9-patch quilt progress

As I will be blogging here more than on Tumblr, I thought I'd better catch up with the progress/saga so far:

Photo from Frogdancer

(June 2nd)

Its been a while since I’ve done anything crafty. I recently finished my first ever knitting project (a scarf) just in time for a heat wave! Perfect timing.

The above photo is my inspiration for a quilt that I want to make. Again, this is my first real attempt at quilting. The aim is to make a quilt cover for a double bed. I’ve used Excel to chart out a plan for my quilt. I will use the same solid colour (grey) for the 4 squares in an attempt to tie everything in a bit more, and will use the white borders as in the photo above. I’ve worked out that I will need to make 90 ‘9 patch’ squares to complete the middle section and a ridiculous number of odds and ends to create a patchy border.
Tutorial found at crazymomquilts

Cutting and Chopping (June 14th)
A few days of chopping up fabric - these squares will make up the 90 9-patch squares. A few more hours of chopping should complete the grey squares but all colourful ones are done (subject to me changing my mind about a couple of colours that may not fit the overall scheme). Chopping up the white fabric that will hold it all together will have to wait. In the mean time, I can’t wait to start sewing.

9-patch update (August 15th)
Currently over half way in making the 9 patches and one day ahead on the one a day target. Pleased with my progress so far! It’s most definately a challenge, but I can imagine the end result which is keeping me going.
Once I’ve completed the 90 9 patches that I need, its a matter of cutting and sewing on the white border fabric which will surround each 9-patch; then i need to baste, quilt and bind.
(edit and update: I’ve just done a recalculation to ensure that the quilt is the same as a queen size quilt - that means that I have to complete 120 9-patch sqaures and means that all my calculations are now out…. I think my adapted design means that I am approaching midway - and the advantage is that I’m still one day ahead as the final date of 9-patch completion will simply shift as its one a day. 30 extra days to calculate, and some more fabric cutting to do…)

An Introduction

Starting a new blog requires an introduction.

This is a space that I am planning to use to write and share my musings, mumblings and mutterings. I'm not sure that it will always make sense, and I don't know if anyone will read it.

I work at a boring desk job that I am working desperately to get out of. To reduce the monotony I need a creative outlet. I dabbled with sewing in my childhood, but have taken this up again, learning how to knit and starting my first quilt. I'm finding it a wonderful way to unwind and de-stress, and even bring sewing into work to complete on my lunch break or on the bus on the way home. This blog will most likely track some of my crafty projects, and I've been gleaning inspiration and instruction from a number of crafty blogs that I follow.

I am an avid reader and have currently set myself a target of trying to read all the novels listed in the Guardian's 1000 novels everyone must read. Occasionally I might refer to some of these books. I'm really enjoying going through the list, and challenging myself with reading some fantastic novels that I would not have otherwise picked up. Admittedly, there are also some novels that I haven't particularly enjoyed - Martin Amis springs to mind - but I guess that's part and parcel of working your way through a list like this.

I used to blog with Tumblr and may still keep this going with occasional updates. Anyway, lets see if I can keep this one going on a less sporadic basis.