Window on the World progress & process

Making good progress, so thought I would continue to share the process.  Have you ever struggled to cut a large panel?  Here's my process:

--View panel on design wall, deciding which portions you want to focus on. 

--Make preliminary marks at approximate edges, being sure you are not cutting key design elements.  For example, not chopping off the head of a major bird, etc.  Sometimes it just can't be avoided.  One of my pet peeves!  But that is a  topic for a different day!

--Straighten at least one to two edges, using rotary cutter and ruler.  Be sure you are outside of your final cutting marks.

--Using a 24.5 inch ruler and marking pencil (I like the white, green and red ones pictured above) draw cutting lines at the exact location.  Be sure to start by using one of the straight edges as a reference point.  My pencils came from the Tokyo show, but I now see them in stores here.

--Next step is to draw all four cutting lines using the same process of using what you know is a straight line.  Be sure you have included seam allowances in your measurements.

--Then using the largest square ruler you have, check all four corners, to ensure you have a square panel, not a wonky one. 

--If not square, remeasure and remark as needed...that's where multiple colors come in handy!

--Final step, using ruler and rotary cutter, take a deep breath...and cut out the panel.  This is always the scariest part for me, as I am always wondering if I will mess up this panel!

When I purchased this panel, they had half of the previous panel, so of course I wanted that too!  Good thing since this pattern calls for five 4.5x6.5 additional pieces.  I hate to destroy the second panel with fussy cuts!  So, I still have several good sized scraps to include in other projects.

When I need to fussy cut images, I often will use sticky notes, attached to the ruler, to identify the actual size of the piece I am cutting.  It is a quick way to be able to view only the final image.

All the blocks and borders are cut for this quilt.  I have even cut the binding and set it aside...a trick I learned to do long ago, so that I don't accidentally use up the binding fabric in another project!  Hope to be sewing this evening!

Fall quilt project--Asian Fabric Magazine Number 20

Recently as I was blog reading, there was a discussion about writing more about the process rather than just the final finished project.  Sorry, I can't locate who wrote it...but it definitely struck a cord for me...So here is an attempt at process writing:

I fell in love with this panel just a few weeks ago while shopping for some binding for a 30's fabric quilt (yes, the real stuff) and looking for possible borders and lattice for the 50+ butterfly blocks discovered during our estate clean out trip last summer. 

Of course it is a Kona Bay...nothing else would be that beautiful.

Last Tuesday, the latest Asian Fabric Magazine arrived in the mail.  That's what I call a great mail day...either a new magazine or fabric arrivals!   On page 58 is the WIndow on the World Quilt, a great use of a panel and then 5 smaller cuts from the same fabric.  Immediately, I knew just the panel I wanted to use and amazingly have discovered the other fabric in my stash. 

I had to force myself to finish the baby quilt below and do some basic household stuff (Laundry, pay bills, clean up the kitchen) before I could start the new Asian quilt.  I've learned to force my self to do some things, otherwise I would just be starting new project and never finishing anything!!  It's all done now, so when I return from Cardiac Rehab, it will be time to start!  I'll post pictures as soon as it is in progress!

Also in the new magazine are the details for the September 25th event at the Kona Bay Warehouse in Redmond, Washington.  Let me know if you are going, as I would love to connect with some other bloggers!

The borders are on the baby quilt, so it is ready to go off to the long arm quilter.