quick and easy convergencence project

[Annette R.]

Last night I decided to make a small convergence for a gift. (yes yes I know I vowed I wouldn't do anything else new before Christmas ) Well my ADD struck and distractibility was supreme. So I decided to make a small divide and conquer convergence. I cut it about 8:00 p.m. and had it constructed, appliqued guilted and bound by bedtime (appr. 10:30 p.m.) It is only about six inches wide and 12 inches long but turned out really nice. I did the pillow turn so did not have to bind it separately. And the best part of the whole thing is I have a second quilt top that is the reverse image because of cutting two fabrics at once. That will be a gift to me from myself and should be done today.

If I can master uploading pictures (my score for doing it this week is computer many Ann zero) I will post it in my blog site with the other convergences that I haven't shown before. That is my next blog topic but if I cant master the picture upload there is no point at doing it. So wish me luck.

Ann

[Annette R.]

Good luck with the pictures Ann. I would love to see it-- I am having trouble picturing it in my mind!!
Linda

[Annette R.]

Good luck Ann. You can do it, you can do it , we know you can.

[Eileen K.]

Can't wait to see it, Ann.
Eileen Keane, NY

[Eileen K.]

I can't believe it. I've begun my very first ever Convergence quilt. Yesterday while in Annapolis, I picked up 4 Christmas fat quarters. Today they have been ironed, cut into squares, squares sewn together left and right, strips cut and intertwined...........and that is as far as I have gotten. It's very exciting and so far seems very easy to do.

[Damaris E.]

Leslie, how EXCITING!! Please post pictures!! I would LOVE to see a Christmas convergence!!

Ann, can't wait to see all of your projects!! You are the "CONVERGENCE QUEEN"!!

[Damaris E.]

I have tried so hard to measure, measure, measure, and sew as straight a 1/4 inch seam as possible on this project. Unfortunately, I'm off somewhere cause my seams are not matching up nicely on the second go around. I'm going to complete it anyway. I've figured out that a little appliqued circle, placed just so can hide several unmatched seams. I consider this my practice piece to learn the technique.

[Annette R.]

Leslie, don't be too worried about the matching of the seams on your first (or for some number to come) convergences. It seems that it is a freak of nature that no matter how careful you are some seams just do not want to match. One way to help that is to repress your seams after you have cut your strips for the second time so that one set goes up and the other down and the seams will more naturally nestle together. Also Ricky says in his book sew one seam from top to bottom and the next bottom to top. I pin my seam joints if I have very narrrow strips but the larger strips I just wiggle the seams together and hope for the best. If you saw my convergences close up you would see that not all the seams meet exactly. I don't obsess about it and if applique fits at a bad joint fine but if it doesn't the miss is usually not noticeable from a reasonable viewsing distance.

So go ahead , have fun and know that it will be beautiful whether the seams match or not. (at least I have never seen a convergence that in the end was ugly but who knows there could be one somewhere)

Be proud that you broke out and tried this technique. I am sure you will love it. Good luck Ann

[Annette R.]

I have kept on going and now have the top together. A circle highlighting the focus fabric covers the most noticeable mismatched seams. I added an inner border and a wider border and now have it basted and ready to quilt. You are right, Ann. I love it because of its uniqueness and colors even though the seams are off. But..........now I've got the "convergence bug" and I'm dreaming of my next project.

[Annette R.]

Leslie,WAY TO GO AND DIDN'T YOU HAVE FUN. I hate to keep repeating myself but there is no other way to say it Convergences are a beginning art quilters dream and for anyone further along on the road to art quilting a convergence is a good challenge and the results are always wonderful. I have to move on to the divide and conquer and the grand convergences for my own growth but the harmonics will always be special because of the large role they played in my quilting life. Look out anything that sits still at my house is in jeopardy of being converged (poor dh he just tries to stay out of my way)

[Diane O.]

I recently bought Rickys book on Convergence quilts, and after the holidays, I plan on getting some of my fat quarters out of my stash and trying this technique. I have to keep reminding myself, that I don't have to make LARGE quilts each time I want to try something new, and should start with a small project so if I don't like the way it turns out, I won't have wasted much fabric or time... but I'm looking forward to trying this concept.

Diane in Colorado Springs

[Diane O.]

I recently bought Rickys book on Convergence quilts, and after the holidays, I plan on getting some of my fat quarters out of my stash and trying this technique. I have to keep reminding myself, that I don't have to make LARGE quilts each time I want to try something new, and should start with a small project so if I don't like the way it turns out, I won't have wasted much fabric or time... but I'm looking forward to trying this concept.

Diane in Colorado Springs

From one who is hooked...........you'll love making a convergence quilt and just like Ricky wrote in his book, you'll be asking "What if........?"

[Diane O.]

So...DH was surfing around on amazon.com yesterday. I mentioned that there was just one more quilting book I wanted to get. So he found, and got an awesome price, on Ricky's convergence book! What a nice husband! My name is Sherry and I'm a convergence addict wannabe! 8) Pics to follow!

[Annette R.]

It doesn't take much to go from a convergence addict wannabe to a fullfledged card holding in need of a twelve step program addict. Believe me the book will do it for you. Good luck, have fun and remember the first time or two all the seams may not meet perfectly but that is OKAY!!!!!!

Welcome to the club, Ann

[Annette R.]

I guess I need to get my "Convergance" (SP) finished, the top is done, but have not done any more on it ops: ops:

Margarita in Auburn, CA