Posted on by agilejack

Finished My Fresh Start Flimsy

Our weather adventure here in Portland has continued in one way or another. My neighborhood is still pretty much covered in ice. We had another little freezing rain event on Thursday night. After work, at around 7 pm the wind was blowing and freezing rain was coating everything outside again. And then my power went out. I nearly lost it! It was so stressful to sit there in a silent house listening to the wind whip around again.

The good news is that the power was back on in an hour. I’ve never been so relieved in my life! I was sure I was going to be days without power again. I think a lot of people in Portland are feeling this about now. There are some people near me who have been without power for six or seven days with no end in sight.

The result of all of this, other than my frazzled nerves, is that my dogs and I have been stuck in the house for four days. The streets are still too slick to walk. This photo was taken Friday morning and it still looked like that this morning.

It’s finally going to start warming up tomorrow. Fingers crossed for a good deal of melting and a good walk for my boys.

I didn’t get any sewing done Thursday night and I was too tired last night after a really stressful week, but I did hit my sewing room today with the goal of finishing up my Fresh Start quilt top. And I got it done.

I only had four rows to sew together so it didn’t take long. I got them all pinned together and then sat down at my machine.

I sewed each row together, pressed, and then kept going. Once this section of four rows was done I pinned it to the section I finished the other night and rolled it up in my quilt burrito method so I could sew that final seam.

I don’t like sewing the final seam, but I love having it all done.

When it was all done and pressed I was going to put it back up on the design wall to take a photo and decided to go ahead and sew a line of stitching all the way around the edge to keep the bias edges of the corners of those blocks from getting all wonky.

It’s probably around 1/8 of an inch from the edge. You just need to make sure that it will be hidden by our binding.

And here it is all done. And because someone will ask, here’s the tutorial for my blocks.

I just love the final press! It’s so fun to look at all those blocks closely and savor every one.

I almost dug in and sot the backing made and then I realized how much I hate doing backings and decided to put it off until tomorrow. but I did lay out some fabric options on the backing fabric. I will sew a strip of fabric between the pieces of backing so I don’t have to match the backing fabric.

I’m not sure what I’ll do yet, but I’m thinking it will be the version with just the black fabric. I might get this backing done tomorrow.

Before I called it quits I decided to do an inventory of the fabrics for the quilt I’ll make when my friend visits next month. The last package arrived today so I have everything I need.

I’m glad I checked because I only have one yard the the plaid sashing fabric. I checked my local quilt store online and they have it so I’ll try to drop by there tomorrow and pick up a couple more yards. I’d like to have all the fabric for this quilt cut before my friend arrives. She’s already working on cutting all the fabrics for the Aboriginal quilt we’ll make for her when she visits.

I played pickleball tonight at a large indoor facility. I literally can’t remember the last time I played. I was concerned that I would play badly because it’s been so long I’m really happy with how I played. It was a fun night and I had some nice competitive play. I’m playing again tomorrow afternoon.

Fingers crossed for a nice walk for my boys tomorrow.

44 Replies to “Finished My Fresh Start Flimsy”

  1. I remember once having a serious ice storm and tree branches fell on power lines. It was freezing cold and we had dogs and birds and no power. My husband rigged up an older space heater using kerosene and the pets and us survived for 10 days. We went to bed at 7:30 because it was too cold to do anything else. We did buy a generator finally when they were available at the store. Ice storms are horrible and I hope you soon have better weather. Your quilt is beautiful.

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  2. Your quilt is gorgeous! I like your idea of using just the black strip in the middle of the backing. The white looks out of place. I’m looking forward to your friend’s visit to see what beautiful quilts the two of you come up with this time.

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  3. My heart went out to you the other day when I read about your last weekends misadventure. I live in East Tennessee and we’ve been stuck in our house for 7 days now. We’re looking forward to Tues and Wednesday for warmer Temps. We got all your weather! Thankfully so far our power has stayed on. 10 inches of snow with that slick blanket of ice over everything!

    Your quilt is awesome and the one you’ll do in Feb will be beautiful too!

    Stay warm and sending hopes you and the dogs can get back to normal soon!

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  4. Have you tried laying out alternate Black blocks with your white blocks as you’re joining strip between your backing pieces? Just curious as to how that might look? It would mimic the front of the quilt as well.

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  7. I love the line “I don’t like sewing the final seam, but I love having it all done. ” Well said, the quilter!! I like the idea of mixing the black and white on that backing strip. Kinda makes the back talk to the front : ) Hoping you three get out for a walk today, once skates are no longer the indicated footwear!!

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  8. Woo hoo! Loving this quilt and putting it on My List.

    The new-to-me term for the stay-stitching around a finished quilt top is “victory lap”! I heard it not long ago.

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    1. I’m so glad you want to make this! Can’t wait to start seeing them here and there.

      Oh yeah… I ‘ve heard that term for the stitching before! I’ll have to remember that.

      Anne

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  11. Hi Anne, Are you still under a blanket of ice there? It looks awful. Poor bored dogs.
    I Really love this quilt! I think it’s my favorite of all those you’ve posted. Great job!!

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  12. Looks fabulous Anne, great quilt, hope your weather has improved. We are having a bad storm here, and I’m worried the power will fail soon. Happy Days! Roll on Spring!

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  14. I love your work and tutorials. You are superb. The amount of time you spend sharing is amazing and very much appreciated. I would also like the name of the book you showed with the fabric sitting on it. Please and thank you

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  15. This quilt, as well as all of your others, is beautiful. I love watching your journey from auditioning your fabrics for a quilt until the last seam is sewn. I look forward to reading your emails.

    Could you please share the name of the Aboriginal black fabric that you used in this latest quilt. Thanks.

    Sheila

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    1. thanks! It’s been a fun and spontaneous quilt to make… the best kind!

      that fabric is listed in my tutorial, but here it is for your convenience:an Australian Aboriginal design from M&S Textiles called Land of Utopia.

      Anne

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      1. Thanks so much. I love it, and it’s a great “neutral” – I use a lot of black and white plus Kaffe, of course.

        Stay well; stay safe.

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  16. I am so happy to hear you are able to get in some pickle ball! I hope that ice melts soon so the boys can get back to their walks. At least your quilt is at the finish line and as beautiful as all the others. Hopefully the weather will be good for your friends visit also. I am looking forward to seeing that quilt – it will be spectacular 💕

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    1. Oh man… I’m really hoping we don’t have bad weather while my friend is here. We had a snow storm last year when she was here that had us stuck at home for four days!!!

      Anne

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  17. Your newly finished top is amazing and I can’t wait to see your new project cut up and ready to sew. It really looks nice. Don’t get out in the ice…

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  20. I know you said this block wasn’t yours, but you introduced me to it via your Fresh Start quilt. I would like to submit my version to the Asheville Quilt Show and, just to dot all the i’s and cross my t’s, May I have your permission to do so. I loved making this quilt!

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      1. absolutely! Thanks for noting that. I would have included you and your title; hadn’t thought about your wonderful tutorial.

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