Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Table topper



The IFQ group does an incredible amount of projects, there is something for everyone. When I joined, I signed up for a couple swaps and a couple projects- as usual, jumping in before looking! This double sided table topper is one of those projects. The directions and diagrams were wonderful, the suggestion was to do it in homespuns, and I did. While I enjoyed the fast sew together, the project reminded me why I avoid working with homespuns. I love looking at them, and the primitive, imperfect look they give, but I hate working with them because invariably one or more is very much off grain and I don't enjoy producing primitive/imperfect- I'm trying to improve my skills and want projects to reflect that! Hubby came up, looked at it hanging on my design wall and immediately informed me that it wasn't up to my usual standards, how was I going to fix it. He also expected that I should have matched the plaids as in garment construction. When I explained about the homespuns he told me if that was the case, I shouldn't have used them. Sigh. All it needs at this point is binding, but I'm not sure I'll bother. I am seriously out of love with this one. I guess I just love homespuns when someone else does them.

Of the two sides, I prefer the one that is more of a bulls-eye. As I said, the construction was fast and very enjoyable, so I would like to do the project again sometime. I am toying with the idea of using seasonal fabrics, ie. Christmas for one side, Thanksgiving for the other. I'd have to recalculate fabric requirements, but that's ok. I think it would be fun to do one project to be used for two seasons. Just think of the possibilities! If you put New years and Valentines day on one, St. Patrick's and Easter on another, both Memorial Day and July 4 on one, maybe with Halloween on the back, and Thanksgiving and Christmas on another. You would have year round decorations-and you wouldn't have to switch out as often in between, just flip it over and you are ready to go! LOL Sort of like Superman slipping into the phone both for a quick costume change....faster than a speeding bullet!!

8 comments:

hippie quilter said...

Sometimes husband's comments are not helpful. If my husband doesn't like my lastest project, then I know I will love it!

Nancy said...

I intensely dislike working with Homespuns so I gave all mine to my sister for camp quilts. LOVE the primitive look when other people use them but I've just never been happy with the unmatchyness of them when I tried to use them myself. So while it would have made me NUTS to make your project, I think it looks so cool! Go figure....

And my sweetie almost NEVER likes the stuff I make. :-)

Pam said...

I'm 100% with you on the homespuns, I sent all of my homespuns to live at a new house last year and don't foresee me purchasing any more EVER

Unknown said...

If you don´t like it, somebody else will for sure. I like the brown tones and your ideas of double sided quilts. Take care.

Cher said...

hope you find someone to give this as a gift to, that likes that wonky look-sorry you are not happy with it.
I too gave away what little homespuns I had

Patti said...

I'm so sorry you don't like it - I love it! Plaids in quilts should be wonky and off grain - they sure are in antique quilts - because that's what keeps the eye moving from place to place. I will happily take this off your hands if you'd like - unbound too!

MARCIE said...

Isn't it funny how different we all are? I love that homespun look and I think your log cabin is wonderful! It is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. I know what you mean about working hard for perfection and now it seems that the new style is to mis-match and cut off points. Go figure!

Unknown said...

You could always use the homespun orphan as a background for some primitive applique - then the mismatches of the checks wouldn't be so noticeable and annoy you quite so much