Eight Shoo flys

  My first project of the year and the first project of season 8 of Project Quilt.  The theme was the number 8.  Well it just so happened I pinned this photo of a quilt I was going to make a change up on Pinterest.  And I knew the Shoo Fly block had 8 sides.  So I decided to do eight giant Shoo Fly blocks.    I already had fabric picked out for it.  And it just happened to be one of the my goals for the year!

     Night one after work I measured and came up with a plan that added another two 8's to my quilt.  I decided to make only 8 blocks using 8 inch squares with the center block empty.  So the ironing and cutting began and I had the quilt and binding cut out! 

     Night two I barely had any time but got the half square triangle blocks marked, sewed and cut out.  Then on to working long hours for the next few days.

    After working most of the night Friday and sleeping late on Saturday,  I had my head set on Sewing all day long!!!  And that I did,  with the exception of a little cleaning, homework and laundry.  I sewed the day away.  I managed to get the top done, sandwiched and partially quilted.

    I managed to use a product new to me, blue Ponce.  I have been buying stencils for a little over a year and used the white one on one small project.  81 blocks later I think I finally got the hang of it.  It's not done very neatly,  as I was in a hurry,  but it's quilted.  I do think for the future,  I know that using stencils takes time,  but does help with free motion quilting. Ponce,  does take some work to get use too,  and shows up great. 

     I diminished the binding just in time to post,  but then had a blog nightmare that I am still fighting.  That's another story for another day.  This quilt finishes at 74x74.

     This quilt will be a gift to match one I made my best friend.  This will be for her daughter!!   I hope she enjoys it and cherishes it for years.