Monday, January 6, 2014

Summer Mystery - Final

Today is the final link-up for the mystery quilt. Apparently lots of people have been posting their finished tops on facebook, but for those of us not on that site, the link-up is the only opportunity to see everyone's progress. I am really looking forward to seeing them all, particularly those who chose different colour schemes.

This week's garden depiction of our colours features some yellow and orange cannas with a blue and neutral fence, and some bonus yellow roses in the background.

I don't have a completed top, but I do have 4 rows of blocks made and pressed:
I think it looks better in real life than it does in the photo. It was a bit late in the day when I took this, and the flash couldn't illuminate the whole thing.

Pressing is the killer - it took me 45 minutes to give 10 blocks their final press today. I'd be interested to know how people are pressing them once the blocks are joined. Do you keep pressing to one side and spinning the seams on every intersection? And if so, which side are you pressing to? Or do you use some other strategy?

Apart from the 28 pressed blocks, I've got a few more fully assembled and ready for the final press. Then the last 16 look like this:
They are half-assembled. Each one is in three pieces, joined as a web. They all need pressing before the final seams are sewn. So I'm almost ready to assemble the quilt top, BUT...

I am seriously thinking of making 32 more blocks to make a 9 x 9 grid. I really like this quilt, and would like to make it big enough for a bed. So this could turn into a longer-term project.

Thanks Bonnie, for another fun mystery!

I'll add the link to Bonnie's link-up post when it is available later tonight, so we can visit everyone else and marvel at their achievements.

Here's the link-up!


13 comments:

Nikki said...

Wow! If it looks better in real life than in the photos, then it must be a stunner!

Cherry said...

Beautiful! Your are making good progress and yes, the pressing took forever for me too. Some of the seams just went wherever they wanted to go. LOVE the garden shot!! It has been snowing for several days here and now we have a few days of cold Artic air sweeping down with below zero temps. Perfect sewing weather. Can't wait to see your finished, larger quilt!

Michelle said...

Wow...great job! Love your fabrics. I also considered making more blocks to make it fit better on our bed, but in the end decided not too. I'll probably always wish I had! LOL

Anita said...

Fantastic job! Good luck in the assembling!

Art by Rhoda Forbes said...

Fabulous work...love the colors and of course we are so luck to get this Free mystery from Bonnie. I look forward to seeing the completion of your quilt. I know I have a ways to go yet :)

Marly said...

Brave girl: go on, make it really big it's such a splash of colour, it's beautiful.

Jackie at Adirondack Urban said...

Your progress so far looks great! I pressed all my blocks towards the star blocks, then pressed the rows towards the rows with an odd number if star blocks. That worked well for me. Good luck with completing your top - no matter how big you decide to make it.

ratama said...

Wow, your Celtic Solstice looks great!

Liv Aagot's Quilt Blog said...

Really great work! Lovely bright colours! Enjoy the rest of the project :)

Jennifer said...

Such vibrant colours - it must be gorgeous in real life then. My photos don't show the true colours. Hopefully I can get a truer representation for the final link-up. Love your blog, the colours in your garden are beautiful. It is lovely to see others from Melbourne doing Bonnie's mysteries. Maybe we'll all catch up when she visits Australia. Cheers Jen

Andee said...

You have made lots of progress, great job!

Ivani said...

I thought the same about how will be the best way to press the rows...I'll be trying this tomorrow.. As far as you show, it looks beautiful. Hugs

Unknown said...

I enjoyed visiting your blog and seeing your progress. Beautiful job. i used Bonnie's suggestions for pressing.