Slow and steady!

A funny story, unrelated to sewing: I was sitting on the subway this morning, and this woman standing up in front of me sneezed all over me. I spent about 3 seconds contemplating what to do, then realized I had some kleenex in my bag. I got one out, and was busy wiping myself up. Then I looked up and the woman next to me was doing the exact same thing. We both started laughing so hard, we couldn't get it together until the next stop.

Tonight I cut out pieces for ~5 squares and sewed one up, working for 50 minutes total. It's not my favorite square ever - a bit too much dark green - but it'll do.

3 hours, 35 minutes so far.

Catherine

Blanketrageous!

Ta da!! The blanket is done. Evil Twin and I decided today was the opportune time to wrap this project up. I did three more rows, then he did two rows and cast off (which took a couple of attempts, as he was trying to match the other edge, and succeeded quite well). I sewed in the loose ends, and then we both laid it out and sprayed it to block it out, mostly to make the top and bottom edges even. Googles had told us that mohair doesn't like to be wet, which is why we didn't soak the whole thing. All told, I worked for 1 hour and 45 minutes. And it looks really great. See? The spray bottle is there for comparison. It's about 3' x 5'.

Once it dries, we'll ship it off to England, as the wedding is only 5 weeks away. Yow!

2.75 hours for me!

Catherine

Three strikes and I'm done

Well, I started this competition with a tiny bit of hoarding - I cut up two squares yesterday, which took 20 minutes. Today I was going to sew up two squares, but the square I was working on was determined to frustrate me - several bent pins, and I had to redo three seams - two got some extra thread caught up while I was sewing and I ran out of thread on the bobbin during the very last seam. Boo! Anyway, that took 40 minutes, so I'm off to a good start!

1 hour.

Catherine

Two by two

I spent 45 minutes sewing up two of the three squares that were all cut up (well, 43 sewing and 2 ironing and getting out the pins and scissors and such). I'm up to 81 finished squares! I was hoping to do more this week, and even get to >15 or 20 hours, but this will do, I think, to count as a win? I hope so, as I have been dreaming of Roberto's in the last few days.

I was also thinking that I could (indeed, should) get in the habit of doing 2 squares a night. It's such a short amount of time, and then I would be able to knock the rest of the squares out in the next month. Maybe there's some end in sight to this silly quilt.

13.5 hours for me!

Catherine

Fabric vanquished!

Today I spent 1 hour, 45 minutes cutting up the rest of the fabric that I have, so I am primed and ready to make quilt squares like crazy. I also ironed the two squares that were sad and mushed, so now I have 79 fully finished squares. Tomorrow I will tackle the sewing!

I may have to buy some more fabric.

12.75 hours!

Catherine

The quilt rears it's multicolored head

Oh, yes. The quilt squares have returned from their extensive banishment to the other side of my house. Which is approximately 11 feet from my sewing machine, but still the mental separation was large. I discovered I have three squares' worth of pieces to sew up, plus I counted how many squares I have now (77 all pretty and ironed; two need ironing), and then I looked at bit at the fabric that I have. I spent about 45 minutes cutting fabric into strips, and then realized that I was really bored, so that's enough for today.

The deep philosophical question I will wrestle with overnight is, am I really going to make 144 squares???

But! 11 hours. You (hopefully) can't catch me, Seester!

Catherine

Hoarding. I does it.

Okay...

Well, I realized (after prompting from Seester) that I hadn't put up any of my hours for Smallest's costume preparation.

So, here's my best accounting...

After I made the practice skirt, I was told that the finished product needed lots of "bling" so we started over with a sequined hot pink fabric for the skirt, and a new fabric for the petticoat, with more netting to generate more fluff.

The cutting and sewing together didn't take too long, but the netting has been a major pain. So I'm going to guess that it's been about 7 hours so far to get where I am now.

Currently, I've just finished putting on the teddy bear (rather than a poodle, as she's dancing to "Teddy Bear" by Elvis) and I'm about to put on the sequin trim leash. Thought about doing it by hand, but now I'm going to pull out the machine. After that, it's hair and show bow time and then I think I'm done with the costume. That's good, because the performance is tomorrow!

I'll post a picture of Smallest in her get-up.

7 hours for me. I guess that's seven hours total. Still six days to catch up...

Margie