Having received all my blocks from the F2F block swap back at the end of October and having signed up to do it all over again later this year, I really want to get this quilt finished before starting the next swap. I have made a start by laying out the blocks in rows as they will appear on the final quilt and then putting them into bundles of eight blocks not forgetting to label each bundle with the row number.
Some of the participants are making a couple of smaller quilts with their 36 12.5 inch blocks but I have a Superking size bed so a huge quilt is needed in my case. Apart from the quilt we made for Pat which we rushed to get finished in order for her to see it before succumbing to ovarian cancer, Avis from Sew Tempting was the first to finish her quilt which is beautiful and has inspired me to get a move on.
These are the four backing fabrics I’m using which I chose to coordinate with the top.
Here is my complicated and technical ‘plan’ for which blocks will be backed with which colour. I know you’ll be mightily impressed but I have to keep it simple otherwise I get a headache 😉
The four corners I’m not sure about yet but I’ll think of something.
My hand quilting is not perfect by any means and I am very slow at it too and, with such a large quilt, I would be here forever if I attempted to do it all by hand. My machine is not particularly adapted for quilting and I couldn’t bear the thought of forcing the huge quilt sandwich through it so I am using the quilt as you go method. This way, I can make each block into a sandwich with the backing and a layer of wadding and quilt them individually. I am going to use this tutorial which has been recommended to me by several of my quilting friends in blogland.
This also means I can quilt each block according to the design on the front. Much easier to handle – although I’m still not quilting them all (if any) by hand!
This is the turquoise batik I’m going to use for the sashing
and here’s one of the blocks I’ve made into a ‘sandwich’ so far – it’s one of the lovely blocks that Kate, who jointly organised the F2F swap, sent me.
Apologies for the garish yellow background but the only decent light for photography that day was underneath the skylight in my workroom which is where my ironing board normally sits and that’s the cover!
Since we made the quilt for Pat which will be auctioned in aid of an ovarian cancer charity in the U.S., Kate decided to contact the equivalent organisation in Melbourne and offer to make a quilt – using teal and cream or tan to raise funds for them. She asked her blog followers if anybody wanted to contribute a block or two so I made the one in the top photograph which I’m hoping she will be able to use in the centre of the quilt which she wants to resemble a large tablecloth laid out for tea. I didn’t have any teal fabrics at that stage but did have some teal coloured thread so used it for the appliqué stitching and for the ‘tea pouring’ effect. Then there will be a border of dresden plate blocks so I’m going to have a go at making one with the help of some pieces of teal fabric kindly sent to me by Ali over at Thimberlina who has also made a couple of blocks for the quilt. Then, there will be an outer border of more freestyle blocks made using the same colours. Kate is calling it ‘Time For Teal’ – she does love a pun.
When we moved into our house there was a huge, hand made ladder hanging up in the shed. It was really too big and probably too dangerous to actually climb up so Mr. T recently treated it for woodworm, sanded it down, gave it a couple of coats of varnish and cut it in half.
I’m using one of the halves for a quilt ladder.
I am running out of room to drape, throw, fold and generally exhibit quilts around the house so it seemed like a good idea to store and display several of them at once. It doesn’t normally stand in front of a door but there wasn’t enough natural light to take a photo of it in its usual position. Luckily I am a very slow quilt maker but there is always the second half of the original ladder to fill.
Tialys 
#1 by poshbirdy on March 20, 2016 - 13:29
Beautiful stuff. I LOVE the teapot with the appliqué – it’s perfect. And that ladder…
#2 by tialys on March 20, 2016 - 19:11
It’s amazing what you find hanging around in old French buildings – as I’m sure you’ve found out.
#3 by claire93 on March 20, 2016 - 13:32
looking good Lynn ^^
the nice thing about QAYG (as the Gourmet Quilter says) is that once you’ve done all your quilting, and get to the joining together stage, it really is just a question of lining things up and your quilt is almost finished. Will yours be the next finished F2F qullt in the gallery, I wonder? Or are other ladies secretly quilting away?
#4 by tialys on March 20, 2016 - 19:12
You make it sound so easy Claire – I hope it will be! I’m sure there will be somebody else quilting away, ready to spring another finished quilt on us soon and probably sooner than me.
#5 by katechiconi on March 20, 2016 - 13:50
I bet yours IS the next one finished. Once you’ve done a couple of the QAYG blocks, you’ll be laughing at how you worried whether it was going to work. It’ll be so much easier! And I really love that turquoise batik for the sashing, gorgeous colour. Time for Teal is going to have a fairly riotous tea party; there are some really gorgeous blocks on the way. Thank you for giving the quilt a shout out, you never know who else might fancy contributing something 🙂
#6 by tialys on March 20, 2016 - 19:15
I spent quite a bit of time deciding on the batik – I think it will work better than a solid turquoise. As for ‘Time for Teal’, you’ll probably end up with so many blocks you’ll have to make more than one quilt!
#7 by katechiconi on March 20, 2016 - 20:10
I think you’re quite right about the batik. You may be right about the Time for Teal blocks – if it’s just a few, I might make matching cushion covers, if it’s a good few, I’ll reserve them for the next quilt. I have plenty more punny names in reserve, of course!
#8 by tialys on March 21, 2016 - 12:08
I was thinking that you could have enough for a second quilt but I’m not sure how many you will feel like making as it’s you that will be putting them together and finishing them off.
#9 by katechiconi on March 21, 2016 - 13:24
I’m thinking one a year would not be excessive. If it doesn’t go in this year’s, it’ll go in next!
#10 by sewchet on March 20, 2016 - 14:58
Oh my, I love the quilting ladder – such a good alternative to a linen cupboard or blanket chest (where all mine currently languish out of sight). I might try QAYG as I loathe trying to stuff a vast expanse of quilt under the machine needle; it’s the worst bit! The “tea” block is just lovely!
#11 by tialys on March 20, 2016 - 19:21
It’s a shame to hide them away isn’t it but there is a limit to how many can adorn the backs of sofas and arms of chairs.
Quilting is my least favourite bit of making quilts which sounds odd but I prefer the look of a pieced top when it has been quilted so it has to be done. My hand quilting is not good although I don’t mind doing small areas but a king size quilt? No! I’d never get it finished. I have done some double quilts on the machine but I am forced to keep it very, very sparse and simple as I am unequal to the struggle. I’m assured that you can get good results with the QAYG method so I’m keen to give it a try.
#12 by nanacathy2 on March 20, 2016 - 15:48
What a lovely way to display your works of quilt art.
#13 by tialys on March 20, 2016 - 19:22
Thank you! Now I’ll be looking out for vintage ladders all over the place.
#14 by themateriallady on March 20, 2016 - 17:58
I love your ladder display. I’m not a quilter but I am increasingly drawn to it. Only a matter of time I think 😃
#15 by tialys on March 20, 2016 - 19:26
If you are feeling drawn to it you’re probably right in thinking it’s only a matter of time until you dive in.
#16 by jendavismiller on March 20, 2016 - 19:24
Oh how I’d love to join you lovely quilters! Alas, I do not quilt….but there is always time, right? Absolutely love the tea square, and that gloriously finished ladder for quilt display.
#17 by tialys on March 20, 2016 - 19:41
Definitely always time. I think, if I lived in the States, I might be tempted to have my pieced items quilted by somebody with a longarm quilting machine – it seems much more ‘the thing to do’ there than here or in the U.K. Although some might feel it’s ‘cheating’, I much prefer the piecing part to the quilting part and would be tempted to ‘cheat’ if it meant not making quilts otherwise. For now, however, I will carry on with my less than perfect hand quilting (occasionally) and see how I get on with the QAYG method – I might become a convert.
#18 by jendavismiller on March 20, 2016 - 21:09
I wondered if longarm machine quilting was considered “cheating”. It is exquisite, though, and yes, very popular here. I have a feeling that your “less than perfect” hand quilting is quite lovely! My only quilt is one my grandmother made (by hand) and it is rather the worse for wear. I have it tucked away for safekeeping.
#19 by tialys on March 21, 2016 - 12:06
One of my main problems with hand quilting is I can’t use a thimble. I don’t know why but I just can’t – it doesn’t feel right. So, that means I can’t get the rocking motion you need to make tons of tiny stitches per inch. When I do venture into hand quilting – I try to get my big stitches to be at least fairly even – in the ‘primitive style’ – or that’s what I call it anyway. I don’t think longarm machine quilting is cheating personally because there are bound to be people who love the piecing part of quilt making (like me) but aren’t so keen on the quilting part. In my opinion, they are two different skills. Can you not have your grandmother’s quilt repaired and restored? I’m sure there are people who undertake such things.
#20 by jendavismiller on March 21, 2016 - 19:14
I do think it can be restored, and one day I will have it done. Sooner rather than later I hope, it’s really quite lovely. Very simple and obviously old (worn).
#21 by Dartmoor Yarns on March 20, 2016 - 21:12
Great to hear the quilt is coming together. I too know what you mean about having to stuff heaps of quilt under the arm of a machine. Mind, I’ve never made a superking size – not sure that would be physically possible without a long arm machine. Love the quilt ladder too!
#22 by tialys on March 21, 2016 - 12:02
I think some people do manage it but I don’t find it a pleasurable experience so if there’s an easier way why not go for it?
#23 by Jan Marriott on March 20, 2016 - 22:06
the teapot block is adorable!!
My goodness, that must have been a huge ladder.
#24 by tialys on March 21, 2016 - 12:01
It was!
#25 by sew2pro on March 20, 2016 - 23:16
It doesn’t sound all that simple, but a bit like being at square one with sewing, trying to interpret what everything means and just investing time. I hope by the time I get round to giving it a go, I’ll still have some of my eyesight.
Lovely teapot and cup, well done you, and the ladder display is great. But are you sure you’re not showing off your beautiful door too? 🙂 Seriously, what colour paint is that? I hope we both get some sunshine soon in our necks of the woods!
#26 by tialys on March 21, 2016 - 14:21
It’s definitely Farrow and Ball and I’m almost 99% certain it’s a colour called ‘Dix Blue’.
#27 by Trisha on March 21, 2016 - 00:36
Love the ladder,what a great way to display your quilts!
#28 by tialys on March 21, 2016 - 12:00
I think it’s better than hiding them away or folding them in a pile and I could possibly rotate the ones on display now and again.
#29 by Oh Sew Tempting on March 21, 2016 - 01:11
Come on Lynn! It would be great to finish before starting the new round of F2F. I hope all the other ladies are beavering away with their blocks. If they are, they are staying very quiet about it LOL. Your backing fabrics are perfect. I can’t wait for the finished quilt to be revealed.
#30 by tialys on March 21, 2016 - 11:53
I just need to finish the ‘soft mauve’ blocks for April and then, I will try to get it finished before doing Kate’s blocks. Your quilt is lovely and, now I’ve seen it, I’m more determined to get mine done.
#31 by Fred the Needle on March 22, 2016 - 12:27
Your quilts are beautiful
#32 by tialys on March 25, 2016 - 11:06
Thank you!
#33 by Thimberlina on March 26, 2016 - 04:06
I can’t wait to see all you blocks put together, and your tea pot is just perfect! I’m going to keep an eye out for some old ladders for when I get my sewing room 😀
#34 by tialys on March 26, 2016 - 12:49
If you can find those bamboo ones they often sell for towel holders in bathrooms they are good as the rungs are already quite smooth and they aren’t usually that expensive.
#35 by Thimberlina on March 26, 2016 - 12:52
I’ll look out for them too, they’d be good for my favourite fabrics too in a queue! We found out yesterday we’ve had our plans passed so just need to find a good builder now! I think it’ll be a messy year 😃
#36 by tialys on March 26, 2016 - 13:05
Congratulations. I hate having builders in but – the silver lining in my opinion – is that you have the best excuse in the world for having a messy, dusty house. I do love a reason not to do the housework and that’s one of the best 😉
#37 by Thimberlina on March 26, 2016 - 13:06
😂😂😂