Monday, January 4, 2010

Design Wall Monday

I finished sewing the blocks for the Ohio Star Thursday and then on Friday, during a New Year's sewing day with my sewing group, I got them put together.  All I need to do now is to put on some narrow borders.  They will be white, and then just a narrow binding in some more of the Turkey red.  It's pretty simple, but I like it that way.



I'm feeling pretty good about getting to this point; this is a quilt which I've intended to make since I saw an exhibit of antique quilts at our local art museum.  It took me a long time to get it started, and I'm glad I finally got to see it through.



I love the crispness of the blocks.  There may be a tiny chopped off point here or there, but the square in a square method makes a very neat Ohio Star block. I intend to hand quilt this with something fancy in the setting squares.  I bought a book about antique quilting designs a few months ago.  Now I just have to figure out how to draft one to fit the blocks.

You can check out other quilter's design walls (or design couches, as the case may be) this week by checking out Judy L.'s Patchwork Times.

Over the weekend I watched Netflix movies and knitted away on a baktus scarf.  It's another project that I've been meaning to do.  The pattern is so ridiculously easy--just garter stitch--that it made an ideal project to while away my last weekend before school started again after Christmas break.  This is made from a single skein of Rio de la Plata kettle dyed  merino sock yarn which has been in my stash for a long while now.  The yarn is so pretty I was reluctant to do anything other than just pet it from time to time.  And I had read on Ravelry about its tendency to felt and didn't think socks would be the best use for it.  Knit in garter stitch on US size 3 needles, it worked up beautifully, although you can see that the colors started to pool in one part there on the lower left of the picture.  It's about 46 inches long, and about 10 inches at the widest point.   It's a nice thing to be able to drape around my shoulders or wrap around my neck without too much bulk. 



Many people in blogland has been looking back at their completed projects for the past year and making resolutions about the number of projects they expect to complete this coming year.  It made me a little curious to see what I had done.  Looking back at my blog posts this year I discovered that I have done lots more than I thought I had, despite the fact that I usually feel that I'm working at the pace of a drowsy snail.  I finished some older UFO's that had been nagging at my conscience.  I started two new bed-sized projects, and I finished them.  I started quite a few smaller things, too, and managed to get those done.  Of course I've got lots of UFO's sitting around, but I'll keep plugging along on them, and I'm sure I'll get them finished some day.

One thing I've learned about myself this year is that I am a process quilter (and knitter).  My joy is in the making of the thing, rather than in getting it done.  In fact, the closer to completing something, the more my interest seems to wane.  How about you?  Are you process oriented or results oriented?

11 comments:

SpinningStar said...

Based on the number of UFOs in my room , I am also a process quilter. I have fun looking at the fabrics, patterns, colors, etc. Complete it, well.... maybe next year!

But, I am going to try to finish at least 10 old projects this year.

Liz

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

I love that quilt.

Deb Geyer said...

The quilt is gorgeous! It is going to look great with hand quilting!

Unknown said...

I didn't know that was what I was! A process quilter, although this year is a FINISH year, and not just because I am part Scandanavian! hehe.
I must clean out the sewing room and rid myself of things that are dragging me down. I have started on the books to donate and am now down to one shelf, maybe more with the books floating around in UFO boxes. I made a list of just the things that are not stashed away in the closet. Oh boy, what a revelation!
D,
I love all of your quilts and would like to be more like you, taking joy in the simple things.

Anne

Nancy said...

Your quilt is beautiful: I love the fresh look of red & white.

Dianne B. in England said...

I guess I must be a process quilter. I could just sew blocks forever. :) Your red and white quilt is very striking!

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Definitely process - I enjoy mixing colors, and planning. Even starting the quilt is fun, and planning the quilting. But the actual finishing, not so much. Your Ohio Star quilt is beautiful.

Laura said...

Your Ohio Star is stunning! I just finished my first one ever of that pattern, and I wish my points looked like yours!

Diane said...

I love Ohio star blocks and yours is just beautiful. I think I'm a "finisher" quilter. I get great satisfaction out of finishing a project, I do have UFO's and really feel good when I finish one of them! I slow down at binding time-really dislike sewing it on...

Sue H said...

Diana, this is so funny -- I just printed the instructions for one of these scarves yesterday! I had never heard of one before then. They are very smart looking.

Jenni said...

I don't get much finished at all! I love the red and white - so crisp. I'd be terrified that the red would run even though I would probably wash it 3 times.
Can't think about knitting here - too hot.