Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Some Progress Has Been Made

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After a lot of fussing, I got my 49 blocks sewn together for my version of Route 44, a new Miss Rosie pattern.  You know, this quilt had a lot of piecing, but what took me so long (besides all the silly errors I made by not reading the instructions carefully enough) was the pressing.  These are blocks that need to have the seams pressed open.  If you want things to lie nice and flat, with no puckering or funny business, you have got to press those seams open.  All of them.  Even the long seams when you are sewing the blocks into rows.

So.  Whew.  That's done.  Now I have FIVE borders to attach.  

I am on a mission.

I haven't lost my sense of humor though.  Here is Sophie, looking seductive, after her bath.  She wanted to crawl under my quilt to dry off, but I managed to get a nice fluffy towel wrapped around her instead.

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54 responses to “Some Progress Has Been Made”

  3. Your Route 44 is looking fantastic. From the pictures of your piecing, I thought, not this one for me. Looking at your rows sewn together, I’m having second thoughts.
    Does Sophie hate baths as much as my Rusty? He hides under the bed, if he thinks it might be time for his weekly session. He tolerates a bath, but doesn’t choose to take one.
    Have a great Monday!

  4. Your Route 44 is looking fantastic. From the pictures of your piecing, I thought, not this one for me. Looking at your rows sewn together, I’m having second thoughts.
    Does Sophie hate baths as much as my Rusty? He hides under the bed, if he thinks it might be time for his weekly session. He tolerates a bath, but doesn’t choose to take one.
    Have a great Monday!

  5. Love the way your quilt is turning out..awesome!!
    Between the sore back washing the dog..and the wet dog smell..ugh..often wonder if it is worth it…lol..til I smell the dry clean pup..awwww!!
    Love reading your blog!
    Judi B
    Ontario

  6. Love the way your quilt is turning out..awesome!!
    Between the sore back washing the dog..and the wet dog smell..ugh..often wonder if it is worth it…lol..til I smell the dry clean pup..awwww!!
    Love reading your blog!
    Judi B
    Ontario

  9. The quilt is beautiful. I’ve only seen it in reds, and I love the brown (and I’m a red girl). The brown is a little more soothing, or something.
    Good job!

  10. The quilt is beautiful. I’ve only seen it in reds, and I love the brown (and I’m a red girl). The brown is a little more soothing, or something.
    Good job!

  13. Look at you! It’s wonderful that you got past the hump. It is looking fantastic. I’m admiring this one from afar because those square in a square blocks hold no appeal for me to make – just admire everyone elses handiwork. LOL! I just saw Thelma’s version of this and I commented on the borders. How unique and well designed (of course!). Good luck on the borders, I’m looking forward to the great reveal.

  14. Look at you! It’s wonderful that you got past the hump. It is looking fantastic. I’m admiring this one from afar because those square in a square blocks hold no appeal for me to make – just admire everyone elses handiwork. LOL! I just saw Thelma’s version of this and I commented on the borders. How unique and well designed (of course!). Good luck on the borders, I’m looking forward to the great reveal.

  15. Wonderful – I love it! Can’t wait to see it with borders. Pressing seams open is never fun!

  16. Wonderful – I love it! Can’t wait to see it with borders. Pressing seams open is never fun!

  17. Great quilt, Nicole! I’m working on Brand New Day and it was a bit of a challenge to figure out the directions. But, after the first block it’s smooth sailing from here! My biggest challenge is getting an accurate 1/4 inch seam line. Making the blocks bigger and then cutting them down to size has saved my sanity.
    Karen L.

  18. Great quilt, Nicole! I’m working on Brand New Day and it was a bit of a challenge to figure out the directions. But, after the first block it’s smooth sailing from here! My biggest challenge is getting an accurate 1/4 inch seam line. Making the blocks bigger and then cutting them down to size has saved my sanity.
    Karen L.

  19. Your Rt 44 is glorious and the fabrics/colors are the best! Applause!!!!! I look forward to seeing your border choices.
    I wish I felt I was on a mission about DS1’s quilt. I’m in the doldrums instead and have read 2 Elm Creek books in the last 4 days rather than sew a stitch.
    Sophie is a beguiling cutie!
    Hugs!

  20. Your Rt 44 is glorious and the fabrics/colors are the best! Applause!!!!! I look forward to seeing your border choices.
    I wish I felt I was on a mission about DS1’s quilt. I’m in the doldrums instead and have read 2 Elm Creek books in the last 4 days rather than sew a stitch.
    Sophie is a beguiling cutie!
    Hugs!

  23. The phrase, “It’s just 4-patches” takes on a whole new meaning after making a quilt like this. The patterns may be simple, but they usually involve a lot of work in the amount of piecing and matching of points/intersections. Great job, it looks wonderful. Can’t wait to see it with borders and quilted. Way to go Nicole !!!

  24. The phrase, “It’s just 4-patches” takes on a whole new meaning after making a quilt like this. The patterns may be simple, but they usually involve a lot of work in the amount of piecing and matching of points/intersections. Great job, it looks wonderful. Can’t wait to see it with borders and quilted. Way to go Nicole !!!

  25. I’m curious as to why you have to press the seams open. Is it because there is no rhyme or reason for the way they would go. Can you not “twirl” the centers where they meet? It is going to be soooooo very pretty!!!!!

  26. I’m curious as to why you have to press the seams open. Is it because there is no rhyme or reason for the way they would go. Can you not “twirl” the centers where they meet? It is going to be soooooo very pretty!!!!!

  27. I love this, your fabric choices are wonderful. I set aside a Storm at Sea, it was too fiddly for me at the time, I must get back to it! (same seam issues). This is beautiful.

  28. I love this, your fabric choices are wonderful. I set aside a Storm at Sea, it was too fiddly for me at the time, I must get back to it! (same seam issues). This is beautiful.

  29. WOW! Your work is just wonderful. Your use of color is very appealing.
    Also appealing is your fuzzy darling…She’s so happy to be clean and for the bath to be over!
    Enjoy-

  30. WOW! Your work is just wonderful. Your use of color is very appealing.
    Also appealing is your fuzzy darling…She’s so happy to be clean and for the bath to be over!
    Enjoy-

  31. Fantastic job Nicole! Can’t wait to see it after you have added the borders…WOW, 5 of them no less. Sophie is so cute playing the seductive role, lol.

  32. Fantastic job Nicole! Can’t wait to see it after you have added the borders…WOW, 5 of them no less. Sophie is so cute playing the seductive role, lol.

  33. Beautiful quilt, and love your color selection. Did you use from a specific line, or is it stash? What size will it be when finished, I might have to give it a shot – love the Miss Rosie patterns. Sophie is so cute….my two doxies don’t like baths either, but get one a couple of times a year, then they smell so nice!

  34. Beautiful quilt, and love your color selection. Did you use from a specific line, or is it stash? What size will it be when finished, I might have to give it a shot – love the Miss Rosie patterns. Sophie is so cute….my two doxies don’t like baths either, but get one a couple of times a year, then they smell so nice!

  35. Of course, your quilt is beautiful! And I love little Sophie girl, all clean and fluffy! My dog hates baths too, but afterwards he runs around like a crazy-head! You’d think he’d just drunk a monster energy drink!

  36. Of course, your quilt is beautiful! And I love little Sophie girl, all clean and fluffy! My dog hates baths too, but afterwards he runs around like a crazy-head! You’d think he’d just drunk a monster energy drink!

  37. What a fabulous quilt. And your colour selection is also fabulous. Can’t wait to see it with the five! borders on it. It will be awesome.
    Sophie looks very relaxed after her bath.

  38. What a fabulous quilt. And your colour selection is also fabulous. Can’t wait to see it with the five! borders on it. It will be awesome.
    Sophie looks very relaxed after her bath.

  39. I love the way your quilt turned out! It’s gorgeous and I think your hard work paid off! Loved seeing Sophie in her bath towel – reminded me that Joey is about due for a bath. Don’t think I’ll wake him up from his long winter’s nap for a bath, though!
    ~Adrienne~

  40. I love the way your quilt turned out! It’s gorgeous and I think your hard work paid off! Loved seeing Sophie in her bath towel – reminded me that Joey is about due for a bath. Don’t think I’ll wake him up from his long winter’s nap for a bath, though!
    ~Adrienne~

  41. Wow! I love it!!! The design is great and your fabric choices show it off well.
    I can’t wait to see it will all the borders on.
    Well done!

  42. Wow! I love it!!! The design is great and your fabric choices show it off well.
    I can’t wait to see it will all the borders on.
    Well done!

  49. Love the blues and browns. That is going to be a beautiful quilt! Can’t wait to see it with borders, too. Oh, my dog so needs a bath, too!

  50. Love the blues and browns. That is going to be a beautiful quilt! Can’t wait to see it with borders, too. Oh, my dog so needs a bath, too!