Spring Runner Sew-Along: Progress

Good morning! I'm writing this to the tune of "I Like Fish" on Yo Gabba Gabba, that means I have about 15 minutes to finish this post (ha!).

Before I show you my progress so far, here are some updates and answers to questions that have come up since last week's post!

• We listed participants on the sidebar so that we can easily check out everyone's progress! 
• Here's a link to the original post, with all the details! 
• If you still want to enter, you're welcome to! April 12 is the cut-off date.
• Here's a link to our Sew Along Flickr pool. A few folks asked if posting in-progress photos was OK, and the answer is YES! But once you've finished, be sure to post one final photo for voting purposes, including a description and link to a blog post if you have one.
• Submission deadline is April 19!

Have you blogged about your progress? Let us know in the comments and we'll be sure to go check out your photos! You can also see photos from participants in our Spring Runner Flickr pool!

And now, for my own progress! My runner needs to be really, really long. Like, 90 inches or so. This is the spot I need to cover, we use the space as an area for plants, vases of flowers and as a nature table/family altar:

I changed my fabrics, like I knew I would! Since my runner is so long, I am basically making two runners according to Rashida's pattern and I'll join them with a panel of something in the middle (to be decided).

I had considered chickening out of the zigzag part, because it looked really hard and scary! As I get older I find myself resistant to learning new things (anyone else?) but I really wanted to try it out. And you know what? It did make my head hurt, but Rashida's pattern and graph is WONDERFUL. Her instructions and illustrations held my hand the whole way. I did finish this part really fast, and then realized I'd sewn some of it the wrong way. I was in a hurry to finish before Silas woke up, and I'll tell ya, once I had the pieces laid out in the zigzag pattern on my work surface (i.e. the floor) I knew I needed to get it done before destructo-baby came into the room.

I'll probably use one of these fabrics for the panel in the middle, I figure I'll make the two sides first and go from there!

How is everyone doing? Do you have your fabric picked out yet? If not, better get on it! Can't wait to see what you've all been up to.

Ooh, I like the use of the Anna Maria Horner voile! Pretty! The panel of the middle could be a third zig-zag if you feel up for it? It would be cool to have a zig-zag at each end and one in the middle. Can't wait to see how it progresses! Good job trying something new, mama! I knew you could do it!!! It's going to look fab!

I've had such fun checking out everyone's progress in the blog updates. I'm loving this! Dear readers, make sure and click on the blogs in the Participants sidebar box and go visit the Flickr pool!

As for my progress... Well, I have finally figured out a pattern, which took me much longer than anticipated. I mentioned in our last update that Rashida's runner's zigzag seemed a bit too small for the Nicey Jane prints I chose, it would chop them up too much. But I loved the essence of her design. Instead of zig-zag, I started thinking more in terms of wave. I googled "wave quilt" and, boy, found some crazy complicated stuff. But I also found the wonderful New Wave Quilt pattern by the awesome Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson! (you can download her PDF here).


Photo by Elizabeth Hartman Below is the rough pattern I came up with. My sketch is a bit messy, I was painting along with Ben who was inaugurating a new set of watercolors and splashing everywhere!


I did all my math yesterday (I wish I still were in high school when I was whizzing through calculus. Where has my brain gone? I think the frown line between my eyes is now permanent.) and I just need to cut the dimensions of the New Wave's trapezoid pieces by a third.

Here are my first cut pieces.



I'm hoping to have some good progress to show you next week! What's everyone been up to? I want some photos!!