John Deere

I finally finished (actually starting was a major accomplishment) my John Deere rag quilt. In the end it turned out perfect, but along the way I wasn't so sure I would finish. It was easy to find the original four fabrics, but then I wanted just one more to offset it. Well, that proved to be more of a problem than I realized. First, since I live in the bustling metropolis of St George, there are literally two fabric stores. Ok, there are several quilt stores, but their prices are so outrageous I get overwhelmed just walking in the door. So after scouring my local stores and coming up empty, the flannel just sat for over a month.
After letting it sit, I finally broke down and decided to start cutting out the squares. Well, any of you that have quilted or done any fabric piecing, know that just cutting out squares isn't all that easy. First off, I had to figure out how much fabric I had and what size to make the squares. After adding, subtracting, dividing, and using every possible math equation out there I figured it out. And I had to write it all down so I would know what the plan was - since I would more than likely forget and then get totally angry at redoing the millions of math equations.
On to cutting..... Actually this was probably the easiest step in the whole process. I had my billions of squares all stacked neatly, but I couldn't do anything more without that dang fifth flannel and the guts of the squares.
Finally after making a trip to Salt Lake - actually Bountiful is where the flannel was finally found - I got my fifth color. Then the drama came that it was cut exactly at 2 yards, when the other stuff had a nice little allowance added in. Suck, what to do now? I was 4 squares short and had no plans to return to Salt Lake for awhile. Crap, crap, crap!
Good thing I have some creativity in me and I figured out I could just add something different to the corners - and one of the 2 local stores hand some flannel that would work - bright green John Deere that looked like pant pockets (how cute is that?!)
Well, sewing yards and yards of flannel is a lot harder than I remember. Ok, I have never actually done it - I have sewn yards and yards of denim which is horrible, this is almost as bad. And my squares didn't totally match up, good thing I am not a perfectionist and don't really care enough to rip it out and start over.
I have to admit that the worst thing about the entire project is the clipping of the seams. Seriously, who thought this would be enjoyable?! I already have wrist problems, so the consistent clipping action didn't help the situation. And then when your clippers get so dull they won't even cut and you have to resort to using mega scissors, it would be easier to just give up. But no, I prevailed and finished the entire thing. Although the last two rows of clipping came at a high amount of pain and use of two hands to force the scissors to cut - not my most glorious of ideas.
All I can say is it is done and I don't plan on doing it again anytime soon. At least not until my arm regains movement and I become insane again and only remember the joy of a new blanket....