Lake Effect Update

Since January is the month to take stock and organize things for the year ahead, I figured I'd better do just that with an old WIP (work in progress) that has sorta' been off my radar in recent weeks.

Lake Effect is a quilt I began in 2017. I have been digging through old posts to find this one in which I detail shopping for the fabrics. So sometime before April 2017, I had seen the Minick and Simpson pattern and had determined that I would make this quilt. The last time I wrote about Lake Effect was here; you can see the pattern and my early work on the appliqued border.

Now that we are up to date on this WIP's history, let's see what I am stitching this fine day.

Strange-looking appendage there  - it is a branch of a limb. This is a small portion of a long, thin vining-type border in this quilt. If you clicked on the earlier links, you saw that the pattern has a prominent applique center and border. Vowing to complete these appliqued sections were instrumental in my giving myself 10 years to finish the quilt. I know me: I procrastinate even more than usual when the task is less than enjoyable.

I have always claimed that applique was definitely not my favorite thing to do, but this pattern was going to force me to apply myself and learn how to do it. Then I found a method called "back basting" and gosh, did my opinion of applique change! Quilting friend Becky uses this method and in addition to demonstrating the technique for me, she recommended following the work of well-known quilter and teacher Jeana Kimball (find her on Instagram or Facebook). Talk about a game-changer.

I have one long panel finished, and have just begun this second long panel. Then there will be two smaller panels to tackle. But I think I am ahead of schedule, assuming I am still shooting for the 10-year deadline. I would like to think that I will finish way ahead of that.

It has been awhile since I last linked up with Kathy's Quilts and her Slow Sunday Stitching party, so why not click on over there to see the lovely projects from some other quilters and seamstresses.

Happy Quilting, Friends!