Work on my ever so exciting secret project

The bride and groom were very happy with it.

One more step to go. After washing and drying the frontal part yesterday, today, I did the assembly. First, I ironed both outer layers, which took the better part of an hour. Then, I recruited my bf’s help and we laid out the three layers on the floor, padding on the bottom, then the back layer pretty side up and on top the front layer pretty side down.
I pinned through all 3 layers, where the different fabric pieces meet. Then, I sewed the layers as pinned round the outside together, leaving only about 30 centimeters space to pull the whole thing inside-out, or rather, outside-out, as the pretty sides were facing each other at that point.
2 sewing machine needles broke during this endeavour, and for reasons I have not figured out, the upper thread kept bunching up on the underside a few times, leaving me to undo the sewing with the seam ripping tool.
The final work done today was pulling it all out and flattening it again on the floor, pinning down again all the crosses where fabrics come together. All I am left with to do is the actual quilting, which will be the easy binding with thick, whooly thread at all crossing points and maybe also in the middle of all non-decorated blocks.
One more session and it’s a wrap.

Decision time. I need to decide whether I’ll baste and quilt the three layers together before doing a 4 piece binding, or if I will sew the edges and then do some ornamental quilting to finish it off.
Writing this, one can sense already which way I’m swinging. I know I’ll assemble and fasten the layers before quilting a bit/
It will cost so much more time and energy to quilt the pieces, and so I will be able to look at the generally finished blanket and then add quilting in my own time, after finishing the other handmade present.
Mind, I still have to practice singing, too, and there are only 22 days left until the wedding, and even less until we take off for Germany.

I finished the front. All blocks are sewn into place. It looks fabulous! I am so chuffed.

2 fifths of the front are done! I sewed 5 shawls as vertical columns with all the blocks. I also connected the first two columns. I laid out the 5 shawls to take this picture and to see what it all looks like spread out. It was actually quite exciting to see it like this for the first time.

I made the Hamburg/Braunschweig block, which turned out nicely, even though the Michel tower is leaning a tad. But with the rounded door and windows it is very recognisable for anyone who knows the Michaelis church. I am also very happy about how the lion turned out.
After numerous attempts to zig-zag sew the shirt cuffs on as tickets for the travel block, I gave up. I had played with thread tension and stitch lengths, but after two or three zig-zags, I ended up with 10 straight stitches as the upper came up without the lower on one side. So I sewed them on in a (more or less) straight line, since the underthread seemed to be refusing to loop with the upper thread. It looks fine anyway. As a finishing touch, I sewed on a button as an eye for the fish on the nature block.

To complete the cutting sessions (roughly), I cut out the 38 coloured blocks, which took another 1 1/2 hours. Finally, I arranged all the blocks into sewing order. That was fun! It really felt as if everything that I planned in my head was coming together nicely. The blocks are sitting on 5 neat piles now and are waiting for the final frontal assault. Sewing another 20 meters in straight lines will be challenging after sewing I am slightly concerned that I have 12 blocks in stretchy corduroy, which I pray will not give me too much hassle.

Then, throughout Saturday and Sunday, I finished the blocks.
Yesterday, I have been very productive.

20.08.
Saturday, I cycled to Albert Cuyp Market and bought the padding stuff and replacement needles for the machine, plus the black thread to bind the layers together.

I also nearly finished sewing the music symbols onto the music block. For the city-themed one, I designed the lion of Braunschweig by cutting out the outline of the statue from a photo I printed off the ‘net.

Then I enlarged it by transferring it from a smaller to a larger grid.
I shall do the same with the Hamburg Michel tower.
It’s only my luck that the newly weds have got naught to do with Cologne, I doubt I could do the cathedral… The tower and the lion are fairly simple in shape and yet recognisable.

Still unfinished is also the last sewing of the “tickets” on the travel blocks, the two cuffs seem a bit too thick and I have, so far, busted numerous threads and a needle on them!

I will now print out a few grids so I can play at home with which colours and fabrics the simple blocks will be.

I’ve had two rather productive sessions, lately:
One afternoon, I cut out the majority of the puzzle parts that will decorate the picture blocks. I designed a fish, a butterfly, cut out 12 dancing shoes and the initials V and N.