be working on it again today, and I'll take more pictures so you can see how far I get. You can also see more progress pictures in my "What I'm Sewing Now" Flickr album in my right sidebar (the title here is a link, too). I think that next time, I'll lay the quilt on our bed. Less chance of a certain someone getting in the shot!

Feels So Good...

After I did a little house cleaning yesterday morning, I decided to tackle one of my unfinished projects. I've been waltzing around this quilt in the studio for far too long, so it was time to apply myself and finally complete it.

This pattern is called Whispering Windmills from the book called "Lickety-Split Quilts". I really loved the pattern and was so proud that I matched up all the points. I really enjoy quilting, because like cross stitch, its pretty exacting work. Both venues require practice and application to become proficient.

I have a hard time with freeform designs because my mind requires more structure than that. I've managed to redirect my Type A personality (in some respects) but quilting, needlepoint (now that cross stitch and my eyes don't get along anymore), and knitting are really comfortable for me because of my basic desire for structure. But I digress...

I pulled out the quilt and fabric I'd chosen months ago for the binding and set about completing it. The top and back had been quilted together with a long arm machine by talented Jane Schurr, so I didn't have to do that part.

I cut the 2 1/2" wide strips using my trusty Accuquilt Go© Cutter, and then joined and pressed them. The Go© makes short work of cutting multiple strips, and joining them took no time at all. I folded the binding in half lengthwise, ironed it and I was ready to sew. I really like this part because I know that it's nearly finished. The handsewing was simple and straightforward so by the end of the evening, one unfinished project was complete.

Today, I'm going to finish a Boy Scout quilt for my nephew. I'm on a roll now. Finished projects feel so good!