How My Climate Quilt Bit the Dust
At the end of last year I decided I would make a climate quilt to record the high and low temperatures of each day in 2019.
I would use Baby Windmill blocks, which have a way of creeping into everything I do.
I messed around with some ideas.
There were many possibilities and no shortage of options.
I had a plan for how to set 365 blocks, how to keep track of the temperatures and how to manage the entire project.
I created a color key to make it easy to match each day’s high and low with a color. I was all over it.
Every so often I’d make some black and white Baby Windmills. Then, after looking up the temperatures on wunderground.com, I’d add the appropriate logs to two sides.
The quilt grew and I liked it. I could see where it could be pretty interesting by the end of the year.
I got it out last week and made about 80 more windmills. I got sick of windmills. I dutifully added the logs in the prescribed colors, but it wasn’t much fun.
One day my farmer came into the studio and asked about the quilt, which was taking up half of the design wall. I did some quick math and realized that I had miscalculated the length of each column. I had neglected to refer back to my notes and now two columns were sewn together but they were wrong—and I was already not enjoying the whole thing.
Now here are some things I know for sure.
I sew for fun.
If it isn’t fun, I don’t want to do it.
And just like that, my climate quilt bit the dust.
I realized that I could add colored logs randomly and still have a great quilt. None of my work would go to waste. I’d still have a quilt to add to my Windy Wonders program for guilds. And best of all?
I’d be having fun again!
So that’s exactly what I did. Within a few hours I had finished another whole column. I enjoyed the sewing and I loved the quilt once more.
The next morning I auditioned some border options. I decided to use the leftover black patches to piece a border. Soon I had all four made and attached.
I’m mulling whether it will need a black binding or a colorful, scrappy one. Either way, I’ve learned or relearned some important lessons:
I sew for fun.
It’s perfectly fine to change your plan,
even midstream.
My quilt, my rules.
Hallelujah. Quilt on!
~Diane~
You might also like How to Build a Windmill (Quilt, Farm, Whatever)
Would you like to see all of my Windy Wonders? I have a program devoted to quilts based on this simple little block. It gets great feedback!
Tags: baby windmills, guild programs, make extraordinary scrap quilts, quilt design, scrap quilts, windy wonders
Quilter Kathy
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Absolutely… cheers to having fun!
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Karen
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Maybe accuquilt should make a die for your favorite windmill size? 🙂
Diane Harris
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That would be fun!
peggy wessel
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omg I have to make that quilt pattern. it is awesome. thank you for sharing this wonderful quilt
Robin
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Unless your being paid big $$$, it must be fun! It is a hobby for 90+%.
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Sandi Griepenstroh
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I love it! So very true, and nothing says you have to finish a project exactly as you intended when you start! I have literally taken a class and started a queen-sized quilt, and ended up with a table runner! So many projects, so little time! If you don’t love it, move on! Thanks for permission to do that without guilt!
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Jan T
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Yes, if you are not having fun, it’s time to change plans or projects. And your quilt turned out very pretty.
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Bonny
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I’ve recently found your posts, and agree wholeheartedly! When a project stalls, rethink it! Really enjoy seeing variations on a simple block and settings! Inspiration!! Thank you!
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Judy
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I was so glad to read about your decision to abandon your temperature quilt. I started mine in early January (during some brutal Minnesota winter weather it seemed like a great idea). I kept at it for several months, but as spring came the temperatures increased and my enthusiasm for the project decreased. It’s been languishing in my sewing room since, thanks for the reminder that we sew for fun and it’s ok to give myself permission to call it over. Mine bit the dust too!
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Diane Harris
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This made me laugh out loud! To those projects making us miserable, I say “good riddance.” Happy quilting always!
Kimberly Einmo
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Bravo!!!! You’re quilt is gorgeous but more importantly, you let go of the “rules” and made it your own!
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Diane Harris
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Thanks so much, Kimberly! 😊 It makes a good story in my trunk shows!
Rebecca
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I am still laughing at your loss of temp mojo as I design a third hst project from an old queen quilt project I abandoned after downsizing and letting go of the queen bed. I did make a twin quilt… then a tablecloth… leaving about 75 4″ hst and a bunch of half to full yard leftovers. I am thinking of a tree quilt…
Will I ever buy another yard of TEAL?
My two new projects are beautiful, but my next three fabric orders lean to Japanese Taupes.
💯 percent agree to drop a project that isn’t bringing you joy because turning delight into a chore stinks! I stored a zillion teal hst for two years… until COVID made me reassess… and see again how beautiful they are.
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