Cherry Rose

I started a new quilt a couple of weeks ago.  I was intrigued by many of the appliqued quilts I saw but never really found a pattern I was willing to tackle.  

One day, a lady posted a picture of a quilt she was working in called Cherry Rose.  It was two colors on white, two round shapes plus a leaf and a vine.  Very classic.

It took a while to order and get the book but it's just what I needed. Now that I knew how much fabric I needed, I was off to buy the red and green.  Since I had heard and noticed that the red fabric runs badly, I decided it needed to be pre-washed and since I wanted more smooth finish to the quilt, I decided to prewash all the fabrics.  This is a new process for me.

The book did not have an actual pattern, just the pattern pieces in actual size and then a placement diagram that was about four inches square.  I traced the pattern pieces onto some gridded Mylar then cut the actual paper pieces from old business cards.  I used these pattern pieces to draw up a life sized pattern on a piece of poster board - I also included a simple color coding.  From this board, I can mark up the white squares with a water soluble pen for the correct placement.  I hope this will ensure that all the squares are nearly perfect copies.

  I find that it takes about two days to cut the fabric and baste to draw the fabric over the paper pieces.  Then I steam press the pieces to crease the folds.  I don't remove the paper pieces until I am ready to actually place and sew them in place.  Normally, within a weeks time, I can complete one square.  The pattern calls for sixteen squares but I am currently thinking that I may reduce this to either nine or twelve with wider boarders.  It all depends on what fits a queen sized bed best.

As of today, I have finished three squares and have all the leaves basted for a fourth.  I have started on the small red circles.  I will probably need to make more bias tape (1/4 inch) from the green as I have used most of what I made in those first three squares.

I will update every Monday evening along with accomplishments and tips along the way.

I can't believe (10/23/16)...

I can't believe it's been so long since I've written anything for the blog - six weeks?  Wow!

In some ways, not much has happened and in other ways, so much.  I'm still looking for a job - although to be honest, not for the last couple of weeks as I was planning and then we went on a vacation.  I start the hunt again tomorrow and I am seriously thinking about applying for a part time job at Publix.  I think I need to get out of the house more and be "productive" at something different for a change.  

As I said, DH and I went on vacation this week.  We spent four - almost five whole days traveling around our area and seeing things and doing things that either we had never done or it had been a long time.  We probably spent way more than we should but everything will be covered by an unexpected income source.

I've also been neglectful in planning my days in the last couple of weeks and I plan to remedy that beginning tomorrow.  The new goal is one "project" every day - for example, tomorrow's project will be mopping the kitchen floor.  Add to that, the regular things every day (dishes and laundry), bills, shopping, etc.  With fall now here, it's time to start seriously thinking about the holidays.  I've decorated for Halloween and I have already pressure washed the sidewalk and driveway for any trick or treaters.  I still need to find some reasonable candy.  

I've finished two quilts for Christmas gifts.  They need to be washed soon to ensure all goes well. That may happen this week.  I have two small sewing projects that will also be Christmas gifts.  I have started a new "long term" quilting project that I will discuss in tomorrow's post.