Toot Toot Toot For Me!

 During our March retreat, at Lickey Hills, I completed all of these 6" blocks, over 130 of them actually. I had cut all the pieces and put them into little 'block kits' ahead of time, so it was just a great and quite mindless, sewing project to do while being entertained by everything else going on at the retreat. Mostly talking!

I took my time finger pressing all the seams in the right directions so that I could twiddle the middles. Do you Twiddle your middles? No-one will ever see this in the finished quilt, But I will know! The blocks were put on one side when I got home, waiting for their turn in my project queue. 

The book had the blocks set on-point, like this and I liked a lot, in the book. 

But I didn't like this setting in my choice of fabrics. I can't explain why, it just didn't please me, and you know I like to Please My Very Own Self.

So I played with the blocks and decided I preferred this setting, straight and smart.

I love my design wall for this very purpose. With my decision made,

it was time to sew them all together. Continuing to Twiddle My Middles so it all lay good and flat.

The left side all sewn up first. 

4 blocks by 12 blocks

Almost half way done! 

By this time it was July, I made the sandwich on my classroom tables. 

A perk that's very handy! I pinned in a 6 inch grid, just following all the block junctions. And then my sandwich sat on my sofa, waiting. And a bit more waiting.

The day before the last retreat in October, the wonderful one at Hawkstone park, I had prepared all my stuff:- Juki machine, sewing projects, crochet project, favourite sewing chair, toothbrush and clean knickers. Then, with the weather being so lovely and mild, I was able to pack it all into my car the night before we left. I don't usually do that as I don't want my machine getting cold. The problem was, I'm so used to packing on the morning we leave that I felt I had forgotten something.  So I started packing some 'Just In Case' stuff. I bet that's not news to you.

It turned out to be a great decision. I took my sandwich to quilt. I Quilted it from 9am through to 9pm for three whole days, and a bit of the last day, stopping only for refreshments, meals and, of course, loo breaks. I was surprised how long it took but I thoroughly enjoyed doing it. 

Then, at the last Checkley Sunday Funday, I got the binding sewn on. 

So, Trumpets up?

Toot toot toot, I have my fabulous and finally finished quilt to show you. 

I've already gifted it to my lad, that's him holding it up for my photo. Luckily, he loves it!