Problem Children!

We all have them - problem children - the quilts that just don't want to play nice.  I started this top almost a week ago.  It began with an idea - what if I merged two patterns together into the same block.  So, off to EQ7 to design.  That part went well, and I printed off my foundations and templates, and set to work.  Here's the block:

But it didn't always look like that.  First mistake - I shut down EQ, because I knew what I was doing.  And that how I sewed the first four blocks together absolutely wrong.  So, I unstitched them, and started again.  Then I realized I'd forgotten to trim the flying geese arcs (and that I should never sew late at night).  Unstitch and fix.  Then the center section kept not fitting.  Went back to EQ, only to realize to my horror that I was using some templates from one size block, and some from another.  Duh!  Unstitch again.  Then the half square triangles weren't playing nice.  I know better;  I learned by watching Eleanor Burns years ago that I have to trim each and every one to be sure they're actually square.  Again, duh!  Unstitch again and fix, again.

Finally, this morning - after nearly a week - the blocks are together.  When I sew blocks together, I arrange them on the design wall, then pick them up, all stacked in the same direction, take them to the sewing table, and sew the rows, putting a different color flower head pin in the upper left hand corner of each row, so that I know which way up they go, and in what order.  BUT - never take the first row off the stack, set it down and go pour a cup of coffee, because when you come back, you can't remember where you were.  Of course I didn't realize that until I had a few more blocks together . . . . unstitch again!  (I knew it wasn't going to be a good day while watching Law and Order reruns at 4:00 this morning - and that's why I needed the coffee.)  Anyways, it's done.

I think this one gets to live with me, partly because I really love it, and partly because it's been taken apart and put it back together so many times, it's become part of my life.  But also because when people come to visit and I try to tell them I do New York Beauty quilts, they sometimes want to see one, and because I sell them as they're finished, there are never any in the house, and my guests must just think I have a huge imagination and no quilts! 

So here it is;  there will be more in this pattern, which I've named Sandy Cove, because I think it's really cool, and because having learned all the tricks along the way, the next one will be much easier!

Happy Quilting!  Have a great long weekend!  (I'm starting on a queen size in blue, so I'll be busy!)
Maggie