I like a challenge

[PrettyCurious]

but this is crazy.
My friend calls me this weekend wanting advice to make a quilt fast! I show her a D9P I made. No, that's too much sewing. I tell her about the JRR quilt. Nope. She already got the fabric and wants to make BIG squares. She has 3 yards of fabric, 2 are blue with pink flowers, one having larger clusters than the other, and one fabric is plain blue. I tell her she needs another color. She begs me to bind it, cuz appearantly I am the binding queen in her poor misguided eyes. She actually did ok with it, and brought it over today. Oh and by the way, I have to quilt it now, because she is a tyer, and doesn't have time to tie it, either.
I was thinking the only thing that would be worse is if the backing was flannel, but I was wrong. The backing is flannel, but the quilt is 56x75 and she brought me 4 pieces sewn straight end to end, seams pressed to one side, 4" wide and ironed in half to make it 2" wide for binding. Lets forget about the horrible stretch that flannel is going to try to do while I am quilting it, and the fact that I do SID, and her points aren't even close to matching [SIDers know how important this is], and do some quick math shall we?
56x2+75x2=262" plus 2 feet just cuz = 286" and she gave me 4x44=176"
which really = I am going to take the whole thing to the store and buy, cut, and sew my own binding. So one problem down . . .
Now, how about the quilting? I am a straight stitcher, and this can't be stitched straight.
Cute huh?
Quilt.jpg
Oh oh
Quilt02.jpg
oh oh
Quilt03.jpg

I think the blocks are too far off to do a serpentine. Maybe on the diagonal?
Any suggestions?

[Carlie Wolf]

Re: I like a challenge

Wow, I don't envy you. I don't have a suggestion. Well except thinking... saying yes can be like a drug, and as they say "just say no". She must be one special friend. Hope she appreciates it and nominates you for knighthood LOL

[Hulamoon]

Re: I like a challenge

Maybe one of these in the inside and something else on the large border?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/89157267599106629/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/267753140320701260/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/487585097135936418/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/169940585912721365/

[DeniseSm]

Re: I like a challenge

Bless your heart, you are a wonderful friend. Yes, you can straight SID. When you get to the point where the blocks shift over, press your needle up button, carefully shift the whole quilt over so you are back in the ditch, press the needle down button and just keep going to the next shift. Once it is washed and dried no will ever notice.

[kgirlmom]

Re: I like a challenge

I would serpentine on the diagonal. Maybe both directions. I think it will hide a lot.

[PrettyCurious]

Re: I like a challenge

Ok, so the seams in the rows are straight. It's the columns that don't match. Wondering if I SID the rows in serpentine, and do the coloums also in serpentine, BUT straight down the center of the blocks, without looking at the seam lines.
Or maybe go all centers?
Of course this means I will need a crap load of frog tape!
Going to sleep on this . . .

OH and did I mention it has to be done by Christmas eve?
Of course it does.
and that I work 9 hours, plus drive 2 hours back and forth to work. Yep.
I do have several machines to do this on . . . .

[KarenC]

Re: I like a challenge

Do you want to be my best friend? I can send you some projects, and mine don't need to be done by Christmas. You are a great friend to do this.

[Hulamoon]

Re: I like a challenge

So none of those links will work for you?

[Grampz]

Re: I like a challenge

My idea would also be on the diagonal. I like the idea of both directions. I will admit I am still learning the craft so take what I say very, very lightly.

[DramaMama]

Re: I like a challenge

but this is crazy

.... She begs me to bind it, cuz appearantly I am the binding queen in her poor misguided eyes.

.... Oh and by the way, I have to quilt it now, because she is a tyer, and doesn't have time to tie it, either.

I was thinking the only thing that would be worse is if the backing was flannel, but I was wrong. The backing is flannel, but the quilt is 56x75 and she brought me 4 pieces sewn straight end to end, seams pressed to one side, 4" wide and ironed in half to make it 2" wide for binding. Lets forget a .... I am going to take the whole thing to the store and buy, cut, and sew my own binding. So one problem down . . .

Now, how about the quilting? I am a straight stitcher, and this can't be stitched straight.

Here is the solution as I see it: Your friend is the one with the problem!

Here is your fortune cookie for December 2016: It takes more strength to say, "No" than to say "Yes"!

[PrettyCurious]

Re: I like a challenge

Yes, the links gave me some ideas. I will not be sewing as close as those examples though.

I have known this person for 5 years. Several years ago, she lost her husband, and then 3 years ago, I moved, and as it happened, I am now about 4 miles away. Since she lives alone, I make it a point to do anything I can for her. The things she asks me for are very few, mostly rides to work in bad weather since I got the 4WD car, but it was me who offered. I actually told her when I got the car, that anytime she feels uncomfortable driving, I would take her. She takes care of my cat, when we go on vacation, and has rescued me several times, when my previous car died on the road. So, she's not a needy, life sucking person at all. I think we've all had those in our life, and sometimes still get sucked in.
Doing this might make me a hero to you, but if it makes her a hero to her granddaughter, and takes some stress off a lady who misses her husband every day, it's worth it to me.

[DramaMama]

Re: I like a challenge

Yes, the links gave me some ideas. I will not be sewing as close as those examples though.

I have known this person for 5 years. Several years ago, she lost her husband, and then 3 years ago, I moved, and as it happened, I am now about 4 miles away. Since she lives alone, I make it a point to do anything I can for her. The things she asks me for are very few, mostly rides to work in bad weather since I got the 4WD car, but it was me who offered. I actually told her when I got the car, that anytime she feels uncomfortable driving, I would take her. She takes care of my cat, when we go on vacation, and has rescued me several times, when my previous car died on the road. So, she's not a needy, life sucking person at all. I think we've all had those in our life, and sometimes still get sucked in.
Doing this might make me a hero to you, but if it makes her a hero to her granddaughter, and takes some stress off a lady who misses her husband every day, it's worth it to me.

Well, bless your heart. As I read the wording in your original post the tone seemed to be that of putting stress on you. Glad you are at such peace -- especially at what seems to be a busy and stressful time of year for many -- being of help to her.

[Deegles]

Re: I like a challenge

Odd, I always thought tying a quilt was a whole lot quicker. Perhaps that is what needs to be done.
If you do quilt it, I like the idea mentioned earlier about diagonally. And sparsely quilted. This quilt is pretty. To bad it will have to be a rushed job, as time could make this even more lovelier with quilted feathers.

[quiltingaway]

Re: I like a challenge

You are just a wonderful friend. She is blessed to have you in her life. I think I would just do diagonal straight line quilting. Good luck.

[MRoy]

Re: I like a challenge

Unless the blocks are really mismatched, I'd use the serpentine stitch on my machine and sew on top of the seams. You can guide it and gradually shift it over if necessary for mismatches. Good luck with your Good Samaritan project!