Month 1 was all about process, figuring out which method would work for me; in month 2 I started my actual rows. Now, in month 3, I've made some progress and it looks like it may someday be a quilt! Hooray!
There are definitely still technical issues - some of my clams are a little bunchy/crinkled, and I did start to veer upwards toward one end.
But our grandmothers made pieces much like this, scrappy and full of imperfections so I'm not going to fuss over it; I'll make adjustments where I can to hopefully end up with something square-ish. And when it comes time to hand-quilt it, there will be lots more imperfections added I'm sure! It's 60 inches wide so it fits perfectly atop my picnic table.
I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying this process; I've been terrified of applique, but the stitching itself is not hard (probably a perfect introduction with those gentle curves) and I've been very relaxed about the whole thing. It will be no technical marvel when complete, but there will be Love in every stitch and will certainly meet the primary goal of becoming a pretty and warm blanket.
I have a friend who is a professional aquaculturist; some of my fondest memories from my late youth and early adulthood are of time spent at the Clam Farm where he worked growing seed clams. He grew the common local variety, Mercenaria Mercenaria. I think the proper name for this quilt is Mercenaria Fabricaria!
Your clamshells have really grown. They look wonderful!
ReplyDeleteOh Sally, They look amazing! A*MA*ZING!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you whole-heartedly: It's been an amazing learning process and so much fun as we are doing this together. And Sal, your quilt really already has a lovely vintage feel to it. I really like how some of the paler clams seem to blend into the background, lovely!
Oh, yes, a few more things: Thanks for the clam picture! And I Love your new Blog Look! Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteOh Sally, you have made great progress. It looks so good at the clothes line. And who cares about imperfections? It is an antique pattern so we are making a copy of an antique quilt ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou are making good progress. Your clamshells look amazing on the clothesline!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice picture : clamshells on the clothesline!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! It will be a cheerful quilt. The clothesline photo is lovely.
ReplyDeleteOH WOW!! Now I feel like a slacker LOL You've made great progress on your clamshells, they look wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYour clamshell quilt looks terrific!
ReplyDeleteWOW...you've gotten a lot of piecework done already!
It looks beautiful aready hanging on the clothesline.
Such a wonderful post, you made me laugh!Imperfections hurt less then fussing and fretting and like you said, we still have a pretty and warm quilt in the end.
ReplyDeleteOh I do agree wholeheartedly Sally.
ReplyDeleteLoooove what you're doing and your quilt's looking stunning.
It seems a few of us are enjoying this new and interesting journey instead of fussing... the best way to go :-)
Have fun...looking forward to what you do next :-)
I just love your (unfinished) quilt. Looks terrific. I agree that the sewing part is the easiest. The preparations are the hardest part. I wil come by in a month. I am looking forward to it.
ReplyDeletewonderful
ReplyDeleteYour clamshells are wonderful. I'm still trying to decide whether to applique like you've done or applique to a whole piece of fabric. Jeanette
ReplyDeleteWow Sally, you've made amazing progress & have obviously found the technique that works for you! I love the whole vintage feel you've achieved, brilliant!
ReplyDeleteOh yes...you are making great progress! When I started mine I decided I wasn't going to fret too much on making it sooo perfect. It has definitely been a learning project but I'm sooooooo glad I started and am determined to finish it! My thinking is just like yours on the imperfections I see in mine. I'm hoping a lot will 'quilt' out when I 'hand' quilt it!!!
ReplyDeleteYour clamshells look fantastic and how true about our ancestors quilts - they were far from perfect and that is what is so special about them today. Love the pic of the clam and its shell.
ReplyDelete