Whoops

You know what that means...

Yep, even though it is the last thing I really need, I started a new project.

I can justify it all I want -- it's all scraps, I'm using up stuff that was taking room in my storage, it's going so fast, I couldn't have worked on any of the others anyway -- but while those are all true, it really boils down to this: I needed something a little more brainless.

I've got great projects going on. I really do want to be working on them. Even if basting is the worst.

But everything else I'm working on -- or working towards -- requires a lot of attention to detail. Measure twice, press once, measure again, then cut or sew. That's great for a more perfect outcome.

But right now, I need something messy and fast and just plain fun.

So, I'm scrap busting. I'm sewing fast. I'm not even looking at colors or patterns -- only sizes.

I pulled 4 orphaned blocks I've had for 5+ years out of storage, then pulled all the greens, blues, yellows, and a few creams and oranges from my 'too big to be a scrap but too small to be really useful' pile (does anyone else have one of those?). Then, I just matched scraps together in increasingly bigger blocks.

When I took a break because I needed to iron -- and the ironing board was in with the sleeping baby (technically not a toddler for a couple more weeks) -- I whipped out a quick draft layout to see how my progress looked:

There are still a few blank spots to fill in, and the layout will almost certainly change as I keep working, but, it's fun and a little wild, and I kind of love it. You can easily pick out 3 of the 4 blocks, but I think the 4th blends right in (left most, approximate middle). The dark brown zigs stand out, but not as much as I thought they would. I might move them more towards the center -- if they can't be disguised, might as well feature them! -- but I might not. I might keep on with my 'don't look, don't think' plan. 

Of course, I've had help. Any moment the baby is away, the help comes out of hiding: 

His nap on the creams and yellows might have led to the color choices so far, but I'm not too worried about it. I've honestly not paid any attention to that yet, and I don't intend to. I need a total vacation from thinking -- or over-thinking -- and this is it. It might not look great (although, I actually kind dig it) but I feel great, and that's what really matters right now.

Quilt #31 -- The Scrappy X Plus Quilt

Whew! I kind of raced to finish this one in the little free time I had, but I think it turned out great -- especially for having been forgotten about for so long!

 Maybe it doesn't look much different to anyone else, but there is something about that final step of washing and drying a quilt that takes it from 'eh' to 'oh yes!' for me. I was feeling pretty 'meh' about this one for a long time -- probably part of why it was left to languish under other projects until I completely forgot about it -- but here it is freshly washed and I am in love again!

Oh, I did remember a photo of the back this time:

I was so close to finishing the whole back in yellow -- but I used up every scrap of yellow flannel I had and was just that short! That's okay. I think the dark green goes well with the top.

Actually, that dark green piece of flannel and the dark green/pine tree scraps on the front of the quilt were the two very first fabric purchases I made when I started quilting about 6 years ago. Walmart fat quarters. I worked with them until I was ready to try bigger, more precious pieces. And that memory made them precious to me. So, it's kind of nice to see the last of them (aside from tiny, tiny scraps) turned into a project -- and nice that they got to go together. No one else will ever know, but that's one of the fun things about working in scraps!

While I love the crazy colors, it is obvious that I pulled these together a block at a time with no thought for how they would all work together. I wish I'd been a little more specific about where the different intensities of colors would go -- like all brown/dark plusses with the mid tones on the x parts. But, this was a more or less 'blind' scrap assembly, and not the most exacting piecing either, so let's call it a scrappy little learning curve quilt and know that I'll be coming back to this quilt pattern when I have a little more time in my life.

Scrappy and wonky? Yes. But it turns out I do love it after all. And that roller coaster ride of will it or won't it is part of what I like about the way I quilt. I like the artistic freedom of not having to be perfect, even if I think I might like perfect results too.

When I started this top, I had my baby in mind, but he's got more quilts that I know what to do with -- and I bet he gets more before he's much older! At this point, it's going into the stash for a baby shower (though as always, with a little mental note as to who I'm hoping it'll end up with).