Channeling Speedy Gonzalez

Fabric added this week: 0 yards
Fabric added YTD: 92.5 yards
Fabric used this week: 11 yards
Fabric used YTD: 47 yards
Net used for 2010: -45.5

I've NEVER sewed as fast as I've done this week, I finished a King sized top in two weeks!. I love the fabrics on the over the line project and the pattern is simple enough, but sewing the same fabrics over and over was getting boring. That was the driving force for the marathon sewing, I wanted it done. Borders are added and I went as far as using left over pieces or scraps for the backing.
I tried to spread it on my couch for a full picture, but the little peanut decided to help. Besides, the top is so big, about 106 x 106, I don't have any surface big enough for it in this house.
Here is the finished top folded and waiting for the next step.
The pieced backing. This was inspired by some quilts I've seen on the Internet, it was not as easy as it looked. I do love the look, but having used almost all the scraps from this project is the icing on the cake.

I worked late into Friday night on a self-imposed deadline, I wanted to finishing both the top and backing and have them ready for layering Saturday morning at class. Well, class was cancelled because of the rain, or rather, because most ladies didn't want to go to class in the rain :-). Plan B. Actually, I have to figure out a plan. I do have a couple of cutting tables, but I don't think they will be big enough for this top.

I was still in the mood for sewing but did not want to go thru fabrics or patterns to get a new project started, work on a UFO or current project. So... I sewed strings on a paper foundation and made these:

16 - 8 1/2" unfinished string blocks, enough for a baby quilt. I've always loved scraps and I know some very generous people (Hi Ann!) who have given me scraps in the past. I usually like high contrast and the medium tones are always put aside, until now. They look pretty and soft, with a soft floral pink for sashing, it will be perfect for a baby girl.

This baby quilt will keep me occupied for today, maybe....... I do love to check other quilters blogs and stash reports, I'm headed over to Judy's patchworktimes as soon as I hit the publish button.

Sunday Stash report - Feb 21st

Fabric Added last couple of weeks: 60 1/2 yards
Fabric added YTD: 92.5 yards
Fabric used last couple of weeks: 12 yards
Fabric used YTD: 36 yards
Net used for 2010: -56.5

It all started when I was asked, by someone special, to make a quilt for them. The excitement of starting a specific project took over. My previously selected Valentine's Day project was forgotten, the magazine stash come out and the fun begun. I selected this pattern from a 2005 American Patchwork & Quilting issue. The new quilt needs to be in a different colorway: yellow, green, brown and orange. I had a couple of prints that would work in my stash but orange was the missing color. Hence the shopping :-). It happened to be President's Day Sale at the fabric store and I found at least 4 different orange prints that would work ( and a few others that I just liked). When we got home, the grouping wasn't working as the new pieces did not mingle nicely with the other fabrics already selected. A trip to a second store was made and I found the perfect piece, along with a few others that caught my eye and came home with me. It took me an entire week to be happy with my fabric selection and summon the courage to cut, when I found it I stripped 11 yards worth of fabric. This is what they look like coming out of the back of the machine:

My first completed block.

I get too impatient and want to see the pattern as soon as possible, so I sewed two blocks together and this is what they look like:

The plan is to finish sewing about 3 more sets of strips, press all the sewn strips and start cutting the individual blocks. Good thing this quilt will be finished at about 100" x 100" for a king sized bed. If I manage to complete the top by next weekend, I'll be able to then count the backing, borders and binding as busted. A very promising week!.