Wednesday 20 November 2013

Always read the small print

It was all going according to plan.  Having been engrossed in the new Patchwork & Quilting magazine I was particularly interested in making the Block of the Month.  The idea would be that after a year I would have 12 issues of the magazine, a whole quilt's worth of blocks and learnt 12 new techniques.  Issue one went reasonably well
I liked the effect it made and learnt how to make "Flying Geese". By the eight one they were almost neat and they did all more or less fit together well.
 
Filled with confidence and enthusiasm, on Sunday I turned my attention to issue two. A paper pieced Origami style tile.  Sounded interesting and I'd never tried that technique before.  It was only the second issue, it surely would be getting more difficult in small increments each month, saving real challenges for the end of the project.   Issue two would only be slightly more difficult than issue one wouldn't it?  Right? Wrong.  Oh my goodness, it involved printing off patterns, holding the fabric on the reverse of the paper and sewing through the top, switching front to back.  Things did not go well.  My vision of a single bed quilt became scaled down to a cushion cover using only issue one's block.  You made this block in quarters and after two, I needed a break. A few days worth of break. I refused to let it beat me and I planned to spend my day off today trying to figure it out again.  Last night I took the magazine up it bed to read some of the articles I hadn't got round to reading before diving into the sewing part at the end.  And what did I see at the bottom of a page in small font?

More advanced quilters.  Advanced? Six months ago I wasn't even a beginner! No wonder I was finding it hard. But after my cooking club lesson this morning which included a glass of prosecco and grand marnier cocktail, and a half glass each of red and white wine to wash down the food I was ready to take on the world, starting one patchwork block at a time.  I got out my fabric and patterns, I re-read the instructions, focused my eyes on stitching straight along the lines and guess what? Ta da!!!!
Turns out all you need to become an advanced patchwork quilter is alcohol.  Secret's out.  What are you waiting for?  Cheers!  Bring on issue three

15 comments:

joy said...

Oh, wow, that makes me an expert then, best get started :-)
Joy xx

Cheri said...

Thanks for the chuckle this morning Deb. Who would have thought that all it took was alcohol??

scrappyjacky said...

"The answers alcohol....now....what was the question??"

Sian said...

That sounds like my kind of patchwork :) Funny, I liked the sound of paper piecing, which I came across in my googling-for-easy-quilting-tutorials and resolved to go back and give it a try. Now I know what the essential tools are

Rhona said...

I guess I'll never reach the advanced quilter status then seeing as I don't drink. Drat, I was looking forward to it too ;)

Ruth said...

Well done!!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Hahahaha. Oh, Deb, you are so entertaining. I probably could have told you the part about alcohol. ;o) Your quilt squares look fantastic and I'm super proud to know you are an advanced quilter now!

Amy said...

I'd ditch the quilting and stay on at cooking club ... hic!

Denise said...

Amazing what a glass of vino can do - and if it doesn't work - who cares !!! It's fab Debxx

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Ah, so that's where I'm going wrong. The coffee just isn't cutting it!

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

I never progressed beyond strip piecing. Paper piecing drove me nuts. I could never get the fabric cut right.

Very nice looking block!

Anonymous said...

Love the quilt pieces and am now wondering whether I should try a little tipple before tackling my next scrapbook project?

Maria Ontiveros said...

Hey Deb,
I haven't been around for a while, but it's great to be back around. I love hearing your stories and seeing what you have been up to.
Rinda

Abi said...

You clever thing. That looks so beautiful. I may have to look into this magazine!

Sinead said...

Wow, this turned out so beautiful Deb :D And well done considering it was a pattern for advanced quilters! The finished quilt will be stunning! x