Project #1 - Bedroom Duvet Cover

Off to a good start. DH asked our daughter this morning if she wanted to go to the library, and she said, "Mommy come too." Immediately I think of a dozen things I'd like to get done while they're away, but then I remember the library has quilting books, and I'm all in.  I checked out a few books with complete quilt designs and two books of just quilt block ideas.

The quilt block books are crazy intimidating and not for the novice.  I can see how if I were a very experienced quilter and needed ideas for a block, it would be a useful reference.  But for a newbie, it's not a very good starting point.  I need to see how the patterns of light and dark intersect.

So, during afternoon nap, DH and I looked through the books and decided on which one we liked best. (I've found out that even though he says he has no opinion, he enjoys helping make decisions and if I get his opinion early, I'm not going to end up spending months on something he hates.)

The design we picked is the Split Nine Patch from 101 Fabulous Rotary-Cut Quilts by Judy Hopkins and Nancy J. Martin.  The only problem is, it's the wrong size. It makes a 72"x72" quilt, and I need one that's 86"x92".  DH gave me a lovely down comforter for Christmas a few years ago, and until last month it sat in the closet because I didn't have a cover for it.  (I still don't, but it's cold.) We found none in the stores we could agree on, let alone any that were an appropriate size. So, I'm making one myself.

Currently I'm in the middle of drawing an adapted version of the design to allow for the bigger size.  I'm not sure I have enough fabric, and I know I don't have enough of the light patterns. And the pink/coral paisley that I love is just not going to work. There's a ribbon of lights, and a ribbon of blues, and nowhere for the bright paisley.  So I'm thinking that's going to become a throw pillow.

Next steps: finish drawing, calculate needed fabric amounts, SHOP.