Quilt Reality Check Time

At the end of last year, I decided to join the Diary of a Patriot Mystery Quilt  

I also decided to make two quilts because one of the size options is perfect for a Quilt of Valor. So I'm not making two identical quilts, I am swapping out my reds and blues between the two quilts. Sounds all good, right?

I was sewing along, keeping up nicely with the first two clues. I was feeling pretty good about staying on top of both quilts, while also keeping up with the multitude of other projects on which I'm working. 

Clue 3 was released January 31st and I quickly pulled and cut the required fabrics and got sewing. As usual, I am working on more than one project at a time, and all was going well. I was productive, got all my units sewn and then reality sunk in. 

It was time for a reality check and face some cold, hard truths...

1) I am still very happy that I decided to make two QOVs during this mystery. 

2) I enjoy making flying geese using the method in the mystery - making 4 at a time is very easy, efficient, and accurate.

Here's where the truth part comes in... 

3) I will admit that I am NOT going to enjoy trimming all 144 flying geese units (72 for each quilt). 

4) I am not sure that I love my fabric choices for the navy/blue combinations (red/dark red in my second quilt), but I'm going to stick with it. (FYI - the colors in these photos are not true representations of the actual colors.)

5) I am happy that I realized early in the process that my navy fabric is directional and has subtle lines running through it. 

6) I am NOT embarrassed to admit that I had to redraw my diagonal guide line on more than one small square in order to keep those subtle lines running in the same direction.  :-) 

7) It probably wasn't a wise decision to sew half square triangles for two other projects at the same time that I was sewing these flying geese blocks. I've already trimmed 96 HST in order to make 24 pinwheel blocks; but now I have to trim these 144 flying geese units AND 112 HST for one of the other projects. At the time, I had a desire to sew, not press or cut. Now I better find the desire to trim - and put in a new rotary cutter blade. 😂

My mantra for the next foreseeable future is, "Quit complaining and get trimming! These flying geese will NOTt trim themselves and they WILL make the quilts even more special for the recipients." lol

Everything is pressed and ready to be trimmed.

I have a couple of pinwheels already made, just to keep me motivated.  lol

If you don't hear from me by next week, call my husband and ask him to check on me, please. 😉