Have you ever started a quilting project only to realize a short way into it that you aren't enjoying it? You are frustrated from the starting gun with some aspect of the pattern? You don't like the color or fabric palette? You don't like the construction process?
It just happened (again) to me!
I have admired Jen Kingwell's Wensleydale block since she introduced it in her Quilt Recipes book several years ago so when a friend lent me the templates for it, I dove right into piecing some blocks to "get the feel" of it. I needed "leaders and enders" as I worked on the final assembly of my Summer Garden quilt top so putting together a few Wensleydale blocks seemed a "win-win". I've also been trying to tame this jumble of scraps laying in the middle of my cutting table, so I began the blocks by pulling from it. "Win-win" again -- dealing with scraps.
(Leaving the scrap pile in the middle of the cutting table isn't a great solution but it keeps my goal of dealing with the pile front and center instead of ignoring it in a basket underneath the table.)
The first block was ugly -- not enough contrast to suit me.
The second block was marginally better.
And by the time I finished the fourth block, I was beginning to sort out better value choices.
Color and value schemes can be corrected by paying attention to what didn't work on the previous block and experimenting as I go.
Now the only problem was that I wasn't enjoying the piecing process and that my friends, signals the beginning of an ancient UFO in my experience!?!
So this is where I left things Sunday afternoon -- four blocks laying on the floor beside my machine.
Happily, my sub-conscious designer brain thrust an idea into my conscious maker brain the very first thing Monday morning (a rare but wonderful experience) and after breakfast, I headed to my sewing room, grabbed my 2 1/2" strip box, and eliminated that potential UFO in a burst of sewing!!
Three sewing sessions later and the four blocks have been saved from the orphan block box and turned into a cheerful little wheelchair size laprobe!!
Today, I'll layer it up and add it to the little pile I'm quilting through this week. I could make it bigger but right now this size charity quilt is my new solution to UFO's -- this is the eighth one I've made since early December! It's an easy size for me to quilt -- usually two of my 40 minutes quilting sessions has one ready to bind.
Now to get all those 2 1/2" strips back into their box?!?
(And no, a bigger box is not the solution!!)
Morale of the story -- if it's not fun, change direction!
Enjoy your week!
Mary
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