Journal

November 24, 2004 My work area.	December 6, 2004 Example Quilt Index page.	December 16, 2004 All of the quilt squares stacked up.

December 19, 2004 The finished quilt front.	December 21, 2004 The printed Quilt Index.	Christmas Day, 2004 Connie opening her quilt.

Christmas Day, 2004 Connie's first view of the quilt.	Christmas Day, 2004 Everyone's excited to see the quilt.	Christmas Day, 2004 Guessing who did each square is fun.

January 6, 2004
       We're back from Hawaii. I gave my mom her quilt, unbound, on Christmas Day, and finished the binding while there so she was able to take home the finished version. She loved the quilt, as well as all of the nice things everyone included in the Quilt Index. We both cried when she opened it.
       An unexpected side benefit of making the quilt is that I've gotten to know many of Connie's friends better. Thank you all for the Holiday cards, emails and nice notes I've received. I'm glad my mom has so many wonderful people in her life.

December 24, 2004
       I cleaned everything up today. There were a couple of seams where the tension was off, and my first seam was pretty messy, so I pulled them and re-did them, and now feel really happy with the quilt quality. I've done everything but hand-sew closed the binding, which means I've finished everything I wanted to before leaving. It's complete enough to give to my mom now, and I can finish the binding in Hawaii. I'll post pictures of Connie with her quilt as soon as I next get to an Internet connection. Now off to pack!

December 23, 2004
       Just when I thought I couldn't possibly quilt another stitch, I'm done with the quilting! Tomorrow I'll sew on the binding, and fix the most egregious of errors before packing the quilt up to bring to Hawaii.

December 22, 2004
       I've finished all of the horizontal stripes, and started the vertical. I think if I were to do this again, I wouldn't have designed a front and back that have to line up -- I think my difficulties come from that. But I think I'll be done in time for Christmas!

December 21, 2004
       I began quilting today, very early in the morning -- I need to work while the baby's asleep, so I started well before the sun was up. I'm halfway done with the big horizontal seams, and still have all of the short, vertical seams to do. Lots of work for me tomorrow!
       Something I haven't yet admitted because I didn't want everyone telling me how crazy I was for undertaking this project (although plenty of people did, anyway): I've never quilted before. So it's been pretty challenging, and I've had to let go of making everything perfect.
       Fortunately, Kathleen McCormick, the wife of my dad's college roommate, lives in Cambridge, teaches quilting, and was willing to stop by and help me get started. She lent me a walking foot, which worked great while she was here, but acted up as soon as she was gone. After a fair amount of frustrtion, and a good lesson in the importance of a walking foot, I figured out how to jerry-rig it so it would work again, and learned that pulling stitches from a quilt is pretty difficult. Thus my first seam is a little messy. But, surprisingly, not absolutely terrible. The front and back don't match up perfectly, but they're close. Nor are my seams perfectly straight or perfectly spaced. But the thread is light, so it shouldn't be too obvious, and I haven't let the fabric pinch (yet). I also learned to check the bobbin to make sure I won't run out of thread mid-seam. Lex has been very sweet, and tried to convince me the first couple of seams show how special this quilt is, that I was willing to learn quilting just to make it. Anyway, I've gotten much better, and am working on overlooking the imperfections.
       On the other hand, the Quilt Index arrived today, and is absolutely perfect. It looks so beautiful and professional. I really think it's a special part of this gift, with all of the wonderful photos you sent and nice messages you wrote, and am glad it turned out so nicely.
       By the way, place your bets -- Is this present going to be a surprise? I've been very restrained, and haven't told my mom I bought a sewing machine or have a special present in the works, which is challenging when you consider I talk to her every day, and usually tell her everything. But with over fifty people participating in this quilt, it's hard to believe she doesn't have an inkling. Guess we'll see.

December 20, 2004
       Yesterday I finished sewing the front and back of the quilt. The quilt is huge. And beautiful. It's very exciting to see how well it's turning out. Wish me luck now with the quilting.

December 16, 2004
       I now have all the squares that are going to make it into the quilt. If, for some reason, I get more, I might make a pillow or something with the extra squares. There are a couple sitting around that got cut because, for example, a person submitted more than one. The quilt is going to be 6x8 squares large, for a total of 48 squares. All of the squares have their borders sewn on now, and I'm beginning to connect them. The Quilt Index was submitted to the publisher. I can't wait to get it, and have been assured it will arrive before Christmas!

December 11, 2004
       I have received 35 squares, and know of at least 14 on their way. Forty-nine is one more than I can comfortably handle, and there may be more that I don't know about. I'm sure I'll figure out a way to make it work. The response has been unbelievable. I'm really touched. Thank you all so much!

December 6, 2004
       Squares continue to arrive, which is great. I've now got over twenty squares, and know of many more on their way. If you have any questions about the additional information I requested, take a look at the example Quilt Index page I put above. Everything I request is just to complete this page. If you'd like your name to appear a certain way, or want to submit a picture that goes with your quilt square instead of a picture of you with Connie, that's fine.

November 28, 2004
       I'm starting to feel a little more on top of this project. I've done all the sewing I can with the fifteen squares I've received so far, and cut all the fabric. It's going to look great, and maybe I will actually finish by Christmas!
       The project's going well, but I've learned a bit about things I would do differently if I were to do it again. I would definitely ask for care instructions on the quilt squares people send. I started ironing the front of a square that has an iron on picture, and melted the picture a little. Fortunately, I figured out I shouldn't iron it very quickly, and the damage is hardly noticable. Further, if, by some lucky chance, all squares were machine washable, I'd know the quilt was machine washable. I also would ask for extra beads from people who sew beads on their squares. The squares can get a little damaged in the mail, and that way I could repair them. I also would specify that digital picture submissions are welcome -- I hadn't imagined so many people are digital now, and I know people often don't want to give up their original photographs. I might also give a little more direction on the note people can include in the Quilt Index (e.g., suggest the person describe why they designed the quilt square the way they did), although I'm not entirely sure I would. It is nice to see all of the different things people have come up with to fill that space.

November 24, 2004
       I have thirteen squares already, and am expecting more soon. If you haven't already sent me yours, please do. The earlier they arrive, the easier for me to get ahead on the sewing! By the way, if you have a digital copy of the photo you're submitting, feel free to email it to me. I'm going to have the Quilt Index published as a book (by mypublisher.com), and will just end up scanning in the photos I receive anyway.
       I have begun sewing the borders on the squares, and have completed nine of them. I've also cut most of the pieces needed for the borders. Everything looks good so far. I sure have my work cut out for me!

November 19, 2004
       The fabric arrived today, and I was glad to see that it matched (and even exceeded) expectation. It's always a bit of a risk when purchasing the fabric without actually touching it. I placed the order with www.equilter.com, who, while not the cheapest of the online fabric stores, seems to provide a wide variety of fabrics and a good interface for coordinating the fabrics. The batting (Warm & Natural) looks really nice, and I like to touch it and think one day soon the quilt will soft and fluffly like the batting.