God is good, Lois, and I'm going to bed thinking/praying/meditating more about you and your wonderful Aunt Jean than about whether to prewash or not...

I finally finished February's BOM on Sunday, March 1. Errgggh! I did enough "unsewing" to last me for the rest of the project! I've been distracted lately, though. My Aunt Jean doesn't have long to live, and even though she's 84, it's going to be difficult to not have her with us. Cancer throughout her body, but she's in no pain, at least not yet. So much cancer the dr. didn't think it would do anything but cause her misery. She's still home and doing well, it seems. I went over to see her two weekends back-to-back (8 hr. drive one-way), and then was so exhausted, I just sat on the couch & read a book the next weekend. finally kicked myself in gear & finished this beautiful pattern. I am loving this! God is good. Aunt Jean & I have talked a few times by phone, and she assures me she isn't frightened. She says, "I know where I'm going."

I got the main part done, but not the sawtooth stars. Another quilt now takes priority so they will have to wait, along with March's instructions. I hope I don't get too far behind. I'm loving this quilt!

Hanna,
I'm not done either. I just finished re-making some of my four patches. I had them done and then my son gave me a good idea for the pattern. But then I had to take some of them apart and put different colors together. I starting putting it up on my design wall so I don't screw up the pattern. No sewing is possible tomorrow. I start the day with Mass, then breakfast, then Bob the Builder at one theatre and then a quick dinner and then Texas Heritage Songwriters Homecoming at another theatre. You can't miss Willie Nelson and friends!!
Frances in windy Austin

I am NOT done with the february BOM I have been working like crazy, to much happening at work these days
But, All pieces are cut, and the 4-patches are sewn, the borders are comming together...so I hope I am done by next weekend!

It is so much fun to check out S&T...a lot of wonderful piecing going on...and its real fun Keith has joined this cult

I too am finished February's block (will post photo tomorrow). I also left off the last floater because the quilt measures 30 1/4 ins, don't know how this happened . i have enjoyed making it even though i have found it very challenging, am still using just my stash fabrics. looking forward to March.

Jenny in Oz

I am done with February, just in time for March. I did not put on a second solid strip because mine came out larger then it should have. I am going to wait for next month to decide if I will put it on or just use one solid border between the 4-patch and pinwheel borders. I have learned a lot doing this BOM and am really enjoying it.

I want to be able to say that I'm done, but I'm not yet. I'm only using 6 colors for my four patches. That makes it difficult to make it look scrappy. I was planning on the six colors in order all the way around. But DS#1 had different ideas. He finally gave me a couple of different runs and I was all ready to go play with them in EQ6 when my sewing room computer crashed. So now DH is working on getting it up and running again. I may still get it done this month, but may not
Frances in sunny Austin

Annis, I may try your technique for the flying geese for future projects, but I have almost half done using Sue's method. I like that you have usable blocks when you are done. Thanks for sharing, you are a great teacher!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

I'm thrilled to be able to jump on this thread that my Feb portion is done and posted.

I have not done the stars yet. I moved on to the LQS BOM as I don't want to be behind in that either.

I have soooo much going on that my sewing time in March will be nil. I'll have to squeeze in a bit here & there for sanity but honestly I'm concerned about just not overdoing it.

I'm so loving that I have the kit of fabrics! They are my favs so it was super for me to have such gorgeous fabrics arrive at my door. I'm so thankful for that.

Joyce

Hi Annis,

That's a pretty cool technique. Too bad for me that I've already cut most of my pieces for all of the sawtooth blocks. However, I will try your technique for a few blocks to see if I like it better that the technique I'm using. There seems to be endless ways to create those little flying geese, with advantages/disadvantages of each.

By the way, I really like the changes you've made to the original BOM design.

I've enjoyed watching all of the different Feb BOM's being posted. There are so many pretty ones it would be hard to pick a favorite. I wasn't in too big of a hurry to get mine finished because I knew the way I was doing it would be difficult. But I finally decided it was time so mine is now posted. I started it yesterday morning, the 4th day of feeling bad due to a virus but wasn't feeling too bad to quilt. I started out by accidentally cutting twice the number of four patch squares that I needed. Then after getting them half sewn I noticed my bobbin tension was off. It's a good thing it was on the dark side so the seam is covering it and noone will know! Then I realized the fussy cut center square of my feathered star should have been sewn on point which made it harder to add the four patch border with Y seams and mitered borders. But after a very long day of careful sewing I was able to complete it and am happy with the results. I added the final border today. I've decided to make all of the flying geese for the sawtooth stars first, and my strips are cut. I like the speed of assembly line sewing. I've placed a tutorial on my blog for the technique I will be using for my flying geese if anyone is interested.

When I got my last floating border on I thought to myself "That's a perfect wallhanging just like it is...maybe I won't go any further." However...now that it's been hanging on the design wall for a few days I've decided to keep at it. I've never had formal lessons or taken classes. That's okay, but I've never really challenged myself either. Well, this is my lesson and my challenge. I get the feeling it won't all be fun but I'm certain I'll learn an awful lot!
Sherry

Margo wrote:
Thanks Margo. Previously, I didn't want to starch my fabrics. I did prewash them, though. If I had known that starching could have prevented the loose threads, then I might have considered it.

So far, I think that loose threads are the only problem I've had with this project which could have been prevented by starching.