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Ready to travel!

I'm getting ready to travel, and it is exciting!
I'm headed to Bangladesh, to visit one of my best friends, and I'm leaving behind sweet hubby and all three munchkins. I'm totally unprepared, and it will all be fine.

I spent a fair amount of time this past week working on a quilt top that I started probably 15 years ago -- I no longer own the book I got the pattern and directions out of; I stopped it at an awkward size but think I had originally intended to make it a full/queen size....

So I bought some coordinating fabric and added some borders.  The final dimensions are about 93"x100" and I'm convinced that there is no way I can wrestle it through my sewing machine with batting and backing and have anything close to a decent looking final result, so I'm very strongly considering sending it out for long arm quilting.  The trouble is, I don't think I would buy this quilt if I saw it in a store....I liked it when I started it, but it is entirely possible that my tastes have changed in the 15 years that have passed....So I'm struggling to rationalize the cost of finishing it with the satisfaction of finishing it.  I also pieced together enough leftover blocks (leftover from whatever mistake led me to leave the top at its awkward size long ago) to make two pillow shams, so I will want them quilted to match the big quilt, even though I could probably (straight line) quilt them myself. I am also nervous to send this top off for long arm quilting since it is not extremely well made -- there are definitely puckers and uneven seam allowances throughout, and I have read on many blogs that this can lead to less than ideal results.  But I did already call the long arm quilter that a very quilt-y friend of mine recommended, so here's hoping that having set that process in motion, I will stay on track and get this project finished, too. If you have an opinion about whether I should have it long arm quilted or abandon it, I'd be happy to hear it!



I still need to assemble the backing, but I do have the fabric for it.  It will be high on the list when I return from my trip, followed closely by yellow chair number 2 and another pile of mending that is accumulating. 

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