Saturday, September 1, 2012

UFO Challenge Update

The Zig Zag 9 Patch is a completed top, which was my goal for the month.  A day late but I have excuses.  Mostly about MATH.  

Trimming and squaring the top seemed to go just fine.

But the border measuring didn't!  I decided to go with a narrow 1.5" border of the brown print (thanks for the input Janet and Joy!) and then a wider 5.5" border of the cheddar.  MATH again.  So there was cutting and adding on to the cheddar border.  Then I decided to sew the borders together before attaching.  Anyone catching on to what is happening yet?  I didn't, at first---I was too busy with the next MATH problem.

Since I cut all the cheddar lengths before deciding to add the narrow border, the top and bottom pieces were then too short once the side borders were attached.  So there was more cutting and adding of cheddar.  Once the right length, the borders went on easily.

I had no plan to make this large of a quilt, it just happened!  Grant is behind this California King-sized monster, trying his best to spread it out for a good photo. The hazard of being empty-nesters is that there is no one to hold up the other end of the quilt :). 

The other unplanned result of first sewing the borders together is that the narrow border extends to the edge of the quilt.  This is not bothering me in the least so it is staying!  These swapped 9 patch blocks were from an online Yahoo group I belong to, Quiltbuddies, and are from at least ten different states and two countries. They have waited patiently for four years to be put in a quilt.  This UFO is busted! 

September's pick by Judy is #11, which on my list is another swap block project from Quiltbuddies, this time a Christmas theme.  I am going to swap that for #4 on my list, which is a Halloween theme. 

I have two of these Any Witch Way quilts and last year free-pieced witches' names that need to be added to one.  Can't wait to get these finished and ready to use for October!

19 comments:

Janet O. said...

Great finish, Annie. The borders are wonderful!
Love those sassy looking witches with the entwined hats!

Carol said...

I've been wondering what to do with a bunch of scrappy nine patches I have (somewhere). I really like the way you've set these. Your September challenge looks like a fun quilt!

Quilter Kathy said...

You are making great progress Annie! It looks like you planned your borders that way!

Kate said...

Congrats on getting the Zig Zag 9 Patch to a completed top. Border math is not for sissies!

Ooh, I remember the Any Witch Way Quilts from last year. Good luck getting them to completion, they will be great decorations for Halloween.

Darlene said...

I love what you've done with your nine patches, Annie. It's a beautiful quilt.

I found my scrappy nine patches form the swap with Julie, when I was cleaning my sewing room. I need to figure a setting. :-)

The witches are something else.

Nancy said...

The borders are perfect for the 9-patch.

Shhh, I'll let you in on a secret: I'm math challenged and have done the same thing on borders more times than I care to admit.

Julianne said...

Hi there...love that huge quilt! Wow! Where oh where did you find that cute witch pattern! Love it!

Abby and Stephanie said...

Terrific quilt and I love the borders. Those witches make me smile. I remember you trying to name them.

loulee said...

Your nine patch looks great.
Looking forward to seeing the witches finished. :-)

Anonymous said...

Yeah a wonderful finish! Now I'm looking forward to your witches finish! That looks like a fun quilt!

Kim Brackett said...

Math really messes up things for me sometimes. Your quilt turned out really pretty, though!

Pokey said...

Math is the down side of quilting for me, too.I am blessed by the fact that I have good company on this road, lol!
hugs, pokey

carol fun said...

I love the Zigzag quilt! I want to make one like this very soon. As for the math issues I feel your pain since I have done the exact same miscalculation numerous times. It accounts for many different border designs on my quilts that were unplanned -oh well . It all looks great finished!

Joyful Quilter said...

I really like the small border with the brown! I like pieced and non-standard borders, if you had never told, I would have thought you planned the border design. ;o)

Dawn said...

Such pretty colors, I love your UFO :)

One Minnesota Quilter said...

Your border turned out great. I did the very same thing on a border once and left it in too.

The Snail's Trail witch hat is clever...don't believe I have seen that before.

Congrats on your UFO progress. :)

Judy

Sarah said...

I love the zig-zag quilt! My theory is "the bigger, the better" when it comes to quilts! Congrats on the finish!

Browndirtcottage said...

Oh what a wonderful quilt top you have now!!! Math goofs aside, I especially like that 1.5 brown border piece that extends out to the edge on the top and bottom....more character!

Oh no, your witchy quilt reminds me I have a halloween one STILL not finished!!!

Vivian said...

I've made a narrow border extend to the edges on purpose a couple times--love the uniqueness. It's a great look here.
Four years, huh? I think it's aged just right and the finished project is well worth the wait (despite the math problems smacking you left and right).
I remember your pieced names from last year--they were a great addition. And yet again, I'm reminded of another on my "to do" list. Sigh--maybe next fall.

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