Paper Piecing Thoughts

I've been working on my New Timon quilt for nearly five years now. As I sat this morning while watching my favorite weekend program, Sunday Morning, I was carefully taking out the basting and paper from the completed squares. At that time I realized that I have handled each little square several times while assembling this project.


I suppose that is why people are amazed and shocked when I tell them what I am doing. Some just shake their head and mutter under their breath that I am crazy. Other quilters tremble at the awesome task I've taken on. Since I have no deadline I feel none of these things. The process is a means to the end I am trying to accomplish - a painting in fabric. It is my most complicated and biggest project yet using English Paper Piecing.

So, let's see how many times does each tiny square get handled?
Mental handling:

• Developing the picture (at least 15-20 versions are created)


• Seperating the seperate colors


• Picking the fabrics that will go with each swatch

The physical handling:

• Cutting the fabric out


• Pinning each piece to a paper layout


• Cutting the paper backing


• Ironing fabric to paper


• Basting each piece
  
• Pinning the basted square down on a layout board


• Sewing the pieces together


• Removing the basting


• Removing the paper

Final Assembly (yet to be completed)

• Sewing on a border


• Creating a Quilt Sandwich


• Hand quilting the quilt


• Adding the binding


• Taping off all the cat hair


• Adding the label

So far I've counted 18 individual handlings of each piece of fabric, including the assembly. Nine are just for the actual squared of fabric. That's 18 x (count of squares) = a jillion times I have done something with quilt.

Not that I am appologizing for how long it takes or making excuses, but doing this count sure puts the process into perspective!


Stay tuned to when I count how many I've actually made.....