Tish really likes to find challenges that stretch us to be more imaginative or creative. This week was no different:
“So this week, you will confront something you fear. Your project must be about growing through exploring the unknown.
What?
Well, first sit down and ponder your way forward: personally, professionally, creatively, emotionally, or quite literally physically moving forward in time and space. Where are you going? What do you need to overcome on the way?”
My first step was to think of the techniques I try to avoid unless it’s absolutely critical to a specific project. My weakness are Curves, Appliqué and Y Seams. I have done them but am not satisfied with the end results. I did start doing some sweet Gnomes this year as part of my RSC to help with my appliqué work. I have issues with my machine so find that doing it by hand I am more satisfied by the results.
I pulled some fabric and scraps from my stash and then I sat and checked out a couple of library books at my Guild for block patterns during my Quilting Day. It was great because everyone was working on projects and not needing help, advice or instruction. I was so engrossed in my project that I didn’t stop to take photos while I cut and sewed and will admit to a few interesting phrases being uttered once in a while, especially when I had to reverse engineer some pieces. Luckily almost every component went together while I was at the Guild.
Once home I did some more piecing, pressing, unstitching and re-stitching. Finally I was able to sandwich my pieces and get ready to quilt them. I used the same fabric for the backing as the end strips on my placemats.
I really wanted the pieced blocks to be the focus so there was only the one pieced block on each placemat with simple fabric strips on the ends to get them to the right size.
I spent a number of hours, enjoying doing some hand quilting on these projects. Then DH spilt his coffee on them before I could get finished photos, so they had to be washed and dried. 😳 I do love the crinkly texture they get and think the quilting shows off even more 😉
Why two placemats you ask? Well both DH and I needed new ones and I couldn’t make just one! 😉
After finishing these placemats, I know I will not be as nervous doing the Dreaded Y-seam, and learned that I can do Applique, but prefer doing needle turn (which I had never tried before) and reverse Applique rather than raw edge Applique. Next up; curved piecing; perhaps a Drunkard’s Path? 😉 Then, who knows? I might really push my limits and try my hand at some Improv Quilting. I so enjoy seeing all of my on line friend, Wendy’s incredible projects. 😁
I am going to enjoy my new set of placemats and would like to thank Kim and Tish for another great challenge and another fantastic season of Project Quilting! I know I really stretched myself, learning new skills, getting closer to perfecting some techniques and I can’t believe I finished all of the challenges! 😃
Thank you for stopping by to read my post. Comments or likes are always appreciated and I do enjoy replying to each comment. 😉 Carol
Linking with:
- Project Quilting @ Persimmon Dreams
- Put your Foot Down @ For the Love of Geese
- Can I get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
- Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts
- Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty
- Peacock Party @ Wendy’s Quilts and More
- TGIFF @ Quilting Gail
Quilt Schmilt 
These placemats are great! Good for you on your accomplishment. And now you’ll be able to appreciate it everyday when you use your placemats.
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Thank you 😊. I am pleased with them.
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Maybe the “interesting phrases” and DH spilling coffee just enhanced them, because they are beautiful! Good for you for trying something out of your comfort zone, you did a beautiful job.
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Thank you Linda. You are so right. The interesting phrases were a good way to vent and the coffee spill did let me see how perfect they are when crinkly and washed. 🤗
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THose are great!! and really – he was trying to coffee dye them for you ( haha!!) glad they washed up well!!
you will love using them!
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Thank you Alycia. I have coffee dyed fabric but wouldn’t have wanted to do it to these placemats so I am happy they washed up, too. 😉
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I wish I lived close by, and I’d pop over, make your DH a cup of tea in my Grinch mug (giggle), and then you and I would go into the quilt room for some fun with improv curves. Really! They are fun, fun, fun! Good job tackling some techniques that you usually avoid! Enjoy those placemats!
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Wendy I do wish you and I were close so you could help me get over the fear of trying improv. I’m just too “controlled” but I’m sure you could inspire me to try it! DH would really enjoy the giggle over your Grinch mug, too! 😁
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Wonderful job working on your fears and making 2 beautiful placemats. My husband worries ours sometimes, and I keep saying they are to be placemats and used, so expect spills and washing!
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Kathleen it is nice to know the husbands appreciate the time and effort to make them, but you are right. The spills do happen to all of us. 😁
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These are stunning!
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Thank you so much Kim and thank you again for one of the most creative, fun challenges. I so enjoy doing it every year. 😁
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WOW!!! You definitely got over your fear!!
Great looking placemats! 🙂
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Thanks Gail. I’m really trying to push myself to do more techniques and things I’ve never done before. 😉
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It’s funny how many of us avoid the same things. I love appliqué these days but it’s thanks to Crafted Appliqué (using Mod Podge) that I rediscovered it. Still not a fan of needle turn. Your placemats turned out so pretty, not to mention useful(!) and I’m glad you were able to save them from the coffee stains yikes!
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Thank you Sandra. The coffee spill worked out because now they are washed and crinkly. 😁
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Partial seams was such a great skill to acquire using this PQ prompt. Enjoy those placemats and have fun continuing on in your fear conquering list!
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Thank you Yvonne. I was finally happy with how a y-seam turned out with this project. I’ll keep working to get better at the other fears though 😉
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