Postage Stamp WIP (new pic added Jan 14!)

[Katxena]

This is the first completed block of a postage stamp quilt I am making for myself.  The block is 12x12 inches, and is made of 144 1-inch (finished size) squares.



I fussy cut several of the squares (look for the the salt & pepper shakers, the spirals and circles that are perfectly centered, a fishy, a wrapped gift, flowers, etc.). I love fussy cutting!

The back is crazy and haphazard -- I'm not really paying attention to what direction the seams are facing.  But I am matching and pinning each seam before sewing.



Also, you might notice that I'm actually using a lot of wrong sides on the front.  That's because I didn't end up with very might light colored fabrics.  By flipping over some of my mediums and darks, I'm able to create more contrast without rushing out to buy more fabric!

I plan to make 20 of these blocks, sew them together, and add a border.  It will be made of 2,880 tiny squares when I'm done.  I've been collecting fabrics for this quilt for over a year.  Several crafster members have contributed fabric as gifts or in swaps (personal and organized).  I also got fabric from friends (of mine and my mom's), yard sales and eBay (I bought a 14-pound box of scraps on eBay).  I've even bought a few fat quarters and fat eighths just for this project.  I've lost track of how many different fabrics I have collected, but my best guess is around 500.

[miss_k]

i love this idea!! i can't wait to see more blocks and the finished product...please keep us updated!!

[fluffybaka]

Holy crap.  Your patience amazes me.

[photojenn]

Oh wow, that's awesome!  I can't wait to see the finished project!!

[sonnetbird]

Very ambitious! Can't wait to see the finished project

[unpopulartshirt]

Lovely! I like how you're using the backs of fabrics to create lighter tones.

[OnlySiamese]

Wow, your quilt is going to be amazing!

[missliz]

Wow! So impressive! Your seams are so straight!!
I just saw a completed quilt in the same style at a recent quilt show in Santa Monica.  The effect when the quilt is finished, is breathtaking.  I wanted to stand really really close to examine all the different fabrics.  But then step back to marvel at the overall effect of the tiny squares.  Please keep posting progress!!

[emisaurus]

i agree with everyone else!
this looks amazing, and i cant wait to see more

seeing this i'd like to do one of the same.
(i have so much fabric, its ridiculous)
maybe i'll get insipired over the holiday seasons

[Katxena]

Thanks so much!  Several people who've seen this in real life have asked why I didn't create some sort of pattern with the squares (at the very least, I could have alternated lights and darks).  The answer is 'cause I didn't want to!  I'm trying to be more brave about using patterns and colors, and I thought this project might help me -- maybe just seeing patterns next to each other (that I would never purposely put next to each other) will teach me something.