Oh Deer returns *gasp*

I bet you thought you were never going to hear about this quilt again, right?!  I certainly didn't think you would.  Having got about half the blocks done I had decided that it was officially the worst quilt I had ever tried to make and gave up on it.  The wedding that it was intended for came and went.  We all realised that I am *rubbish* at quilting to deadlines.

Deerly beloved, we are gathered here today ...

But look - all of sudden last week I thought I might sew up a few of the blocks.  And then a few more.  And then they were done.  Just like that.  This is not one of those quilts that you can pre-cut all your blocks (if you muddled up your pieces it would be a disaster).  But I set up a little production line doing 10 at a time, and it was no problem.  And it's not the sewing that takes the time, it's the cutting.  Yuck yuck yuck.  I need me one of those swirly whirly cutting mats (technical term).

Here is my little production line in action.

First we sew this way ...

And then we sew that way ...

And then we have 80 finished blocks and we have a virtual champagne.  Mmmmmm.

There was a bit of a tantrum when this happened.

Conveniently, that slice was 1/4" wide, so I couldn't even hide it in the seam allowance. Grrrrr.

80 blocks later, here is the design wall where I tried to figure out block placement and Princess decided I needed some help.  Yikes.  Hubby and I managed to sort it out after her bedtime though - it was like putting a puzzle together without all the right pieces.  We got there in the end though.

And we'll put this piece here Mummy, and this piece here.  Me: *deeeeeep breath* Thank you, darling.

I cannot tell you how pleased I am this is done.  BQF has declared it a triumph (I paraphrase) and I have reached the giddy heights of not hating it - which I think is enough for now.  But I do love the backing fabric (which inspired the quilt) - so if the happy couple don't like the hard earned front, they should at least like the back!

And I bet it will look even better after an iron. Fabric - Oh Deer by Momo for Moda.

So I just need some fabric to frame up the backing (it needs 10" on each side) and then it will be basting time.  For once, I'm looking forward to it.  Don't come over all faint at hearing that.

If you ever want to make your own (and I do like the pattern, I just don't think this was quite the right fabric for it) then it is a perfect layer cake quilt - one patterned and one plain layer cake will give you exactly the right amount of fabric for 80 blocks.  You quarter both layer cakes into 5" charms and then use two patterned and two plain charms per block.  The instructions to sew and cut are on my tutorials page. My only difference from the tutorial was to cut my block 1.5" from the centre, not 1".  I preferred the sightly chunkier design it created.  The finished quilt will be 64" x 80" or thereabouts.

Hopefully it won't be another three months before you see it finished!

Welcome visitors from WIP Wednesday, Show n Tell Thursday and Needle and Thread Thursday (links on my linky page).  Don't forget to come and find me on Instagram - I need some more friends there!