I hate to admit it but I am getting tired of Sue! Sunbonnet Sue started me on my quilting journey. Those 10 blocks my Grannie made inspired me to make more....to divide them up andmake lapquilts for my daughters, my sisters, and my mother. So that each of them would have a bit of Grannie's memory.That means 9 lapquilts.....72 more blocks that I have to make to add to the ones Grannie made. I've gotten two lapquilts done so far and another ready to put together. only 6 more lapquilts to go. I love putting the blocks together. I love making the borders......BUT Sue herself is getting boring. I'm trying to make them all in the same style as my Grannie did which means doing them very simply and by hand. I got two done yesterday...it took me awhile to get going on them. I just try remembering how excited she was when she was making them though. I remember her coming home and drawing that pattern out and sewing on them. That is what keeps me making them....that and knowing that before long Grannie won't be with us anymore. I gave her the first lapquilt. Figured it was only right that she had it. So I guess I'll keep trudging on with Sue till all these are done. The maybe I can work on something I want to...I just can't wait to start on a quilt for my bed! But I'm afraid if I start on it now I won't finish Sue. Do you ever get tired of working on a block and have to force yourself to finish?

if you want happy memories- set it aside until you're in a happy mood to work on it. I keep a list handy of UFOs so I don't get too many, but I can work on things that come up in the meantime. Going back to a UFO gives you new energy to finish it. Who doesn't like picking up something already started- the end is that much closer.

(Spoken by the person with 8 UFOs on her list)

Perhaps to ease the boredom you may want to consider doing a couple of the lap quilts with an alternate block? Maybe only half Sues and half something else? A double nine patch would make a lovely interlacing pattern between the Sues and make the project go quicker. Or you could do four Sues in the center and build out the quilt with different sampler blocks or blocks that when placed next to each other form another pattern all together to frame the Sues. That could also make each recipients lap quilt unique. Just a thought.

I want to finish three of them by Christmas....the others there is no timetable. I like the idea though of some alternating blocks! I'm still sew new to this I didn't even think of that! That would make things go much faster and I would almost have enough blocks done to do 2 quilts right now! See I knew there was a reason to make that post other than just being whiney! I could make enough 9 patches this afternoon and tomorrow get them together. I think that's exactly the inspiration I needed@

I think it's time to do a different block and maybe later get back to Sue. We all get bored if we do the same thing over and over.

ginnie, I made our quilt, a king-size, with templates. I HATED doing it. After I was all done, my machine went to the shop. My feed dogs weren't working. No wonder I was saying all those bad words and hating the work I was doing!! And I blamed it all on those templates!! Silly me. I now love our quilt and might actually use those templates again some time! :wink:

well I got the pieces for the 9 patches cut out this afternoon for one lapquilt and I LOVE it! It just adds so much to the quilt. I've come to the conclusion that I love piecing and not applique so much. Adding the 9 patches to these will definitely help them go faster and help me feel like I'm actually doing something. Once I get the top together I'll post a pic.

good job!

I also began my quilting journey last year with a Sun Bonnet Sue made by my husband's great grandmother - the one in my avatar. The top was complete except for borders. It is still a UFO and I need to finish it before my MIL departs this world.
I love 9 patch blocks and look forward to seeing yours with your Sues! Thanks for the back door encouragement!

If you want some different ideas to do with Sue, Victoriana Quilt Design is doing a Block of the Month with Sue and sometimes Sam. The site is
www.victorianaquiltdesign.com

I love Sue too, but doing the same one over and over would discourage me.
Take care, chin up, Gwyn