I am attempting to finish a large project this month. I really want to finish "Easy Street", which is a Bonnie Hunter mystery from 2012. It looks a little more frenetic in this photo than it actually is in real life.But this project is a large quilt for me to tackle on my domestic machine. It measures 85" square at the moment, and once I add a border it will be over 90". I was thinking of sending it out for large arm quilting, but the more I looked at it, the more I wanted to quilt it myself.
Cue the positive self talk...
I can do this!
I sure can!
I always tell my machine quilting students that "whether you believe you can or you believe you can't, you are right".
I already have the batting cut, the thread ready (lime green of course), the wide backing washed, and I have figured out the quilting strategy, so I'm ready to go. But first I want to add a scrappy border around the quilt top, since it is heavily pieced right up to the edge, and it's hard not to lose the block points when there isn't a border. I learned this tip when binding Angel Solstice.
Here's the plan:
*one week to do cut, sew, and attach the border - no procrastinating (you know how I dislike attaching borders to large quilts!!)
*one week to pin baste
*one week to machine quilt
*one week to hand bind
To see more UFO promises for September, hop over to A Lovely Year of Finishes.
27 comments:
Well good luck on your UFO finishing strategie.
Great plan, love the quilt, wonderful colors.
Greetings,
Sylvia
Looks like you have a PLAN. Cheering you on form Washington State! My Easy Street had to be finished for when I met Bonnie march of 2013. I put my Grand Illusion on my "BETSY" to be quilted this month. It will have to be after I get done with the FAIR though. :(
Quilt-wrestling :)
Good plan! I love this quilt!
Your plan is great, though if it were me, it would take a month or two for the machine quilting! I have machine quilted a couple of quilts that large or larger, and it is quite tiring wrestling the huge bulk on a domestic machine. But miracle of miracles, it can be done! My machine also balks when it comes to bulky seams so this one would certainly be a challenge but so worth it in the end!
it's great, you can do it! mine is on our bed :)
Great minds think alike. I am trying to get my Easy Street done also except mine is still in units that I'm using for leader/Enders. Would love to know your quilting plan.... Luckily I have a long arm (well 18" and on a frame the makes all the difference in the world.). I haven't given much thought to the quilting yet.....good luck with your getting it done plan. It seems very doable that way.
One week to pin baste????Come on attaching the border yes but I think two days to baste and add the other days to the quilting. I think it will take longer to quilt. Easy street is huge and having given my two cents...I will just say...I sent mine out to the longarmer! I just couldn't wrestle with that large quilt. Good luck friend!!
if I who has very little experience machine quilting can do a queen size you can too!! just do not try anything complicated. Looking forward to seeing what you do
Can't wait to see the design you are going to use for quilting this lovely!
You CAN do it!!! Rah Rah Rah!! And you are going to be soooo happy when it's finished. It's a very happy quilt.
It's beautiful! Almost finished! Mine was large, too. I quilted it on my domestic sewing machine. It was a lot of quilt wresting, but it turned out nice, especially after a go in the washer and dryer.
Good luck with your plan! Mine is in a bin somewhere waiting for me to make a plan too!
Congratulations, its gorgeous and will be even nicer with the borders.
I have a suggestion: how about sending out to the long armer for basting?
I hope you can share your techniques for quilting this in your home machine. I too quilt my own quilts, but my machine has an eleven inch throat - and even with that I know how I would do on a quilt that size. You go, girl!
I just finished quilting mine a few weeks ago. Yeah! It was 98" square. I've been renting time on a longarm and doing it myself. It took 5.5 hours to do. Good luck quilting it on your domestic machine!! I just can't seem to wrangle large quilts on mine and still be happy with the results. :o)
You can do it Kathy. And in week 5 and ever after, you can enjoy the quilt proudly knowing that you made it all by yourself.
Kathy, that is one of the UFOs I brought to Texas. Maybe we can both get that quilt finished this month!
What a lovely top Kathy, the colours are gorgeous! I'm also setting a few goals for September, but somehow I think you'll be much more productive than me - good luck! Look forward to following how you get on :)
Excellent breakdown of the steps required. You can do it!!!
This project is one of my WIP's as well. Loved the top the first time I saw it finished in a show. That vibration is what I liked the best about it.
It looks lovely! You will be so happy to finish and be able to use this quilt! You can do it!
What a great goal for September. My Easy Street has borders but is still in the top stage. I have this control issue so I end up quilting all my own quilts. With my other commitments for Sept. I am not sure I could get it done by the end of the month or I would join you!
My Easy Street is all cut out and nine blocks sewn. Good for you making a plan to get your completed!
My Easy Street is waiting for the final pressing and then the quilting. Good luck with your September goals! You can do it!
Oh my gosh Oh my gosh!!! you have a PLAN!!! You didn't tell me I needed that part!
You can do it - you can do it!!!
Sounds like a great plan. Good luck with your execution!
Good luck! I haven't quite decided on my goal yet. I did Easy Street as a twin--three blocks by four plus a 3" solid sashing-and quilted on my Husqvarna. I did a loopy meander with specific motifs in some of the blocks--challenging but doable. I will be cheering for you!
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