Pattern development and distracted sewing

I spent a large part of the last month lost down the EQ8 rabbit hole, playing with new designs.  For every design that becomes an actual quilt, there are dozens of discarded ones, and a few that have potential but need to sit and simmer until I figure out what I need to tweak to make it work.

Sometimes, I tweak and tweak and tweak and finally decide the original design was right to begin with.  That's how this placemat set worked out!

Brochettes placemats ready for binding

Last week's guild retreat was just the little push I needed to step away from the computer and start sewing.  If all had gone according to plan, I could have pieced these on the first day and quilted them the next day.  All did not go according to plan.

Pro tip:  When you add stitch-and-flip corners, be absolutely certain you have added them where they're supposed to be.  Do not cut away the excess fabric under the triangle until you are absolutely sure that the triangles are in the right place.  Once you've trimmed, the seam ripper cannot help you!  Just saying...

While chatting with fellow quilters at the retreat I made four of these, stopping a few times to rip seams when I sewed things in the wrong place.  Apparently, I don't multitask well.  I should chat, or sew, but not try both at the same time.  In any case, I finally succeeded in making four of these:

I paused before adding the top strip.  There was a little niggling thought that something wasn't quite right, but I silenced it.  I kept sewing. I added the strip and the second corner triangle, then I trimmed. Then I finally clued in that I should have listened to that niggling thought.  I added that first triangle one step too early.

Pro tip #2: Refer to the pattern at each step.  At an even more basic level, remember to actually bring the pattern with you to retreat.

Yup.  I neglected to do that.  This is a new pattern I'm working on.  The only part I had printed was the cutting chart.  I was running late that morning and just grabbed the chart and thought these exact words:  "It's a simple design, I'll remember it, no problem.  Just go!"  

Obviously, it is a simple design.  Also obviously, I didn't quite remember it on the fly.  What followed was some scrambling to squeeze additional pieces from the leftover fabric.  There wasn't quite enough of the lighter green, so I pieced scraps together to make the last piece I needed.  Thanks to the busy spatter/dot print, you can barely see the seam. 

There wasn't enough extra dark green print to cut what I needed, but I was able to cut some of the smaller pieces from larger pieces in the mistakes. 

Happily, I had enough of the tan to recut the eight pieces I needed.

I started over, paying attention this time, and finished the placemats before heading home at the end of the day.  The runner followed the next day, much more successfully as I brought a diagram AND paid attention.

I quilted these on Sunday with very basic straight line outline quilting with the walking foot.  Binding will follow soon, then I can take pictures for the pattern cover.  The pattern itself is almost ready. I just need to lay out the diagrams on the pages. 

I'm rather pleased with this design.  I think it would work in different color schemes of with themed prints.  Some leafy fall prints, or Christmas poinsettias would be perfect this time of year.  It's too bad I have four more quilts to make in the next month or two.  I don't think I'll be squeezing in new Thanksgiving or Christmas placemats!

How is your sewing going?  Hopefully it has involved less seam ripping and recutting than my placemats!

Happy qulting,

Joanne