UFO #1: "The Little Gem"

I am back to working on "The Little Gem." You may remember from a previous post (http://thequiltermomski.blogspot.com/2010/07/little-gem-project.html) that I was working on a baby quilt while working on the LSU Signature Quilt for my Uncle Hilton. It has thus far been a headache but nonetheless I have decided that it's time to finish it. There is a toddler out there who hasn't received his baby blanket.

At some point, I rearranged the basting safety pins so I could at least start machine quilting the center of the quilt. I plan on quilting around the whale, turtle and sea horse then filling in each rectangle-shaped section with wavy, horizontal or vertical stitching. The idea being that the more stitching there is, the less likely that it will come apart from "lots of love." I have completed the outline of the whale, seahorse, whale's bubbles and more than 3/4 of the top blue section with wavy stitching.

The quilting I planned seemed easy enough in theory but I have found a problem with the plan. When stitching the wavy lines in the blue section, the chenille-like fabric is getting trapped under the stitches and creating inconsistent patterns in the quilt top. I have chosen to sew between the chenille-like strips to make these patterns less noticeable but it is causing me to go painfully slow. I have resorted to wetting each strip and splaying apart the fabric fibers as I stitch between them so that they don't get trapped into the stitching. Like I said, it's painfully slow!

I have found that I work more quickly when I try to meet a timeline. With that in mind, here is an intended timeline to finish this GEM of a UFO:

Week 1: 1) Complete wavy stitching in top blue section and 2) stitch outline of top blue section.

Week 2: Stitch 1) outline of turtle's bubbles, 2) cross-hatch pattern in center yellow section, and 3) outline of center yellow section.

Week 3: Stitch 1) outline of turtle, 2) wavy lines in bottom blue section, and 3) outline bottom blue section.

Week 4: Stitch 1) outline of sea horse's bubbles, 2) cross-hatch pattern in top green section, and 3) outline top green section.

Week 5: Stitch 1) cross-hatch pattern in bottom green section and 2) outline bottom green section.

Week 6: Echo stitch border except for the top due to applique name on back.

Week 7: Attach binding and blind stitch to the back. Week 8: Wash, press and send.

Where do I go from here?

This whole project has taught me many things both about quilting and loved ones. I am not quiet ready to talk about lost "loved ones" but here's what I have learned about quilting.

1. Time lines are just a guide, not an absolute because things can always go wrong.

2. Leave ample room around your borders when sewing on your binding (see borders drama).

3. Don't shed tears on the fabric while pressing.

4. Don't let a specific step in the process consume your time.

5. When working on a project for a ill friend or family member, work quickly!

Since completing this project, I haven't really quilted... the motivation just hasn't been there. I have been wondering, "where do I go from here?" After much consideration, I gaze over at my quilting stash and think... UFO's. I have at least three quilt projects that I started with specific persons in mind. I guess that's it. So here goes.

A Beautiful Life

I am sorry to say that this beautiful quilt was for my Uncle Hilton Alexander who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in mid-2010. It was a rare form and by the time it was discovered, there were few treatment options. When I learned of his illness, I wanted to make him something that would tell him how much he means to me. I worked on this quilt from June until September... and it went in the mail October 6, 2010 in preparation for his first treatment on October 22nd. I must say, I have NEVER completed a quilt in such a short amount of time. Unfortunately, the quilt arrived a little too late.

Uncle Hilton experienced a stroke while the quilt waited to be picked up from the post office. He died just over a week later on October 23, 2010. I am told that he regained consciousness and saw the quilt but due to his condition, he never was able to comment on it. I hope that the quilt brought him some comfort in those last few hours and my aunt as she now tries to move forward.

Dyson Lykowski, Meryl and Hilton Alexander (May 2010)