The final finish-a-long

It’s the last quarter of 2012 so I should really get moving on some of these WIPs! I’ve decided to aim for two completions in Rhonda’s Finish-a-long this time round. The first thing I’d like to finish is the infamous curtain. You’ll be glad to hear I actually started on the first 1/4 of the patchwork last night and have 3 nearly finished blocks already. Alex had made some homemade Port and one glass of that seemed to spur me on somewhat. And I didn’t hate doing it!

So this is where I’m up to. I must finish this because it’s getting dark and I’ll have less sewing time without them finished as a pair instead of one lonely curtain….

The other thing I want to finish is the Giant Granny quilt. I managed another block on a whim this weekend so I have 2 done, though I’m going to maybe have to unpick a bit as my side strips weren’t long enough in places and I have some suspiciously big gaps that may be over 1/4″. I’m aiming for it to be 16 blocks in total with maybe a couple of borders depending on how bored I get. I tend to just blast through the borders as I don’t find them that fun to do when I just want to get something finished which is why I started the UK Borders Agency bee. No plans for any sashing on this one.

Also in this quarter I will have two UK Borders Agency rounds to do, a block and a round (maybe two, not sure if this is monthly) for the new Around the Bend and Across the Pond Free Bee, the Mouthy Stitches tote, a cushion with instructions for a magazine, up to 3 rows for a Row by Row swap and possibly some dog collars and Christmas presents, but I’ve not thought that far ahead yet so I’m probably not going to sew anyone anything this year unless it’s quick and small. I have other WIPs and some precuts I want to play with but I’m already scared of my list- there’s plenty to be getting on with!

I’m also blogging every day this month for Blogtoberfest, so you won’t be able to get rid of me for the whole of October. I make no apologies 😉

Also don’t forget the giveaway that is on til Thursday…

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The curtain fiasco

It’s time I told the (boring) story of the curtain fiasco that I hinted at earlier in the week. I now kind of wish I just made it into a quilt.

Firstly, you know how I was finding the piecing so boring? Well I finished enough to make one complete curtain, deciding to finish that one before embarking on the second. I added a band of white to the top and the bottom, but the measurements were based on guesswork. Holding it up to the window, it was too short by about 5″.

At this point it wasn’t a problem, I decided to add a 6″ band of yellow to the bottom. I then sewed the lining on, which is smaller than the front of the curtain so that the front curls round the back. Only when I actually had the curtain rings did we discover it was about 6 inches trailing the floor and they were too long! So I unpicked the yellow and stitched up the hem with just the white.

Only now it was several inches too short and it didn’t cover the bottom of the window! ARGH!

So what I have done is restitch the yellow back on yet again, but made the hem smaller and because it was stitched on after the lining, it makes the construction a little different. Some how this has made it the right length at last!

Bearing in mind I kept stitching the bands the wrong way round and had a lot of unpicking along the way I have really hated making this curtain. There’s loads of stitch holes from where it was unpicked that I’m trying to ignore, and also despite washing it there is still some really horrible brown stains that must have been on the fabric when I bought it. And I have another to do for the other side! At least I know what to look out for this time. I need to buy some more curtain lining.

I do kind of like it though, especially from the picture where I can’t see the problems and the faults as clearly. I love how it showcases my favourite ever fabric line.

On a happy note, my fabric arrived for the Japanese Charm Swap so I’ve cut my squares and they’re being posted today. And I will get 56 5″ squares back in all different japanese fabrics! I feel an eye spy quilt coming on.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday as there’s another curtain to go before the month is up!