My Aunt asked me to quilt a quilt top she had made for her daughter. I initially resisted because I want her to approve and knew that my skills were not to the point where I was really comfortable taking this commission. I was afraid I would majorly screw it up, however I agreed despite my reservations. Now it has been over a year since I received the quilt top, my Aunt has been talking to her sisters (my other aunts) asking if they have heard anything about the quilt top. I did screw some things up. When I was first quilting using my embroidery machine I listened to conventional wisdom and left as much background around the edges as I could, I managed to get most of the fabric unpicked from where it folded under. Since I had so much bulk of the quilt around the edges of the hoop my machine now prefers to have the hoop at a slight angle before it will finish stitching a pattern. The, sort of expensive, quilting background fabric in a wide width, did not take to the dense embroidery I wanted to use for the quilt label. That took 4 tries and finally using a different fabric, which does not really match as it is an almost latte color. I finally let my aunt know that I was finished, she sent a much more generous payment than I asked for, and now I just have to send the quilt top off. I know I am stressing her out, however I am also stressing myself out.

Can I actually send the quilt off with that piece of fabric on the back and the quilt label so mismatched? I was terrified of starting the project, so it took me several months to even get the quilt sandwich made. Once I had started, and trimmed off the extra backing after the doubled over problem, I noticed that some of the pieces that had been appliqued came loose. I checked with my aunt to see if she wanted those stitched down in invisible thread, she agreed. I hand stitched each piece down, that took some time. Now I am supposed to send this off on Wednesday, it is Saturday today, and I am at work. I think I have to try to remake the label on a fabric that more closely matches the quilt back. I cannot in good conscience send the quilt the way it is now. I don’t think I can pick much more of that selvedge piece that got caught out of the back, however, I can change the label (I hope). I did also make ‘matching’ pillow cases to add to the Wedding present.

I am sorry for the stress I am causing her, and the stress that this is causing me. I do not know if I regret this commission or not. I’ve accepted another for some crosses from a different aunt, however I know what she is looking for and should be able to get those done quickly.

I probably did not know how much this has been weighing on me. Now I understand why I have not wanted to send this off, I cannot stand the label…I might try to do a fake miter for the corners of the binding as well since I do not like how those look either.

Wish me luck, I hope to get all of this done this afternoon into tomorrow. I have made some progress on getting my embroidery pieces for February done, it’s only March 7! Lol.

Remember to Live Life a Little More Abstract, and decide what you can live with and what you cannot.