Sashing Grassy Creek--post 8

Chaos while figuring out a piecing system

The first and third Mondays of the month are the days that our Mystery Mavens group meet. I try to work on a Bonnie project during those days. I've been working on Grassy Creek. The first Monday, I planned to get started on the sashing. 

I made quite a mess while I was figuring  out a system to build the sashing. I decided to make the churn dash elements with the same fabric in each churn dash.

To ensure the blocks stayed as I had laid them out on the design wall, I pinned the sashing on top. This turned out as not the best solution; but, it got me started with the process.

Sashing in progress

Because working on this project takes up so much space in my sewing area. I made the decision to sew on it until I had the blocks together in a top. 

I'm pleased with how the parts are coming together. I'm also pleased with the overall effect of the sashing. Although the first photo of the sashing in progress doesn't show the effect!

At the end of my second sewing session, I had made a little more progress. My design wall isn't big enough to hold a full row of the blocks. Consequently, if there was a way to sew the blocks together differently from the directions, I tested it! I found that moving the blocks to the floor netted a whole lot less unsewing! 

Progress after the second sewing session

Even though  I haven't sewn but a few rows together, I'm liking the emerging design! The light background pieces sure pop in this design. It is easy to sew bits together that creates a pattern other than the one that I want! I plan to be mindful as I stitch each seam. 

Working on the other half of the blocks at the end
of the third session

At the end of session three, I had sewn four rows together. I also had laid out two thirds of the second half of the quilt. I did need to cut a few bars for the churn dashes so that I had the same fabric in the four sections of the churn dash. 

Progress at the beginning of the fourth session

At the beginning of the fourth session, I thought that I would be able to complete the center. Even though I had sewn half of the quilt into rows and even though I had begun the layout of the last half of the quilt, I was too optimistic!

Lower third of the second half of the quilt

There are 24 points to match in each row. Sometimes, the matches went well and sometimes they didn't. I was short one HST and I had one extra string pieced sashing. I sure removed a lot of stitches in that last row because I kept turning the HSTs in a direction other than was directed! By the end of the fourth session, I had three more seams to sew! 

Close up view of the churn dash sashing

On the fifth session, I was sure that I could finish the center. I had three seams left to sew and I had pinned two of them. I did it! WHEW! I like it. It measures about 84 inches square which is too big for me to get an accurate photo of the center. 

Finished center

There is a skinny inner border and a string border left to add. In the coming weeks, I'll think about when I will work on those sections. I need to get to other items on my November list. I'm glad that I've made progress on this project which was goal number seven on my list.