First Quilt and Things I have learned.

I joined the "One Thing, One Week Challenge" this week.  My goal is to finish the inner body of a quilt that I started about 9-10 years ago.  It has been so long, that I can't even remember when I started it!  The quilt is made up of strips (or rows) with sashing in between the rows.  The border is made up of flying geese.

The quilt is a strip of the month quilt that I bought on my very first trip to the International Quilt Festival in Houston.  I remember being very excited to start the quilt as this would be my first "block" of the month quilt to make.  I managed to make about 4 of the 10 rows before I lost interest and put it in a box for another day.  Well, that other day was 2 weeks ago. 

I had 6 rows left to make and when I started sewing them again, I realized how fun they were to make.  I still don't know why I didn't finish it years ago!  I am happy to say that I got all the rows done this week and that is why when I saw the OTOW challenge, I decided to finish the quilt body.  I'll finish the flying geese border next.

Today, I started to sew sashing between the rows and then sew the rows together.  Here's what I have learned:

1.  My sewing skills have vastly improved in the last 10 years.
2.  I DON'T like doing strip quilts.
3.  I am a much faster sewer than I was 10 years ago.
4.  My tastes have changed.

Explanation:
1.  My rows are not matching up!!  The first rows that I did 10 years ago match and the rows I have done recently match, but they don't match each other!!  Quite a dilemma!
2.  Because of the above, I am having trouble getting the blocks to come out right!  UGH!
3.  It took me at least a day to sew one row 10 years ago and I can do at least 2 rows in a day now!
4.  OK, I do still love the strip quilt, but take a look at my very first quilt that I made in 1990 below.  The colors are pink and blue which I loved then, but not so much now.  I made this in my first quilting class.  We learned to piece, applique, hand quilt and put on the binding. 

So, here's some advice to all you new quilters:  Finish what you start.  Don't save a project for a later date, because your skills will improve and your tastes will change.  You might end up with the kind of problem that I have below....

I ended up taking off a block, eliminating a row completely and fudging on others!  I just hope it turns out OK!  I will post a picture of it when it is all done.  Hopefully, that won't be 10 years from now!

---Jackie