This will be the final update before the project is complete. As I think about finishing this project I look back on all of the experiences I have had so far. I started this project wanting to have a completed t-shirt quilt, and although I conducted research about the different aspects of putting one together, I did not realize how time consuming it could all be. In my excitement, I would plan a certain deadline but would most often fail to meet it. For example, I did not realize how long it would take to cut the templates and the t-shirts. What seemed like a quick activity took me almost 12 hours total. That did not even include the planning phase or designing the final layout.
I am at the point where I need to begin sewing the quilt, but I have to be honest, I am burnt out. I am glad that I chose to do this for my project, because I do feel as though I have learned a lot, but I did not realize the time and effort that would be devoted to creating this quilt. I will definitely cherish it when it is complete.
This week I took a step back. It has been so nice out that it was hard to justify sitting inside and sewing all day. Instead, I chose to use some scrap pieces of fabric to practice my technique and I also created the bobbin. The thread on the bobbin creates the bottom part of the seam when sewing. If the incorrect tension is used, the main thread and bottom thread can be out of sync and will not be as neat or strong of a seam between the two pieces of fabric.
This week my mom, grandma, and myself plan to knock out most of the sewing. Because the front of the quilt is not yet complete, I have yet to pick out the backing fabric. I am not sure that I will be able to select that before the end of this class, but I will definitely be finishing this project before the school year begins.
Sometimes realizing we bit off more than we can chew is the best lesson to learn. Sewing is a lot harder than people realize. I was smiling as I read about threading the bobbin. I still have to look at my manual every time I have to do this. There is a lot involved in that one little step. I am glad you aren't rushing to finish this as the end result would not be as good. Take your time and make it the quilt you want, not what you had time to do.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the most important thing to learn is how much we have to learn. A few years ago I went to hem a pair of pants thinking 'I've patched minor tears, I've sewn on buttons, this should be a snap.' The result was so humiliating I didn't even take them in to get fixed, I just tossed them and tried to block the memory.
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