Wednesday, February 22, 2012

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Binding

Through some overenthusiastic and premature fabric ripping, I managed to self-defeat my original plan to match the pattern on my lush botanical print backing for Judy's Mystery Quilt, the UFO pick of the month.

So instead of finishing the backing, I made binding.  Tonight I'll iron and cut more green fabric and make a frame for the print; the red print will be in the corners.  Only a few days left to make this quilt happen before the month's end and I don't have a quilting plan.  My original idea was to quilt from the back around the flowers and birds but I decided the project was just too large for me to do this well for the first time--I'll try it on a smaller project another time.  Back to square one!

12 comments:

Abby and Stephanie said...

Or you can make margaritas too, right? :o)

Sarah said...

Hi Annie - are you planning your back this way to avoid seeming the floral? Looks great!

I ask because I need to decide how to do a back. I have *plenty* of fabric but I'm not sure that I want a seam down the middle where the designs won't match up. It's not even directional enough to make it look like I ran it opposite directions. Maybe I could treat it more like a panel like your drawing...

Janet O. said...

Don't you hate it when that happens?
That paper on your fabric with the sketched out design and notes looks so familiar. That is how I plan so many of my quilts! : )
That is a gorgeous piece of floral fabric.

Shay said...

I cant count how many times I've managed to have backing dilemma when I make a quilt. And it's almost always late at night when I cant do anything to fix it right that minute. (ie I cant run out and buy more fabric )

Glad you were able to switch head space and get the binding done !

Shay said...

I cant count how many times I've managed to have backing dilemma when I make a quilt. And it's almost always late at night when I cant do anything to fix it right that minute. (ie I cant run out and buy more fabric )

Glad you were able to switch head space and get the binding done !

Darlene said...

Making lemonade is a good thing. Love this one, Annie.

Vivian said...

School notebook paper and graph paper are my way too. Cheap, available, and there's something very comforting about my own little sketches and plans.
Gorgeous big floral fabric. Sounds like you're a very flexible person.

Dawn said...

Or you can make margaritas too, right? - that's a ggod plan!
Besides, what's a good plan for other than - - replanning ;-)
Beautiful fabrics.

Michele said...

I like the idea of quilting from the back around the flowers and birds, but I can see what you mean about the size issue. I find it is better to change the plan in the middle, or near the end, and to make the quilt how you feel works best, rather than continuing and doing something you don't feel comfortable with.......from experience!

Stephanie D said...

Love the fabrics!

BTW, unless you add a little sugar, that lemonade is going to be a little sour!

Marg said...

I like the idea of making a Margarita!
Im guilty of not thinking about how I'm going to quilt something until the last minute, then I procrastinate because I'm really not sure what to do.
At least your binding is now ready to go.

Quilter Kathy said...

All these decisions to make to move the project along, eh?!?

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