Wednesday 8 January 2014

Cracking the whip

I've declared 2014 the year that I empty my WIP box. I know I'm not alone in that so I'll be hoping that you hold me to it in the same way I'm going to be nagging/ encouraging those of you that are on the same path. It's a big box and I've already taken out my second largest WIP to date so it doesn't look as bad as it did a week or so ago. In the spirit of honesty I also have 3 or 4 WIPs lying around the sewing room ;)
I've been plugging away at my biggest challenge to date the Not-so Lonestar Quilt! I started this quilt in 2011 when I was very definitely a novice patch-worker. I soon got fed up of it so dumped it in the WIP box and revisited it again in 2012. Obviously I got fed up of the diamonds again so back into the WIP box it went. This time round I've dug it out with the express intention of finishing it. This was firmly reinforced when I discovered that the quarter that I made this time round was considerably smaller than the original. I have since set about unpicking the original quarter and restitching it in line with the one I've just completed. If you follow me on Instagram you'll have seen lots of photos of my progress so I'm not going to overload the blog with all of them. This is one of the giant diamonds that I've made this time round.
Now that I've got the technique for piecing the rows sussed (more-or-less) I'm chain piecing the remaining 36 rows. This photo gives a much better idea of the beautiful colours in the fabrics I'm using :)
I'd love to think that I'll finish this top by the end of January...watch this space!
Today I took another long term WIP out of the box and turned it into a snuggly blanket following Hadley's lead. One WIP plus an Ikea fleece blanket and I no longer have a WIP :)
I'll be sending this little blanket off in response to Alison's appeal.
So there you have it. The start to what I hope will be many WIPs leaving the box as finished articles :) Catch you soon x

10 comments:

  1. Brilliant start to your new year's resolution! I really should take your lead - maybe 2015! Jxo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yep I'm on that wagon too, though haven't any sewing time for a few weeks so you're making a great head start on me. Here's to the WIPs! Yours look fab too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am yet another who needs to pull her finger out and get my space clear of things I started and then lost interest in.

    ReplyDelete
  4. well done .. I have very good INTENTIONS .. just the will seems to be a little bit laking!! I MUST do better x.. how many time swill I repeat this over the next year I wonder? lol x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Good plan! I love lone star quilts, I want to make one of my own someday.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great plan! Are you dragging your mam along on your WIP/UFO cracking? I seem to remember that hers are quite vocal...

    ReplyDelete
  7. when you have finished all your WIP you will have to start making some new ones for the box! I found it interesting to read you had backed a quilt with a fleece from ikea, must check them out next time I go there

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good for you. I need to get one out of the drawer to pick up again, I think most of us do have a wip or two lying around. I also do cross stitch and have a Winnie the Pooh picture I started for my then 9 month old baby daughter, I really must finish it before she turns 18 this year!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Woo hoo - yay for working those WIPs and double woo hoo for the fleecy finish xxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Huh, such a shame you don't know anyone running competitions to win prizes for finishing WIPs... ;o)

    ReplyDelete

Lovely comments read with glee everyday.