Why Can't Carolyn Count?

So, back to the Arkansas Cross Road blocks and project.

From this layout of all the pieces . . .

. . . I carefully sorted everything into two piles, making sure the blocks with the bright orange squares were equally split between the piles. It doesn't look like it here, but the bright orange really flashed out to me in person, and I didn't want them all grouped in one border or area.

From there it was a simple matter of sewing up the two piles, and when that was done I put the two resulting borders up on the design wall, flanking the middle string section.

 ***Sigh***

So, yes, some frog- and re-stitching ensued. 

When the borders were finally sorted out, it turned out there was a 2" difference between the borders and the middle. 

The borders measured 88.5" (raw) and the middle measured 86.5" (raw). The reason for this, I soon (re)learned, was that the gray & white fabric used for the left and right edges of the middle section was 86.5" long (it was a bottom sheet in its previous life). It would be easier to add two inches to the middle than to subtract two inches from the borders.

I decided to create a 3" (raw) scrappy black/white/gray strip from my various scraps, and stick it in the middle of the center section. It wasn't hard--I'm awash in scraps! With only a modicum of stress (did I measure, and remeasure, and measure it all again correctly?!? After all, consider the title of this post) I inserted that new strip . . .

. . . and lined everything up again. Much better!

The next Big Question: would there be enough of the 2.5" scrappy roll to create four more borders?

Oh yes--there was plenty, with this much left over as the sourdough starter batch:

 

And the resultant flimsy!

Actual flimsy

Initial computer plan

I am so very pleased with how this turned out!

I've done some hand quilting on the vintage top I blogged about ten days ago, using some mystery thread I found in my "weird threads" baggie to provide the needed tension along the bound edge (I think it's carpet thread).

I've also completed all the Snail's Trail blocks (63) and put them up on the design wall in order to decide which layout I preferred.

I had some disappointment in value choices here and there. Overall, I prefer the leftmost (what I think of as 'traditional') arrangement.

The Snail's Trail itch has been well and truly scratched! I doubt I'll ever want to do another. These were supposed to end up at 10-5/8" (raw), but despite my most careful cutting, sewing, and trimming, the final blocks ended up being 10" (raw). Each round finished slightly smaller than the maths indicated, which of course had a cumulative effect. That's actually not bad news for my needs, but if I had really needed those additional 5/8 of an inch, I'd've been SOL!

One more finish--the final BOM backing (followed by the computer plan):

That makes six backings hanging in my closet, ready for flimsies. I came home from the September CF!Quilters' meeting with two bags of batting scraps, so it's time to sew those chunks together into several frankenbatts, and get to sandwiching and quilting!