I have made some really decent progress on my Halloween Figs quilt top. To tell you the truth, I hesitated picking this project up again right now because I am feeling a bit “Halloweened-out”. In spite of my initial misgivings, I went ahead and brought out the project box and spent about a half an hour trying to figure out where in the heck I was with the project.
This is what things looked like on Friday morning. I decided to dive right into the block fillers and block surrounds, which were mainly flying geese and some strips. Not too bad, compared to all those checkerboard borders I had to make for Strawberry Garden. Then there were the appliqué blocks, which I had been avoiding. Once you get your machine set up with the blanket stitch and correct throatplate, you might as well keep going, right?
I was pretty satisfied with how these first two came out, so I kept going.
Next up were these little bud blocks. I wasn’t too mad about how these came out either.
The last appliqué blocks I tackled were these little ones. There were 10 of them to make, and they finish at 4 inches! Still, the curves were easy, and it didn’t take long at all.
I still have one major appliqué block to do, which will take some time. I would have at least prepped all the pieces, but I ran into a snag that sapped the time I would have had to do that. What happened, you ask? Well, this quilt top is sewn together in sections, not rows or quadrants, but distinct sections that you wouldn’t guess at just by looking at the quilt top. I decided to go ahead and sew a couple of these sections together.
If you look at the top photo in the post, pay attention to the large middle block at the top. I think it is called a Carpenter’s Wheel. Notice that it is surrounded by a flying geese border. Well, I got the blocks all sewn together for that section, and what do you know? The bottom row of flying geese was totally upside down. There was no way to fix it except to take the whole thing apart and sew it again. That took me a minute, I tell you. Myself, my chair, my floor, my table: we were all covered in tiny little thread bits. There is a lesson in this experience: stop while you are ahead.
Now that I am studying my photo, I can see that there is something amiss with that flying geese/pinwheels and applique blossoms strip on the right hand side of the quilt. I am going to have to figure out what I did wrong there and fix that too. These Fig Tree patterns are so darn fiddly.
It was a pretty great weekend. I spent a good part of it in my sewing room, met Sara for breakfast on Sunday morning, and even finished a couple of books! I hope yours was spent doing the things you love most.
15 Responses
Well done on making the applique and filler blocks!
As for pieces sewn wrong, I’d wait until all the blocks are made and if the blocks on the right look good, leave them be. Your quilt will truly be one of a kind! There are no quilt police, after all. 🙂
Hugs!
To be honest, I don’t quilt for others. I want it perfect for me. It absolutely ruins a project for me if I see a glaring mistake. Just the way I am.
This is going to be a spectacular quilt! It is aggravating to see an error in assembly. There must be a Christmas Figs quilt, have you completed that one? 😁 Your weekend sounds wonderful! 🌻
Thanks Sandra. These Fig Tree quilt samplers are just so involved. I think I need a break from them for a while. There have been a number of them that I have kind of wished I’d done, for instance, there was a beach themed one a few years ago that was so different and cute. However, it will be a while before I tackle another one!
beach themed? somehow I missed that one…..must have been cute!
Thelma shared a photo of it on her Instagram. It had starfish and ice cream bars and sailboats and beach umbrellas. It was super cute. Here’s a link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLhghA9REw9/?img_index=1
oh, my! that is adorable!
I really really love this. I just love her Halloween colors. I did get a little sewing in.
I hate fiddly. it is just tedious and puts a damper on the sewing. I’ve made 14 fiddly blocks and still need to make 34 more! ugh. I want to abandon ship but I can’t. I love the fabric. It’s fig tree xmas but I hate the pattern.
It wouldn’t have been so fiddly if I hadn’t kept sewing the wrong things together. I have the bottom left two blocks upside down too.
Fig Tree BOM are best one month at a time, IMO. Lots of moving parts for sure. Your blocks are looking great! You’ll love the quilt once finished for sure:)
It will be a fun one, that’s for sure. There is an interesting border that will set it off nicely.
Bravo on finishing so much appliqué this weekend! I get what you’re saying about going back to fix mistakes even if you’re the only one who notices. I got some sewing done this weekend after retrieving my machine from being serviced in ‘the big city’. I have an older model of the same brand as back-up, but boy did I miss the work horse!
I do know what you mean about missing your machine when it is being serviced. I’ve got to schedule my maintenance, but I’m putting it off.
I really enjoy your posts! I can commiserate with you on spending a lot of time on something only to realize I had messed up. It really drains all your energy. You really inspire me!😊
Thank you Denice!