I Went Down a Rabbit Hole

So, I have what, four or five unfinished projects in the works? That sounds about right. So absolutely, what I should do is start a new project. Seriously? Yes. Which is what I did over the weekend. 

I have been in the mood for sewing with some bright spring-like cheerful fabrics. I was watching Corey Yoder's YouTube videos on her bright and cheery Irish Chain scrappy quilt and was trying to think what fabric I had on hand to make it.

I recalled that a couple of years ago I had pulled a couple of layer cakes in bright happy colors to make a free Miss Rosie project that was called Summer in Kansas. It called for two layer cakes, one from Sherri and Chelsi called Summer Sweet and one from Coriander Quilts called Canning Day. You used two of Carrie Nelson's "Cake Mix Recipe Pads Number 11" to make the block units, which were a Kansas Troubles style block. The Cake Mix Pads were sort of like half-square triangle papers on steroids. They were meant for larger pieces of fabric and yielded loads of half square triangles. 

So I pulled my layer cakes, which I had starched. And guess what? Once the 10-inch square layer cake fabrics were starched, they shrank a bit, and no longer fit the Cake Mix papers. So, my prepped layer cake fabrics wouldn't work for the Summer in Kansas project. Keep that in mind if you ever decide to starch layer cake fabric squares. They might no longer work for the project if they shrink when starched. 

You can see the rabbit hole I was going down. I went from an Irish Chain project, to a Kansas Troubles project involving foundation paper, to .... what? 

I liked my starched layer cake fabric a lot and it fit my mood to make something bright and cheerful for spring/summer. But what? I started leafing through my Pattern Basket patterns and found one called Jubilee that I really liked. 

This pattern called for one layer cake. I had my shrunken layer cakes, plus a charm pack of each of the two fabric collections. I figured with that arsenal of fabric I had this project in the bag and launched into it. 

I decided to make 25 blocks and got to work. These blocks are so fun to make and over Friday and Saturday, I ended up making 12 of them! I am well on my way to a cheerful summery quilt. 

I am listening to an Irish author's audiobook, called The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue, which is keeping my attention while I sew. I actually had a great sewing weekend, even if I did go completely down a rabbit hole and start a new project. And you know what? I am really enjoying plowing ahead with a one block quilt project that I can finish up in a couple of weeks, as opposed to these year-long type block of the week or month projects that take f.o.r.e.v.e.r to complete. 

Sometimes a wild tangent is ok. 

Hope you all had a great weekend. Eva was in the Murphys Irish Days parade in her pink blow up suit. She sold a total of 670 packages of Girl Scout cookies during the campaign.

 

 

Comments

[Mary]

Eva - what a gem!

Just a question and not a criticism - You have pieced beautiful quilts for years and always inspire me. Because of your skill in piecing, do you need to starch now? I have never starched fabric and see that my piecing is pretty much spot on. For me, I'm at the point in my life that I don't stress over a point that maybe lobbed off or a seamline that is 1/16" off. But for the most part, my piecing is spot on. Just a thought. I do love your reviews of tools that make piecing and trimming more accurate!

[Kelli]

Congratulations 🎉 to Eva on the sales! Love her costume 😍

I love your rabbit hole post - and how you changed up the pattern to fix a problem. I so appreciate when you share in detail how things progress for you - it helps me rethink things when I hit a problem. Kudos to you and I love your choice of fabrics.

Nothing wrong with starting a new project - we quilt for fun and relaxation 😊

[Cathy]

I knew the blocks at the top of your post looked familiar. Well, I made a quilt using the Jubilee pattern and fabric from a Fig Tree line some years ago. It is a great block, with the added benefit of going together fast.

[Kerry L]

Good for you Nicole for following your creative heart! I think that’s why you produce so much quilting. As always Eva is a cutie!

[sue s]

I've seen lots of comments over the years about the shrinking pre-cuts. Your personal experience will be really helpful to your readers, but I'm sorry it happened to you. Great recovery though! I like this block a lot.

[Sandra]

Love the fabrics you are using to make these beautiful blocks. Even though you have several quilt WIPS, sometimes fresh and new is needed. Happy quilting! Congratulations to Eva for her superb salesmanship! Good job!

[Jan]

The light & airy colors in the first photo caught my attention immediately! Good for you solving the shrinking problem plus you made great headway on the new project. Eva & her friend look like they're enjoying the parade on a beautiful day! Congratulations to her on selling so many cookies! 🎊🎊

[Ina]

o.m.g. 670 boxes. rabbit holes? yes, I've gone down a rabbit hole many times.

I'm currently living in one that is appliqued hearts by Laundry Basket Quilts. I just wanted something to work on in the evening as a distraction.

[Sally]

Of course, your bright and cheery blocks are perfection. "Just what the doctor ordered!"

Congrats to Eva for selling so many cookies. That must be a record!!

[Pamela Dempsey in Northeast Texas 😻]

I love the Irish chain tutorial and the Summer in Kansas quilt! Would love to make both of them. Eva and her friend look too cute and happy😻🥰