I've joined in on the Tokyo Subway Quiltalong hosted by Elizabeth of Oh Fransson. Once again, I was enrapt with by the title and the design. I've been busily working on cutting hundreds of squares with hundreds more to cut.
I've opted to use Kona Ash as my background fabric instead of white and then dive into both saturated and pale scraps for my train lines. I'm also being wreckless when it comes to the placement of solids and prints, but overall it's still Elizabeth's design... just with a bit of a Badskirt style thrown in.
I put cutting on pause to make a couple of blocks. I'm using the fuse to interfacing method to cope with my 1600 squares. This is not the recommended method, but I'm doing it anyway. I ordered interfacing QuiltFuse2 interfacing which seemed like a genius way of getting fast 2". Yes, I pat myself on the back for being very clever.
What I didn't realize is that the pre-printed squares are actually out a bit to cope with seams. An 8 square x 8 square block is actually 16"x16.25". Seams weren't an issue for me, so this means I've got rectangles. I learned this lesson the hardway when I had inadvertently rotated my second block by 90 degrees and the first two blocks didn't fit together. I've went to it again though and know it will work as long as I keep things oriented in the right direction and I accept that slight rectangles are quite nice. I'm cutting each seam open as I go to reduce bulk. It's more tedious, but I'm feeling clever again.
If you'd like to see other people's blocks or join in, visit the the flickr group! There's no time frame for this... I'm giving myself a year to make all 25 blocks. ;)
Speaking of Tokyo subways, I'm on the road again from October 6-11th. The shop will be open but orders placed during that time will have delayed shipping. Hopefully I come back with bolts of gems for you!
PS: should someone want me to tryout and review an Accuquilt Go fabric cutter which will help expedite cutting 1600 2" fabric squares, I'm all for that! Seriously, I'm all for that and have had no luck winning any of the ones being given away on US blogs
Love the fabrics you are using! I love the look of the Subway quilt.
ReplyDeleteThanks for highlighting this quilt a-long Amy! I'm way too stretched with Christmas sewing to start now but I've added it to my journal to start in the New Year! I love the design of the quilt, very modern and correctly lining up all those squares will certainly stretch my skills!
ReplyDeleteI love the colour combo. It looks great. I'd never heard of the Accuquilt Go cutter so I had to google it. It looks like it would save a lot of time and back strain! They even have a template that cuts the nicks into the squares for a raggy quilt!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to win an Go cutter too - so I'd be all for you giving one a test run. And if you get to try one out then I might have a chnace of winning one too (because I seem to get lucky with your giveaways)!
ReplyDeleteI love the look of these subway quilts and can't wait to see yours finished in 2011!
Amy, you are my hero! I've been watching this quilt along enviously, but have NO time to cut a bazillion squares. I can't wait to see the final product!
ReplyDelete