Monday 18 August 2008

Olympic challenge



OK - here is what I've been doing whilst watching the Olympics. If you follow my blog you will know I started this a few weeks ago and here it is in all it's jumbly glory - lol ! I know this is not a lot of quilters thing but I REALLY love it. It contains one patch of every piece of fabric I own - 577 different fabrics. Actually make that 576 as I used one fabric twice for a bit of fun to see if anyone could spot it. I offered Patrick £5 if he could find it thinking there was no way but the little beggar got it - lol ! Serves me right... There were a couple of fabrics I really could not put in this as I dislike them a lot and it would have annoyed me to see them in it. A couple of new quilters at my group have looked on this with a) horror - as it is so busy and b) amazement - that I have so many different bits of fabric. One lady is making her very first quilt and has no stash at all. Haha - she will soon learn - lol !


This measures about 45 by 60 inches so far. Next I want to add borders to make it bigger. I am going to applique the sides onto long strips of fabric so I don't have funny shaped edges when it comes to binding. I may then add more borders - not sure yet.

Here are a few close-ups of some of the fabrics for a bit of fun. Anyone got any of these ? Click on picture for a closer look.





I have had a couple of no-reply commenters lately asking me questions and once I get a bit more organised - ie. when the kids go back to school I will do my best to answer them on here.


I am also doing a bit more of Jason's flying geese strips. They are paper-pieced and each strip takes about half an hour to make. I have roughly worked out I need 70 of these so don't expect any finish pictures anytime soon - lol !
Have fun !








46 comments:

floribunda said...

wow! I can't even imagine all that handwork! That's quite a feat, and it would be fun to sit and look at each piece. It makes me wonder how many different fabrics I have in my stash, though...

Jeanne said...

Oh, Andrea, it is amazing! Either you stitch very quickly or you watched LOTS of the Olympics. *S* I love it!

Sunny said...

I do not think I have that many different fabrics, but I may try this same thing. To me this is what a quilt should be-many different fabrics. I love love love it! Cannot wait to see your borders. I have been very bad and not really watching any olympics. Shame on me. LOL

Vicki W said...

Wow, that's really cool!

Frogdancer said...

You're a very patient woman! That quilt looks fantastic. (And yes... my sons would troll through the patches to earn money too...)

I'm about to start cutting for a quilt you made earlier; the one made out of batik pieces for a friend of yours. I'm torn between making the strips within each square 2.5" or 3.5". How wide did you do? A blogging friend from the other side of Australia sent me the scrappy fabrics, so I don't want to mess it up.


contact@dancingwithfrogs.com is my email address. Again, amazing quilt!

Carolyn said...

It looks fabulous!

Tina said...

the more fabrics the better, i love this type of quilt! you've done a superb job, and how fun to have all that fabric from your stash represented!

Fiona said...

Wow, you are a human dynamo! And how could anyone possibly look on such a glorious quilt with horror - the busier the better if you ask me.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

WOW -that is amazing...I applaud your perseverance...I certainly wouldn't have the patience for all that sewing!

Mad about Craft said...

What an amazing patient person you are!!

sewkalico said...

Well of course I love it! Clever Patrick. I must say if I was a kid and offered a fiver, I'd find it too LOL.

SG said...

Uau! That's a piece of work! It seems that you have been collecting fabrics since ever...

Unknown said...

You have accomplished a lot. I think it is going to be great.

Ali Honey said...

Andrea, what a great effort. Ive been Olympic stitching too! (Your quilt reminds me of the I Spy Quilts I made - similar bright effect )
I looked and couldn't find even one fabric that I have in my cupboard that you have used ; now that's a worry cause that means there are more than 576 fabrics I have never had a piece off! LOL. ( I think that might be some sort of challenge )

Betsy said...

congratulations on your progress. I thought of you making this quilt during the olympics and I even mentioned it to my husband. I have made several of these hexagons thanks to you but I am struggling putting them together.

Teresa said...

Oh yes, I have many of the same fabrics. I like your quilt!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. I love all the colors. I can't wait to see it finished.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous, make me want to start a charm quilt too!! No, i don't have any of those fabrics either!

Chocolate Cat said...

Couldn't see any fabrics I own there!! this is the kind of project I think I'd enjoy.....as long as there was no finishing deadline!

Anonymous said...

wow that looks great, well done. Mine has been put on the back burners for a while as I have been knitting socks while working on custom orders. Look forward to seeing it finished, Claire

Belvie said...

What a beautiful quilt! I just love scrappy quilts. And I see several fabrics in there that I have. I've been taking a stitch here and there as I watch the Olympics too.

mums_hugs said...

I don't think I have any of the fabrics, but I am pretty certain I have 500+ pieces of fabric in my stash. I think they multiply when I am sleeping. I would love to know where you go the template for this block.

corry said...

This quilt looks stunning! You work so fast! I love the scrappy look..beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Wow that is truly amazing. What a great quilt. I can't even imagine having the patience to use one of each piece of fabric from my whole stash. I've been knitting while watching the Olympics.

Ann said...

It's a great quilt - I love scraps, too.

Fabricmom said...

How beautiful. I love busy. I see a few prints that I have. Great job. I can't wait to see how you finish it.

maria said...

I love it, it's so bright and cheerful.
Patchwork doesn't have to be about carefully choosen, co-ordinating fabric. I hope it reminds you of all those medals we've won at the olympics when you look at it.

Quilter Kathy said...

And the GOLD medal for quilting goes to Andrea!!
Wow! Wow! Wow! I love it too!
And I am amazed because I know just how much work has gone into this project! Congratulations!

Calidore said...

Andrea.....that is just stunning. Well done on making all those little hexagons. I'm very impressed - can you tell...vbg. Love the ideas of the borders too. I did the same on my octagon quilt - much easier than trying to bind around all those bends.

Idaho Quilter said...

Yes I have several of the fabrics you have used in your charm quilt.
My heart always favors scrappy quilts, and this one is lovely. I am wondering what the basting stitches are for, is this done with a template?

jovaliquilts said...

Just incredible! What fun to do and to be able to look at in years to come. I only recognize one fabric that I have -- that adorable green turtle on dark blue, but mine's a flannel.

Angela said...

Oh wow what a lot of work! I've always wanted to make a hexagons quilt but just haven't had the heart to start knowing what a lot of work it will be!

Colleen formerly of South Africa said...

Love the Olympic challenge..just wish I had been so productive ...watching them.

Dionne said...

Wow! Wowwy, wow, wow! I am not into hand work at all and I am in awe of your beautiful work! I love it! Somewhere you should stitch a gold lame triangle in for your own gold medal because surely you deserve it!

Dionne

Frogdancer said...

I tagged you for a very brief meme.

With regard to the quilt of yours I'm making, I decided to do with 2.5 inch strips, and on my day off work yesterday I started piecing. I think I'm addicted...

Libby said...

Love it! You've gotten a lot done in a little time, too...

Kim said...

Holy cow! This makes my head spin! How did you do this?

Lynda said...

I love it! And what a fabulous record of fabrics for some future quilt historian!

Abby and Stephanie said...

Just found your blog. I wish I had started something to work on during the Olympics! Gorgeous project!!!

Kieny The Dutchlady said...

I love this one! I'm always atracted to busy and colourful quilts. Yes, this is a winner in my book.

meggie said...

I really like that. Love all the colours. Do not have one fabric the same in my stash.

Helen in the UK said...

What a fantastic quilt!! I LOVE the little turtle in the first picture!! There are very few fabrics I recognise as being in my stash to, but plenty I wish I did have :)

*karendianne. said...

Andrea, what a treat it is to visit and find this!

I dig it. *karendianne./ Living Life at LeeHaven

Rose Marie said...

I love it and I peeked at your patches and there is one fabric that I have a bit of. :o)

Suze said...

I just found your site -wonderful quilting stuff! I absolutely love your hexies - is there a name for this charm block?? Are you doing them EPP or regular hand piecing?
I think I spotted two fabrics that I might have in my stash...you have a very interesting stash!

manoli said...

Fantastico genial me encanta ese trabajo asi se puede aprobechar todos los troscitos de tela