As you know, this quilt is to be a wedding gift for my son Jiffy (Jonathan) and his bride Josie. I offered them a few choices and was delighted when they selected an anchor, Josie particularly liked my suggestion that it would anchor them together. I also mentioned that they wouldn't be getting a quilt exactly the same as the model I showed them.
Then I set off shopping not only my stash, but various stores both here and in Australia, gathering together enough fat quarters and fat eighths to put the top together. As you know I procrastinated for quite some time before I actually cut into the fabric and made a pile of four inch squares, all needing to be sewn back together.
The squares were not the problem. Once I finally got started on that process they went together very quickly, thanks to Chooky and a zoomy weekend. Then I realised that I had purchased the wrong border fabric and shopped the stash again. I found the perfect fabric, but didn't have enough, so a top up from an online store was necessary. Once we returned from our trip to Okiwi bay, I got stuck in again and in next to no time I had the new border fabric and outer border in place, next came the applique.
The Anchor. That had potential to become a big sticking point. I have wondered and worried about the anchor. I even asked for your advice in the last post I wrote. (Thank you to those who had something to say, it was all taken onboard and given thorough contemplation).
This morning, finally I decided it was time to heave too and get on with it. I cut a bunch of scrap A4 papers into two slices, spread the top on the floor and started playing. I didn't get anything pretty but I did get the right angle, measurements and a necessary confidence boost.
Next I pulled out my vlisofix, just enough to make a start. Then I pulled out a pencil and began to draw, right onto the vlisofix. First the fluke, that curved bottom piece, next the shaft and cross piece. Out came a round baking tin and a dipping bowl to create the ring at the top.
I cut them out roughly and had another play, took a deep breath and started to fuse onto the applique fabric. Then I had another check, yep, still good.
Next I started to think about the twiddly bits.
- The bill tips or fluke tips. The pointy bits at ends of those bottom arms or flukes of the anchor that help it to dig into the seabed and hold in place.
- The Trunnions or the arms of the anchor needed decorative ends.
- The Crown where the vertical shaft meets the base of the curved flukes, this helps the anchor to pivot and settle onto the bottom.
It's a wedding gift, a symbol of love, so why not hearts? More paper and drawing and I added five hearts. Yep, that works.
Next, I pulled everything off except the shaft and fused it into place onto my top. No going back now! (Deep Breath)!
Each piece went on in turn. I used the wavy line stitch on my machine. Not trusting myself to get those curves and circles just right with a straight stitch. It's an anchor! Waves are perfect.
The pieces went on quite easily and I am so happy with what I have so far. Oh My Gosh. I did it!
Just those twiddly bits left, but I'm out of vlisofix. Tony called in to the shop for me and bought more, but he is still at work......
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