Saturday, August 11, 2007

'Mile a Minute' Progress

My string bag is now virtually empty - I'd been making 10 blocks at a time and I don't think I've got enough strings left to make even another 10.

Here is the result - a year's worth of strings and oddments that I think many people would have thrown away (though I have to confess that I did use my pre-cut 2.5 inch squares for the centres just to have that bit more variety). I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making this and how much I love the finished effect. The colours though are a bit bleached out in these pictures, they are brighter in 'real life'.


I am just so sad that I'll have to wait another year to build up enough strings for another one. I know I could use strips from yardage but I just don't think I'd get the same effect - this uses lots of odd long triangular pieces from cutting straight the sleeves and yokes of shirts and besides, I just love the notion that nothing is wasted and it's kind of for free. I'm going to put a dark navy border on it to make it up to a big enough size to use as a throw on my kitchen sofa.

Siobhan commented that sewing mile a minute blocks is kind of like therapy and I couldn't agree more. I've had a bit of a stressful time lately for a variety of reasons culminating in a trip to London for my son to have an MRI scan last Monday. We were in an awful car accident nearly two years ago and my son was badly hurt and in intensive care for a short period. Thankfully there is no lasting damage and the driver of the car who caused the accident was prosecuted, but for insurance purposes my son has had to have MRI scans of his head. This was the third try - he had a panic attack in the first, traditional enclosed tunnel-like one and then they tried another wider one which was supposed to be less claustrophobic but he still panicked. This was the last resort, a 'wide open' scanner where he didn't have to go into a tunnel and I am glad to say that he was okay and stayed still enough for them to do the scans (not easy for a ten year old) and he was very proud of himself. On the positive side, after that was over the two of us had a lovely afternoon and evening in London (including a trip to Hamleys Toy Shop in Regent Street for a reward) before heading home on the train.
This morning we went to Birmingham. I like to go to the 'Rag Market' - of course it doesn't sell rags any more but it does sell fabric and has lots of haberdashery stalls. I like markets anyway - I'm far happier in a market than a globalised chain store.
Have a good weekend everyone.


40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your quilt looks fantastic and I'm happy for your son that all is ok for him

Beth said...

Oh I LOVE your Mile a Minute! I sent that tutorial to my friend and she has just RUN with it. I wish I was closer, I would send you scraps! So many of the ladies I quilt with throw out SO MUCH...if I only did mile a minute, I would NEVER have to buy fabric again! Tell your son I"m proud of him. I had to have an MRI and discovered I have some clastrophobia. just MRI tubes! I got thru by being able to see the timer in a mirror and talking to the technician. Not something I would go thru again if I could help it!

Chookyblue...... said...

pleased to hear all is well with your son.......love the quilt.....

Unknown said...

Lovely, lovely quilt Fiona and all for free really!
I can empathise with your little man totally about the MRI thing - so glad they managed to find a kind that he could cope with - THE most bizarre experience I felt when I had one - glad he's ok

Quilting Pirate said...

It's wonderful!! I've been pondering my own scraps and using this technique and like you would end up with a huge top!

sewkalico said...

It's so lovely and scrappy and incredible that you've managed to use up almost all your scraps!!

Glad to hear the scan is only a technicality and that you ended up having a nice time in London with your son.

Elaine Adair said...

That quilt is so coooool - especially contrasted against the old garage/barn. Love it. You have inspired me to try that ... soon.

Tazzie said...

Your mile a minute quilt looks wonderful, I can't even imagine how wonderful it must feel to have used up almost all your scraps. This is something I must try someday!
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

Tonya Ricucci said...

gorgeous. I love your blocks and your top. wonderful job. guess you better get to work sewing other quilt tops so that you have more scraps.

Helen in the UK said...

Wow - you have been busy. This looks FABULOUS. It must hold so many memories of projects made in the past. Great job :)

MARCIE said...

Great quilt Fiona! It's amazing how you make all those colors and fabrics work. That rag market sounds like lots of fun! So glad your son got through his MRI. Hope all is well.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Wow Fiona...it looks fab. Your first picture looks like it was taken straight out of a magazine! Hope you'll bring it to Lutterworth to show and tell. :o) Glad to hear you had a successful day in London..MRI and all. And what a great reward a trip to Hamleys...perfect!

Andrea said...

So thats why you've been so quiet ! That quilt is amazing ! Great that you've used up all your scraps. And well done to your little lad for getting that ordeal out of the way !

CONNIE W said...

That scrappy quilt looks wonderful displayed there on the exterior wall. What a fun quilt.

Shelina said...

Your mile a minute quilt looks fantastic, and what a wonderful setting to display it in.
I'm glad that you were able to find a way for your son to get his MRI, and glad that he is fine.

JoAnna said...

Love the quilt. It's wonderfully scrappy!

Journeying said...

Your quilt is fantastic! I love the effect, too, and if it's even brighter - well, so much the better. It's great that you were able to use pieces from shirts and other garments as well as scraps from your quilting. Recycling at its best and letting nothing go to waste.
It's wonderful that things went well with your son, with no serious lingering injuries.

Laurie Ann said...

Your MAM quilt is just fabulous! I love it! There's just something about it that is so striking. I like the size of the blocks and I think the plaids and the stripes that are in it give it such a good character. I wouldn't put a border on it at all.

Judy said...

It's fabulous!!!

corry said...

Wow, this quilt looks very pretty! I love the scrappy effect! I'm glad to hear your son is oke!

Floss said...

It looks fantastic; love that feel of this quilt. I don't think I have enough strings for this, but will have to give it a go sometime.

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

It is beautiful! And you sure did make it up fast. Glad to hear that your sons MRI was fine - and that they had more than 1 machine to try!

Cheers!

Evelyn

Deborah M. said...

I love it. I'm definitely going to try this. Love the scrappy look.

Rubyred said...

Hi Fiona,what a wonderful quilt!Isn't the Rag market fantastic,I love to go there myself.I'm originally from Birmingham but now live in Oxfordshire but I still have to pop back for my 'market fix'!

Libby said...

Oh Fiona - that is just FANTASTIC! You've done a wonderful job*s*

Rose Marie said...

What a great, big, bright quilt to snuggle under!

meggie said...

Wonderful bright scrappy quilt!

atet said...

That top is WONDERFUL!!! I really need to try one of those!

Jeanne said...

Now that's the way to decorate a building! Wonderful quilt, Fiona!

Debi said...

Great job, quilt is gorgeous and the colors are awesome. I ususally give my scraps to a friend who make quilts for charity.

Meredith said...

The quilt is lovely. When I looked up close you sure did use a lot of different fabrics. There are some really wild ones but it all works.

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

Hi,Yours looks fantastic1!! I am addicted to them as well. Made over 60 blocks just with shirt scraps on retreat.
I will be posting them after I finish showing everyone's work as I really don't quite know what to do next, I think mine may need a border. It is really great fun and they come together so quickly, Tracey

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

ps, sorry about your boy and the MRi checks.... you have to love those toy shops as a reward-but what did mum get, a stiff drink back home, or a market trip!!!!

Beertje Zonn said...

Your quilt is fantastic!
Kind Regards,

Sonnja

loulee said...

Hi there, glad to hear your boy is OK Your quilt looks wonderful, it's hard to believe it's made entirely from what others might throw away.

Granny said...

That quilt is so happy! Love it!

Steffi said...

Your quilt looks fantastic!I like it!Great work!
Enjoy your weekend!

Lucy said...

I love your mile a minute quilt... I think I have to give it a try too :-)

Bonnie K. Hunter said...

This quilt is just FAB!!! I have a bunch of thrift shop shirts that I am cutting down, this would be perfect to use up the collars and cuffs and small bits along with my precut squares and other strings.....thanks for the inspiration!

Bonnie

Patti said...

Wow Fiona - I take a break from blog reading and you go nuts with mile-a-minute blocks while I am gone. These are absolutely marvelous! And the quilt is perfect. The fun you had making these is singing in every word of your post. Well done girl! As far as having to wait to make another one - too bad I can't mail you a big box of mine. You could help me use them up faster. I swear I have enough for at least 10-20 more quilts!