Sunday, November 29, 2015

Something New

I finally have another finish.

One of the new friends I've made since moving is the "queen" of Stack and Whacks! She has made more than 200 of them. It is the only type of quilt she is interested in. Bill was fascinated with them.

Of course I agreed to make one. I decided on a Christmas one. Also decided that since it will "probably" be the only one I will ever make I wanted to make it for our bed.

Don't get me wrong, they are beautiful quilts, it is just that there are so many other types of quilts I want to make. This is the fabric I chose. I like the background colors - red, maroon, and two shades of green.

You buy by the repeat in the fabric not yardage so I wasn't sure how much to buy to make a big quilt.  My friend will buy what I don't use. Not crazy abt it and was told the uglier the fabric the prettier the stack and whack quilt will be.    Which is certainly true after looking at my friend's quilts. Glittery fabric, girly fabric just isn't me and I don't know what I was thinking when I bought it.

Since starting this quilt I have come to realize that I am not a fan of making Stack n Whack quilts. I didn't mind the piecing or the cutting. The tacking of all 8 layers together wore me out! It took me  - TWELVE - long hours to tack my components. I did it while watching a Murder She Wrote Marathon. Never - Ever will I make one again. Eight layers made 14 blocks and I needed 64 blocks, so I had to tack 5 - 8 layers stacks.....which made 70 blocks. 

I decided to set my quilt on point which didn't use as many blocks. A friend will be getting a Christmas quilt with the left over blocks!

This is my first quilt that I set on point. So not use to dealing with bias edges around the outside of the top. There are a few wavy areas and I am hoping that once it is washed that some of the glitter (there is a lot of glitter) and the waves will disappear. 
 This quilt is 98x98. Some of the blocks.....I like that the blocks are surrounded with cream as it makes it look like they are floating.



 And these cute snowman are on the back.
Because I struggled with the bias edges and also where the 8 points meet in the center of each block there were some peaks, meandering was the simple way for me to keep the top kinda flat while quilting it.

Linking up to the stash report at Patchwork Times.


Fabric usage  2015 ~
fabric in YTD ~ 31.66
fabric out YTD ~ 198.80
used YTD ~ 167.14

Quilts Finished ~ 17each quilt will only be counted in one category
QOV ~ 6
RMH ~ 8
UFO ~ 1
New ~ 2




10 comments:

Shannon said...

Your Christmas quilt looks beautifull! I love to watch Murder She Wrote too, but after watching so many times, I always seem to remember who done it!

Julie in GA said...

I used to make lots of Stack & Whack quilts, but sort of lost interest in them. I'm sure I still have some fabrics around that were meant for that purpose. I love the fabric you chose, and your quilt is wonderful!

Laura said...

It's a beautiful quilt! I like to make stack and wacks, but I cut them out on a die cutter at my local LQS to save time.

Libby in TN said...

It turned out very well. Good fabric selection and nice pattern choice. Don't give up on SnW based on this experience alone; there are easier patterns with fewer layers and easier techniques for stacking as long as precision is not crucial for you. Don't give up on on-point settings, either; there are better techniques for cutting your setting triangles that won't be on the bias. Let's get through the holidays, then pick a Saturday when we can get together.

Anonymous said...

I like how the quilt turned out. Very nice! It's great to try new things to figure out whether you like them or not. :) ~Melanie

kwiltnkats said...

I'm with you on making one. I did when the "rave" first came out. I didn't have much help in fabric selection so the results weren't the best. It sounds like you struggled through, but from what I can see a fabulous job. Setting on point is a good look; sometimes it can fancy up an otherwise not so exciting block to block layout. You'll have to clue me in on the schedule of the Murder She Wrote marathons...loved that show! Sandi

Marti said...

I've never made a stack and whack but always thought they were pretty. But like you, I don't think I would want to make more than one. And after reading about your struggle with the layers, I'm not sure I'd one to do one. But yours is gorgeous. I bet it really adds a festive holiday look to the bedroom too.

Karen said...

It is always fun to try new patterns. You picked the perfect fabrics for your stack and whack quilt. It is a beautiful quilt. I am sure you are going to enjoy this Christmas quilt.

Jennifer said...

You may not have enjoyed the process that much, but the quilt is beautiful and I hope you enjoy the end result! I finished up a UFO stack and whack and the four blocks I made were enough for me - I agree wth you that there are way too many quilts to make to do the same kind over and over!

Denise :) said...

Wow, wow, WOW! That's is a stunning quilt! I love the fabrics, too. WOW!!! And it's huge!!! Nicely done!! :)