[ learning to quilt on a weekend ]

Ok, so obviously you know that I want to learn to quilt/sew/create things. Not just that I want to - I feel the need to. It's weird and unexplainable.

So - on Friday at work, Jennifer taught me how to read a pattern and gave me some tips along the way. From then on, I couldn't wait to get home and try out the things I'd learned.

It was a frustrating evening. I learned to measure twice and cut once. Remember that fabric that I had double of? Well...I'm glad I had extra to spare. :)

I texted Jennifer several times with questions (thanks for responding...:) ) and finally gave up for the evening. As I explained it to Jessica, I turned off the machine, turned off the lights, and shut the door.

Jessica: "Oh, so you put your machine into time out? Classic."

Marcie: "Basically. Isn't that what you do when something makes you mad?!"

Jessica: "I swear and throw things. It's a personal choice."

Fast forward to Sunday.

(It would've been Saturday, but Saturday was our first Junior Miss practice and Junior Miss Committee Meeting - then I came home and took a three hour nap!)

So - Sunday - I was determined to make it work. I mean, seriously, how hard can this be?!

In the beginning...things weren't looking good.

Another text to Jessica:

"I've taken to your way of dealing with my sewing machine."

But then...an hour and a half later...this text to Jessica:

"Your method works! I'm a lot more successful!"

After many episodes of sewing and seam ripping - and a break for some Advil and a Kahlua -

here's the result:

These aren't great pictures - but I'm pretty proud of myself. Don't look close. The squares aren't straight or even. It's even quite a bit smaller than it was supposed to be. Not sure why.

But - beyond all of it's flaws - it's my first sewing project!! It's a table square/runner - it's more square than rectangle. I don't have enough fabric to do the outside border or the backing, so I need to head to Craft Warehouse for that - plus batting and fabric for the binding. I'm a little nervous for the binding part...and quilting.

I'm still interested in making some key fobs - where do I get "webbing"? I looked at JoAnn's, but didn't see any. Maybe I don't know where to look.

Anyway - I had to share my proud moment. I've still got visions of many things to create dancing in my head. More to come....