Read--post 1

First pencil sketch; hands too low; poor fingers

Goal number six on my May list was to figure out what to do for the current book club book which is "The Last Bookshop in London" by Madeline Martin. Each project I make, I try to challenge myself in some way. For the last several projects, I've used scraps and blocks from the "parts department."

Second sketch: hands okay; too much like a newspaper

As I read, I had several thoughts about projects I could make. Those projects would take more time that I had to spend on the project. I thought some more. When I was in London earlier this year, I was re-listening to the book. In the story, the main character takes a position working in a London Bookshop just before WWII began. When the bombs fell on London, she would read to those that were using the tube as a place to shelter. Reading in the tube became a way for her to connect further to her community. 

It's been a while since I played with line.  I pondered that I could make a line drawing of hands reading a book. I could call the project "Read." I could use some of my grandmother's narrow bias tape to define the line. I looked at people holding a book, holding a paper, holding a newspaper. I asked my husband to hold a book. I reviewed examples on Pinterest. I drew a sketch. 

The hands were too low and the fingers weren't visual enough. I couldn't draw the right perspective with the arms. The book curve was okay, I wasn't successful making the drawing one line as I had picked up my pencil and redrawn or back tracked in some areas.

I tried a second time. This time, I did achieve a single line. The hand and fingers were much more believable; but, the book now looked like a newspaper.

Third sketch: more book like

For the third try, I erased a few lines and added a curve. A few lines overlap; but, the design is doable. I enlarged my sketch on my home printer. I used a black Sharpie marker to darken the lines. I chose a medium gray solid fabric from my stash for the background and a blue grey bias tape. The price on this package was 85 cents.

Auditioning a few strings to represent stairs

As I reviewed the layout, I thought that I needed to add some interest to the top and bottom of the piece. I auditioned a few grey string blocks and decided to place those across the top and bottom of the piece. The strings could represent the stairs where the people sat. 

Bias tape

While I was piecing the orange blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, I pieced the remaining three string blocks I needed for the borders. I added the blocks to the background. Using a light box and pencil, I transferred the pattern to the background. Using Elmer's School Glue, I glued the bias tape to the background. 

Offray ribbon

The plan to use bias tape while a good plan, didn't work. The tape wasn't narrow enough as I lost the definition of the little finger. Gertie, my inner squirrel, and I thought some more. We could couch a ribbon, yarn or maybe stitch heavy lines of thread or maybe a combination of thread and couching? We decided to try gluing black offray ribbon to the lines. That idea worked.

Read and auditioning the lower string border

As I stepped back to view the hands reading the book, Gertie and I both exclaimed it needs the word, "Read!" I like the add as does Gertie! We then auditioned the string border for the bottom of the quilt. Neither of us liked it. I tried auditioning only the lower border. I tried auditioning string blocks around the entire perimeter. I didn't like that either. So in the end, we both decided the upper string border was enough.

Ready for a backing and layering

I selected a backing and a sleeve fabric from the stash. These fabrics have been around a long time. They must have been waiting for this project!  

The backing and sleeve fabric

I layered and glue basted it. Because this is a wall hanging, I used Warm and Natural batting. The letter R looked lonely so I added a bit of ribbon. I'll attach the ribbon as I quilt. 

Ready for quilting

Now to determine the quilting! Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.