I'M HERE TO INSPIRE AND BE INSPIRED!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

The Wrestling Match

For the past 2 days, I have been attaching my quilted blocks via QAYG method. Yes, I said 2 days, approximately 10 hours. At times, I felt like I was in a wrestling match with my quilt! Trying to attach those little bitty strips to the weight of the quilt dragging down, sticking me with a gazillion pins!

I was so surprised at how long it has taken me! Either I am slow, or, this is a much more tedious process than I anticipated!


Here I am at the end stitching my last row of blocks together. I won! (the wrestling match)

I will put on the binding tomorrow. Why do I always get to this point for UFO Sundays??

I was planning on giving this quilt to my other step-daughter Moriah for Christmas. I may switch the plan and give this one to my daughter Ashley, and the Greek Cross quilt to Moriah. Honestly, I  love how this quilt is turning out. I'm not sure if I can bear it to leave my house. If I had time, I'd just make another one and keep it for myself. I'm very attached to it. Maybe because I have put my heart and soul into it learning all of these great FMQ designs that Leah Day has taught us. That's why I have dubbed it The Learning Quilt.

Even though there are challenges with the QAYG method, please don't let that discourage you from trying it. I quite enjoyed the process. Just don't be fooled into thinking you are going to whip one up in a couple of hours!

I'm linking up with Leah Day:)

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15 comments:

  1. KarinNovember 12, 2012 at 2:35 AM

    Brilliant...can't wait to see the finished quilt. Are you sewing the back of the sashing with the machine or are you going to do this by hand?

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  2. Pat MerkleNovember 12, 2012 at 3:48 AM

    No, QAYG isn't fast, but I really like making quilts with this method. It gives me so much more control in the quilting process and in the end, it all goes together! Great job Danielle!

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    1. Danih03November 12, 2012 at 6:38 PM

      I agree! What ever method used is going to take up time somewhere! Thanks

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  3. Ray and JeanneNovember 12, 2012 at 6:24 AM

    Oh, it does take time but it's worth it! I sew the back of mine by hand - that probably takes even longer! You don't have much time but it would be great to make another quilt and just keep The Learning Quilt for you! ~Jeanne

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    1. Danih03November 12, 2012 at 6:39 PM

      IF I have time, I worked up a quick design for a top. Fingers crossed:)

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  4. Nana Bluebird aka Kathy AhoNovember 12, 2012 at 10:24 AM

    Beautiful! What a great gift!

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  5. CathyNovember 12, 2012 at 2:53 PM

    Yummy quilt and great name for it! I tried one QAYG quilt and decided never again! So, kudos to you.

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    1. Danih03November 12, 2012 at 6:40 PM

      Ha ha...well..I can't say never again. Just not in the near future;)

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  6. BNovember 12, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    Looks fab, can we have photos of all the squares to see the quilting?

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    1. Danih03November 12, 2012 at 6:34 PM

      Sure! Check out my Flickr acct here http://www.flickr.com/photos/freshoffthespool/sets/72157630442317044/

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  7. KarinNovember 12, 2012 at 7:01 PM

    Hi...know you are busy, but ...

    you have been tagged!! If you feel like joining in a little blogging game please head over to my site for more info (takes about an hour).

    http://thequiltyarn.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/tag-youre-it-fun-little-blogging-game.html

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    1. Danih03November 12, 2012 at 8:08 PM

      fun! I saw on you post a little bit ago! Thanks;)

      Delete
  8. Gwyned TrefethenNovember 13, 2012 at 5:08 PM

    Love the fun colors. Can't wait to see the bound quilt. I'm a big fan of QAYG. Yes, it isn't fast - but if the strips can be worked into the design - it makes so much sense. It is much easier to quilt sections of a quilt and trim to size that wrestle a full quilt during the quilting process.

    I had my husband (engineer) supply me with a coil of styrofoam type product that I cut into "pin more" type chunks. It solves the stabbing issue and since they were "free" it is cost effective, too. Ear plugs work well, too.

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  9. NickersMarieNovember 23, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    Danielle, I was feeling your pain last night, as I was putting the last few large sections of my Stars quilt together. By the time I got to the last two long seams, I had pinned on the front and back strips separately, left in all the pins, changed to another presser foot, and reduced the pressure foot pressure, after re-reading again in my QAYG books from Marguerita McManus and her daughter Sarah Raffuse. Amazingly, those seams went together much easier.

    It is true that the weight of the quilt makes it harder to attach those last rows. In one of the books (basic instructions are the same in all their books) I read a suggestion to roll and fold up the quilt almost like a big ball, hold and push that with the left hand and control the quilt with the right. That worked really well! It is too bad that I waited until I was almost done to refresh my memory with the books.

    I blind stitched the joining strips last night watching TV, and I am so glad that all that is left is the binding and label. I love the feeling of finishing; and I can start a new project!!

    I had told myself that this was my last QAYG. But I quickly forget the pain, and as somebody mentioned above, the FMQ part is so much easier on a manageable size square...

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