flawed, but perfect.

Kenny Rogers said something about knowing when to fold them. I'm pleased as punch because I've made a very fold-able pseudo-quilt. I love it. Technically it's flawed, but it doesn't much matter to me. I cannot remember the last time that I felt so happy at my sewing machine.

A good friend of mine was visiting this week and she said it was a shame that my quilts were folded and unused. Rest assured, I'm going to use this one until it falls apart. At which point, I'll just Frankenstein it back together and use it some more. Maybe it's because it's already imperfect, but I really can't wait to snuggle under it. I don't care that it's not properly bound. I don't care that I've already splashed coffee on it. I don't mind that I've already did a bit of a Frankenstein hack job on one of the seams. She'll be right. Warm, cozy, cheerful.

Several people asked how the String-As-You-Go worked out. It didn't work as planned.  I have to say that I really didn't give it a fair effort. I'm convinced this has more to do with laziness and a devil-may-care attitude than method. I think it could work if I had the patience for it. When it comes to quilting and basting, I lack patience some times.  I'd try it again, but with a few changes. I'd use a walking foot. I'd mark the placement of my center strings. I knew I should do both of those things, but I was lazy. I'd also use a 1/2" seam for assembly because I think it would be much easier to press the batting seams open if they were slightly bigger. I'd baste the back on accurately which is something I'm not fond of. As it stood my laziness led to heaps of warp in the front and batting. It was beyond ease. I tried. I ran out of basting spray. It started feeling tedious instead of pleasing, so I changed tack.  I took the quick approach since it was technically already quilted. I sewed around the bordered and flipped it. Then I put in some holding tacks. It's a bit lofty like a doona cover or giant pillow case now. I'm not discouraged though. Honestly, I'm quite chuffed with my results for just a weekend of sewing, and I'd definitely try quilt-as-you-go again. A few methods have been suggested to me now that should make for a tidier back which is really what I'd be after.

Did I mention that Craig doesn't like it?   It's too... umm.... diamondy. That was his feedback early on.

I appreciate his honesty.  I really do. I think that's the exact moment where my "who cares, just sew" attitude kicked in. I also thought about Katy's reflections at Sew, Mama, Sew.  I thought a lot about what she had to say about stitches not being so hot and not being able to afford to send everything off to a longarm quilter. I thought about her comments about being a 'nowadays quilter'.  With that in mind, I was busy sewing for today. I was smiling. I was singing songs from Queen and belting out Hello Dolly. I think the latter actually scared Craig a bit. The next time he looked at the project, he said he really liked it. He "liked the shapes." Fickle much, Craig?

And so it's kind of done. It's all wobbly and warpy. It will be moreso when it's out of the dryer. It's the kind of quilt that you keep folded or wadded in a ball It's not the kind you spread out on a bed. It's not the kind of quilt they hang at quilt shows or sell patterns for. It's the kind where a seam rips and you just zigzag it back together. You mend and make do and it becomes all the more lovely because of it. 

I'm think it'll be perfect for spilling jam on at a picnic, don't you?