Ugly Twisters: 2010 (Started: 1999)
This
is a quickie strippy I did with Judy Hooworth at Maroubra with the Eastern
Suburbs Quilters 28th August 1999.
I
can’t remember the exact details but somehow recall we had to bring our uglies
with the intention of slapping them into something likeable…..
Block Size: 5“
Cut in: 1999
Pieced & Basted: 2001
Quilted: Machine & hand 2010
Quilt Type: Workshop
Quilt Finished: 2010
Exhibited: Australia Day 2011
Collection: Home# 033
Pattern Name: Simple 4 patch
Pattern Source: Judy Hooworth
Fabrics Purchased: Stash
Fabric Design: Mixed & Uglies
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Cotton
Backing: Cotton
Lessons Learned:
This was a nothing ventured, nothing gained workshop. We all had fun and relaxed. It is too easy to get caught up in “overthinking” projects wanting them to work out perfectly – every time and instantly… This quilt slowly evolved, benefiting from a little time in the UFO box and improvement in my quilting skills. Fresh eyes, either your own after being well rested, or those of a friend willing to say it like it is, can turn around an ugly. Time spent in reflection is never wasted!
“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” Don Williams Jr (poet & songwriter)
 |
| Hanging at Dangar Island Australia Day Quilt Exhibition 2011 (Margaret's bright hexagon flowers are on the right) |
It
really was fast to piece but needless to say I didn’t like the resulting top (can
you really make uglies attractive?). Mind
you, others in our workshop were more successful in creating attractive tops –
perhaps I was trying too hard… Eventually
I added an outrageous border to pull it all together. This improved it very little! It’s rather a shame because I put together a
pieced backing that I thought was rather nice.
Finally
by the end of 2001, the top made it to my pile needing backing & basting! This was the start of my roundup in 2003 in
prep for
a. my much anticipated new
Bernina (read life-saving machine quilting), and
b. as part of my “clean up” of the UFO pile, which regrettably, I
am still working through!
But
still this top lingered, unloved. Needing
finished quilts to display for our 2011 Australia Day exhibition, I made an
effort to get this one completed and have to say that I am finally at rest with
this project – it doesn’t look too bad now.
I stitched a cable pattern in the wholecloth strips (hand quilted with
sashiko thread) and machine quilted various feather cables in the pieced
strips. It looked quite good hanging
up. Maybe those uglies are finally
growing on me…
Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 142x 142cm Block Size: 5“
Cut in: 1999
Pieced & Basted: 2001
Quilted: Machine & hand 2010
Quilt Type: Workshop
Quilt Finished: 2010
Exhibited: Australia Day 2011
Collection: Home# 033
Pattern Name: Simple 4 patch
Pattern Source: Judy Hooworth
Fabrics Purchased: Stash
Fabric Design: Mixed & Uglies
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Cotton
Backing: Cotton
Lessons Learned:
This was a nothing ventured, nothing gained workshop. We all had fun and relaxed. It is too easy to get caught up in “overthinking” projects wanting them to work out perfectly – every time and instantly… This quilt slowly evolved, benefiting from a little time in the UFO box and improvement in my quilting skills. Fresh eyes, either your own after being well rested, or those of a friend willing to say it like it is, can turn around an ugly. Time spent in reflection is never wasted!
“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” Don Williams Jr (poet & songwriter)
