TGIFF - An Oldie

Happy Friday, and thanks for dropping by. There's coffee and choc-chip cookies, I even restocked the fridge just for you! If you're dropping by from TGIFF, a big hello, and stay a while and check my little, very new blog out. Regulars, welcome back :).

Now, when some people talk about long term WIPs, they talk about things that have been sitting round for six months or so. Not me - when I say old, I mean old. Like, maybe a decade, but I'm not really sure.

This quilt was a BOM project back around 2002 or 2003. I mean, this is back in the days before blogs, if you can believe it! If you're curious, here's a link to the book made from the BOM, Moondance by Applewood Farms.

I started this project way back then, when my kids were small or not even around at all (and the baby is 8 now). I love these blocks, they're very intricate and some of the most complicated piecing I've done so far. I love the colours too, my only regret (live and learn) is the lack of values in my print selection. I didn't have enough contrast in the prints and it all sorts of washes in together, which doesn't do the piecing justice. This is why value is so important, peeps!

I got most of the blocks made years ago, then put them away for a while very long time. Then I pulled the project out again and decided that while it's a beautiful pattern it was more than I wanted to tackle. So instead I just turned it into a regular sampler and used the scraps to make a strippy border. Then I put it away again (recurring theme here). 

Fast forward another rather long while and I decided to baste it. Which is how it sat for another year or so. Then I walked past it last Friday and suddenly decided it was time to get this baby finished.

After much pondering (browsing Pinterest and Google), I decided to do a fun, improv loop the loop style. I nearly went for good old stippling a million times, but I'm glad I decided on something different. The quilting is far from perfect (especially on the back which I am strategically not showing you) and I did have to unpick a great chunk when the bobbin turned evil on me. There were some hairy moments (ha ha) when I felt like I was quilting though a persian cat - quilters should not have long haired fabric loving kitties! - and I was a bit rusty for a while, but even still it was less than an evening's work. Seriously, 10 years in the making and it's finished off in a night. When will I ever learn not to procrastinate? Then I bound it in black, and here it is.

Don't mind the somewhat dodgy pictures, my quilt holders are all fast asleep under their other quilts.

Good thing I'm doing TGIFF and needed a finish, otherwise I reckon this quilt would be kicking around for another 10 years. Now, it's going into the wash and then onto the lounge to do duty as a snuggly quilt. This has at least motivated me to revisit my older projects and get them finished.

Thanks for stopping by - Jane xx

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