There Goes The Band

It wouldn't be like me to jump on the bandwagon. This time, I am so far behind the band wagon, I am running as fast my short legs will go, shouting wait for me. I have hopped skipped and jumped onto the back of the wagon and just about caught up with it, just as it rolls into town. I had said ages ago, no more band wagons, I know I did, but the temptation was just too much for me to resist.

To be fair to myself, I did want to make a little quilt to celebrate all things American. Well, not all things, not the things I don't like, but to celebrate all the things I do like. The ocean, the vastness of the country, the turkey dinners, sweet potatoes, apple pie, that sort of thing. Since my son has been in USA the last few years, I have draped a piece of material with the stars and stripes flag on it over the back of the chair. Not draped all the time, that would be mad. On Thanksgiving Day and Independence Day I drape the fabric, and we have either turkey dinner or hot dogs as appropriate. At this stage my husband will be saying, Do We? Yes, we do, you just haven't noticed! Anyhow, with my son being married and whatnot, I thought we needed to up our game rather. The plan was to make a small Americana quilt. I was going to buy some Uncle Sam type fabric whilst we were there for the wedding, but that didn't happen. I had talked about sewing a Carpenter's Star block quilt which would have been perfect.

In the meantime, Tish announced her mystery Fireburst quilt a long.

 Mmmm what to do? I wanted to do the Carpenter's Star, but surely a Fireburst sounds all sort of July 4 and fireworks type of thing. The quilt a long started, and I still didn't have any fabric. Then I went for a hoke in my drawers, as the saying goes and found some American fabric.

I decided to go with the navy flags as my fabric 1, and then the navy and red starred fabrics and 2 and 3. A plain dark red kona is my background. It wasn't long until I got caught up with my half square triangles and half geese.

 I feel as if I should be finishing the geese, so I am intrigued to see how the half geese work. Tish is very enterprising and has set up a secret society, a Fb page for moral and mutual support. When I posted my fabrics, Tish felt they would work well, so that's all to the good. That is the thing about a mystery quilt, its a mystery.

I am making the baby size which is 32". I plan to maybe add a border with the two narrow strips of fabric. I will use the two narrow fabrics running across the front of my photo, the hearts and stars. Or maybe not, if they look a bit twee.  I don't usually like borders, I like a more modern look to a quilt, these borders can be ironic, no political jokes about walls and borders intended.

So, the excitement has begun. I have a new folder in my lap top labelled Fireburst for photos, as one folder closes, so another opens. I am not sure when the quilt a long finishes, but as I have draped a bit of material for so long, we will not worry too much about an actual finish. I have just checked. Tish finishes on 1 January, that gives me plenty of time for a finish!

If you fancy joining in, I am sure it is not too late. Just jump on board.
Go check out my friend Tish for details.
So, that's me on board the band wagon for now. This reminds me of the lady watching the Salvation Army Band. The band major said to her, "for a donation you can have a hymn." She replied, "can I have him with the tuba?". I loved that joke.

Ooops, another band wagon just went past, and the man that plays the tuba was calling me. More about that next time.
Helen
linking up with all the linkups I missed for this!