quilting

Snail’s Pace Quilting

March 16, 2018

Snail’s pace quilting, that’s what I’m doing this week. Things have been moving a little slower toward the end of this week, all because I’m being careful.

Postcards from Sweden Update

My snail’s pace is mostly related to my Postcards from Sweden quilt for the Quilt Along being hosted by Sandra at mmmQuilts. It has taken me a little while to get going, and today I finally have some progress to show. 

I love the colors in this quilt. I cut the fabric and lined up all the squares. It’s very satisfying to look at them all nice and neat.

Snail's Pace Quilting - Postcards from Sweden fabrics, all lined up - piecefulthoughts.com

I’m supposed to cut the squares into triangles, but I’m doing that as I go. One of the things I need to do while I quilt is move around more, so I’ve decided getting up and down to cut and sew is going to help, although it slows the process a bit.

Still, I managed to get three rows done, two sewn together and the third waiting. I’m enjoying the process, but also paying close attention to the orientation of the blocks. Taking my time helps with that too. I should have some time this weekend to sew a few more rows.

Snail's Pace Quilting - first three rows of Postcards from Sweden - piecefulthoughts.com

Small UFO Finish

I have had this sashiko pillow languishing in my UFO pile for almost a year. I worked on this little pillow right after my ankle sprain (which turned out to be a fractured fibula) while we were visiting Santa Fe. All it needed was one more little row of stitching and a backing. I did add a small border around the quilt, to bring it to a 14″ size. It was a fun project; the sashiko stitching is very relaxing.

Snail's Pace Quilting - Sashiko Pillow - piecefulthoughts.com

This pillow has been added to my pillow stash on my bed. However, it’s not Pillow 3 that I talked about in an earlier post. That’s still on my to-do list. I might sneak that in this weekend. We’ll see!

My Winning Stash

A few weeks ago, Sandra from mmmQuilts contacted me to let me know that I had won the first round of the 30 Quilt Designs Challenge she is hosting on Instagram. I won a gift certificate to The Red Hen Shop. The fabrics on the right are those that I chose with my gift certificate. Isn’t that top piece with the dresses fun?! The little lovelies on the left are extras tucked in by Melody of The Red Hen Shop. Thanks, Melody!

Snail's Pace Quilting - my winning stash - piecefulthoughts.com

How are you doing? Are you working at a snail’s pace like me, or just buzzing along?

Linking up today with Sandra of mmmQuilts and Tish of TishnWonderland.

Have a good weekend, friends!

Wendy

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37 Comments

  • Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts
    March 16, 2018 at 6:24 am Reply

    Is there anything slower than a snail, because I’m not even up to snails pace yet… 🙂 The pillow is great. I love that the stitching is the only design element. And PFS is on my ‘to do one day’ list, I love the look of it!

    • piecefulwendy
      March 16, 2018 at 8:21 am Reply

      Well, you do have a few things going on over there, so I think it’s okay. You’ll catch up! Thanks for taking a moment to stop by!

  • Louise Hornor
    March 16, 2018 at 7:24 am Reply

    Very smart to take your time with the Postcards. It’s really easy to get things out of order, let me tell you! And I hear you about needing to get up and move around more, also smart. Your Sashiko pillow is beautiful! I love classic Japanese designs of white against indigo. And congrats on your fun winnings 🙂

  • Vicki in MN
    March 16, 2018 at 7:56 am Reply

    I guess I am not really informed about Sashiko, but your pillow is very fun. What thread did you use? Yes I think I am in the snails pace this week too. Don’t really feel accomplished, don’t like the feeling much either!!

  • Karen
    March 16, 2018 at 8:25 am Reply

    I feel like I am moving slowly on many of my projects but everyone else says I move quickly. I like those bright colors you are working with and I think I saw someone else’s work with them too. Don’t you just love winning fabric.

  • Facetfully
    March 16, 2018 at 9:53 am Reply

    A lovely and colorful post! We could all get up and move more in our rooms, so your plan is a good one. Snail’s pace…boy, do I hear that! Sometimes it is life and sometimes it is caution…or too many projects. I would love to stay in my room for at least a week solid to feel in order right now! Love that shashiko pillow! Thanks for sharing. .. maybe next week we will move up to a turtle’s pace!

  • norma
    March 16, 2018 at 11:28 am Reply

    Great Sashiko pillow – and you’re so organised! All those pieces clipped together…
    I love the fabric with the little dresses on.
    I’ve finished my Welsh quilt for the exhibition next week. Hooray!!

  • rl2b2017
    March 16, 2018 at 12:19 pm Reply

    Hi Wendy,
    Your Postcard is coming along so nicely! I love seeing all the fabrics together, awaiting their turn for attention. They just look so beautiful together. I have been working one row at a time myself. Match up the colors/triangles, sew them together, press, trim and then sew the row. I am just about to add row five to the other four rows. I doubt I’ll make that much progress this weekend, but you never know! It is after all Worldwide Quilting Day so the least I can do is spend it sewing. That fabric with the dresses is so darn cute! I can’t wait to see how you’re going to use it. ~smile~ Roseanne

    • piecefulwendy
      March 16, 2018 at 12:26 pm Reply

      Thanks, Roseanne! We’re doing the same process with Postcards! Yes, a little stitching is required tomorrow!

  • somethingrosemade14
    March 16, 2018 at 12:53 pm Reply

    Slow and steady finishes the quilt, sew they say. Just wondering if you have a die-cutter? Love your winnings especially since I have a lot of Malka Dubrawsky in my stash (wink). Have you seen FQS Ripple Quilt tutorial?

  • Kate
    March 16, 2018 at 3:22 pm Reply

    My Postcards is definitely at a snails pace, I still have about six fabrics to cut yet and not one triangle stitched together. The pillow was well worth the effort of finishing, lovely neat stitching. Congratulations on your win. I love the cute fabric too.

  • Sandra Walker
    March 16, 2018 at 6:49 pm Reply

    Isn’t that Melody a darling! And she has some super-cool fabric too, no? I am curious (no dying) to know what you will do with the dresses fabric as it’s not one I’d pick, but I love your work, so I’m expecting I’ll be wowed… Yay for progress of any kind, and yay for moving more, on PfS. And relax, because I’m not much further than you, and Rose has suggested that I add a week to the piecing the flimsy stage, which I think I must do, since that request involves a certain granddaughter….

  • Lisa
    March 17, 2018 at 11:20 am Reply

    It’s a snails pace for me as well. I’m using the same approach as you, cutting the triangles as I go along, and really concentrating on colour placement. I’ve go about I row finished and one cut and ready to sew.

  • Melanie McNeil
    March 18, 2018 at 8:21 am Reply

    The sashiko pillow is fun, and I love the bright colors of your new project. As for moving more while you work, you could set a timer for 20 minutes. That seems short, like a real interruption, but it would get you to stand up, stretch, and change your visual focus for a moment, if nothing else. And once an hour, do a set of stairs, move the laundry, do 10 reps of … some exercise.

  • Kathleen McCormick
    March 18, 2018 at 8:22 am Reply

    Lucky Dog winning that gift certificate! I love the postcards quilts and await the show of all the gorgeousness. Moving while quilting is such a good idea, one of the reasons I keep my pressing station away from my machines. It has felt like a snails pace to me – working one my OMG and Island Batik project – but its all coming together.

  • Preeti
    March 20, 2018 at 1:41 pm Reply

    Snail’s Pace – Isn’t that a quilt block? Or is it Snail’s Trail? Snail’s Path? No Drunkard’s Path. Gosh, I need a drink. What were you saying? Love all the bright and beautiful pictures 🙂 See, you can be all over the place or move in one direction, speed immaterial.

  • Tish
    March 20, 2018 at 2:30 pm Reply

    Congrats on your fabric win! It’s been watching everyone’s designs pop up on Instagram. I’d say a snails pace is probably the way to go with Postcards. So many different colors and making sure they are going the right way…I’m pretty sure I’d crack under pressure and mess it up 🙂 Yours, however, is looking great! I love your sashiko pillow finish. It looks so good with its pillow friends.

  • Katherine
    March 21, 2018 at 11:11 pm Reply

    I’m going at a snail’s pace because I’m 35 weeks pregnant with baby number nine (yes, you read right). I’m booked into having my ninth c section and my doctor said yesterday that he might move it forward and I REALLY want to finish my bassinet sized quilts before baby comes! I don’t know the gender so I’m making one of each. I know I don’t ‘have’ to finish before baby comes but there’s no way my husband will let me sew soon after having my c section. I’m not fond of snails pace but it’s better than nothing!

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