Every time I saw this pattern by Roberta Andresen, published by Lavender-Rabbit, I would pick it up. Then I would stand mute-like studying the picture on the front of the pattern, trying to talk myself into buying and making it. I really wanted to have this hanging in my sewing room...but I really didn't want to make it - just too many steps, too many little pieces, and not enough Advil in the universe. At the Houston Quilt Market, our fearless leader, Deb, produced a finished "Spools" to hang in our booth...again I was taken with it - as was everyone else who saw it. I must have told Deb a dozen times that I wanted to make it...but I resisted the urge to buy the pattern knowing that I would NEVER do it. Then, after returning from market, Deb surprised me with a half-finished Spools...she had started the project a while back and decided that SHE would never finish it because I think Deb works about 5 different jobs, I have no idea how she does it, nor do I want to know! But she remembered I loved Spools and she gave me her unfinished project! Now, a gift like that doesn't come around every day...so I couldn't let it sit forever...after aging on my Tickabox list just a mere 3 months, I finally finished it and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be!
It looks so great in my sewing room -I even made the "hanger" out of vintage wooden spools just like the pattern suggested. Thanks to Deb for doing all the hard stuff for me!!! And to the rest of you...if you ever want to give me your unfinished projects, (sorry Deb, for a split second I did entertain the idea of finishing Spools and giving it back to you, but deep down inside, turns out I'm really a very selfish person!) to finish and keep for myself...I'm okay with that!
Now, for a GREAT tutorial on how to make a Spool Quilt Block, go to Freda's Hive. She makes it SEW easy and it's a great way to use up scraps!
