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Thursday, November 21, 2019

Oh, Crap! I Only Have 5 Weeks to Quilt Jingle BOM Before It EXPIRES!

Just when I was relaxing away without a deadline, an awful realization slammed into my peaceful reveries while I was driving home from choir practice last night.  Do you guys remember my Jingle BOM (Block of the Month) quilt, the one I started way back in 2013?  This is my first-ever appliqué quilt, designed by Erin Russek of One Piece At a Time.  The appliqué was a huge learning curve. Learning to piece the blocks accurately so they all finished the right size was a learning experience.  Dealing with the Crisis of the Bleeding Fabric Dye was an ordeal in and of itself.  Figuring out how to set the center medallion straight instead of on point like the original pattern, with inner borders sized correctly for the appliqué block border to fit was challenging.  Am I forgetting anything?  And after all of that, I absolutely adore how this quilt top ended up when I finished it back in February of this year.
My 72 x 72 Jingle Quilt Top, Completed in February of This Year
I knew my longarm skills weren't ready to tackle this special quilt quite yet, so I carefully packed it away in Quilt Purgatory (the closet in my guest bedroom).  But before doing so, I had the idea of embroidering the dates "2013-2019" on one of the quilt blocks.  Because I'd definitely get it quilted by the end of the year, right?
Expiration Dates!
AAAAAHHHH!!!  I embroidered the dates on the very first applique block that I made in 2013.  Before you tell me to just remove those stitches and change the date to 2020, I should confess that I traced the dates onto my fabric using a permanent yellow Pigma pen.  Those dates must remain.  I really, REALLY wanted this quilt to get finished before the end of the year -- but the end of the year has snuck up on me and taken me completely by surprise.

 What do you guys think?  Jingle needs custom quilting, and I have very limited skills in that arena.  Just stitching in the ditch around the appliqué and embroidered dates is going to be challenging.  After my ruler work on my son's Mission Impossible graduation quilt, I feel like I could manage some ruler work crosshatching if I marked it ahead of time, but the traditional feather motifs I'm envisioning in my mind are likely to come out looking like strings of ogre toes if I try to quilt them on this quilt.  I wonder if I could quilt decent feathers in the setting triangles if I marked them first and had lines to follow?

 Any and all suggestions appreciated.  I just got a new longarm ruler from Lisa Hagstoz Calle that is designed to facilitate stitch in the ditch around appliqué, so that almost seems like a message from the Universe telling me to give this a try and at least get it on my frame before the end of the year, even if I don't finish it by New Year's.  I just need to come up with a quilting plan within my current skill set that does the appliqué justice.  Oh, and I had planned to quilt this one with a double batting (wool over 80/20) to really emphasize the quilting, but I've never tried a double batting before, either.

9 comments:

  1. KimNovember 21, 2019 at 11:09 AM

    This is only a suggestion. On the label I would say something like this: Based on Jingle designed by Erin R. Top pieced/appliqued by Cheeky Cognoscenti 2013-2019. Quilted 202X by Cheeky Cognoscenti.

    It is a gorgeous quilt. Give yourself some time to gain the skills necessary to quilt it the way you see it in your head.

    All the best and Happy Holidays!
    Kim

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  2. Chris November 21, 2019 at 12:59 PM

    I don't have a long arm but what I have done in the past is stitch in the ditch outline around all those blocks and borders then bind the thing and pretend it is done. Then go back and do all the fancy stuff later. But I use a domestic machine.

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  3. Karen - Quilts...etc.November 21, 2019 at 1:56 PM

    what does it really matter if you don't finish this year? is anyone going to scream at you that you must finish it? You put a lot of pressure on yourself and you don't need to - it is not a gift to someone - it is for you - finish it when you are ready

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  4. chrisknitsNovember 21, 2019 at 10:08 PM

    I have nothing but best wishes to give you! Sorry, but it will be beautiful no matter what.

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  5. SJSMNovember 22, 2019 at 5:35 AM

    I like what Chris and Karen said. IF you can stitch in the ditch and call it done then figure a way to remount the top to do the fancy quilting is one thought. You can also say to yourself that you finished the flimsy in 2019 and maybe on the quilt label state the quilted date. The quilt police won’t be judging you but I understand the tendency to follow tradition in the nomenclature on a quilt.

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  6. SharNovember 22, 2019 at 9:40 AM

    I think it's wonderful that you got the quilt to look as you wanted. If you envisioned it with feathers, then go that direction. There is not that much space that would have the feathers - the red and green solid looking squares, right? If you don't start working on feathers you won't ever master them. If you have the time to work on the feathers now, get started. If you have other deadlines, wait. You seem to operate like I used to - if I don't feel like it, it isn't going to happen. As to whether to change the date or not, I cannot say. I wish the best to you!

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  7. GlendaNovember 22, 2019 at 10:08 AM

    I’d take Kim’s advice, then you won’t be unpicking all next year because it does not look like you dreamed off? It’s such a beautiful quilt give it the quilting love that you gave it to this stage. FMQuilting is just like applique it’s a huge new learning skill and needs lots and lots of practice. Hugs Glenda

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  8. ChantalNovember 23, 2019 at 1:00 PM

    Wow! That's a stunner! Fabulous! I love it. You did such an awesome job with the applique and piecing, don't rush the quilting. It's a heirloom, handle with care, please.
    You posted a comment on my blog and for some inexplicable reasons the comment didn't cross over to my email and I couldn't reply so here's the answer:
    Thank you for the nice comment and no, it isn't my cat. It just a picture from Pinterest because he has the face of my feelings.
    Good luck with the quilting of your Masterpiece. ;^)

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  9. Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork AppliquéNovember 26, 2019 at 5:13 AM

    What a beautiful quilt! Lovely appliqué, very delicat, I love it! And you still have a month before the next year ;)

    ReplyDelete

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