A Beautiful Ugly Quilt

I mentioned in my last post about a new project that has hit Instagram by wildfire, the scrappy trip along (tutorial here). A few people started it and next thing you know there are over 2000 photos tagged with #scrappytripalong. Two THOUSAND!!!! In a timeframe of a little over a week I believe, maybe two. 

I saw these photos popping up all over IG and I couldn't wait to join in the fun! So I went and faced all my fabric. I sat there for a while and pondered it. Hemming and hawing. Second guessing. Having an internal debate really. I wanted to participate but my hinderance was the fabric selection. Anything goes. Its scrappy. *begins twitching episodes*

Now some of you are like, so? Whats the big deal? 

All my quilts, and I mean all of them, are matchy matchy. The scrappiest I've ever done is a mini quilt and pillows, but all those fabrics matched. Even if they weren't from the same line, they matched. 

I don't have OCD or anything like that, but I've always had issues with choosing fabrics. I've sort of relied on the designers to do the work for me in regards to color and never really branched out. Why? Because I didn't want to put hours into a quilt and taking a risk and then end up hating it. My logical side said don't waste your time and effort, stay safe. So that's what I've always done.  Ugh, right? Yep...but that's the truth of it. 

The last few years I've hoarded lovingly collected multiple lines of fabrics. All kept together and not getting all mixed up with other lines. If I got them mixed up, how could I make sure they weren't left out of a quilt? I would oogle over others photos of fabric collections and how they would all be stacked up together and be so pretty, yet none of them belonging to the same line. I wanted that, yet instead of buying a fat quarter here and there, I'd buy the whole line. 

So back to this quilt....I sat there a good while and battled myself and finally decided to wing it. Everyone said how fast this went together so would it really be that much time wasted....that's what I told myself to convince me it was ok. 

I started pulling fabrics.....this was the start of my pile....

I wish I would have taken a photo of my final pile. You'll notice that in the photo, everything still pretty much matches. I finally said what the hell and just started throwing whatever in that pile. I pulled fabrics out of their matching lines (more twitching wondering how I will ever remember where all these belong), I pulled fabrics out of the scrap bin. I dug through piles of fabrics from previous quilts. One big pile. When I was done I stared at it for a bit. A long bit....

Then I said...this is going to be one "Beautiful Ugly Quilt". 

I quickly gathered up my selections, ironed them, and cut them up. *twitching* These things didn't match, but I pressed on. 

My plan was to do 8 blocks at a time. I chain pieced which for me was very efficient...sewing the first two strips together one right after another 8 times, then I'd go back and add the third strip to all 8 sets, then the fourth, and so on. Clipped each strip set apart and ironed the seams per the instructions and sub-cut, and then ripped each set of 8, stacking them in rows on top of each other so I could chain piece them back together. 

Each block came together, some uglier than the last, but I kept going. 

My first 8 ... 

Then I had 16...

24...

With 12 more blocks to go, I tackled them in one shot...

Almost there...8 left to go...

And then it was done....my "Beautiful Ugly Quilt" top was done...so I used it as a cape..heehee

At this point I was completely giddy with this quilt. Seriously. I was in love. I wanted to keep going and finish as soon as possible. I pinched myself a few times because I couldn't believe it, but I really really really loved it! 

My pinwheel quilt will probably always be my favourite quilt, my Linus quilt, but this one, this one is a very close first. As in when I cover up, I have them both..hhaahha!! 

I love this quilt because it is so full of firsts for me. 

My first finish for 2013! My first scrappy quilt. My first non-matchy matchy quilt. My first "take a chance" quilt. My first putting fabrics together from completely different lines. My first time separating my children, my fabric children. 

I learned that it's ok to take a chance, that it's ok to put fabrics together that you may not think will go well together, but in the grand scheme of things, they go perfect. I learned that the whole point of quilting is a creative outlet. Following the line of standards doesn't allow you to do that to its fullest potential. Please don't get me wrong, I am still going to do matchy matchy quilts as there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but for me, I grew in this experience and to me, that is huge and so important. 

I finally put on my big girl quilting panties...heh! 

Began December 30th, 2012 ....completed January 6th, 2013. Exactly one week! 

To show the quilting better...

I am so smitten....so much so that I am making my second one! 

A big thank you to @lucyandnorman, @imagingermonkey, @justabitfrayed, and @thatswhatlindseymade.  If I researched correctly, it was these ladies who started all the fun! 

Have you gotten your trippy on? ;)

Much Love!!!