Next step: sewing

I cut all the fabric into squares for Myla's quilt. I did this about 2.5 weeks ago. I started sewing them into strips and things seemed to be running along smoothly enough to possibly get it to Jenny when I went up to Stillwater for Thanksgiving. Well, then I hit a few snags. Literally. I had finished sewing the individual strips and had just begun to sew the strips together to start making the quilt top, when my machine decided it was going to only make a few stitches and then knot everything up. Why? Why does it do that? I changed the needle. That wasn't it. I messed with the tension. That wasn't it. I took a break and decided to come back the next night. Nope, problem still there. It seemed like when I rethreaded the needle that it got better, and it hasn't really had the same problem since. I guess I can easily do that again next time it happens, but does anyone know why machines wig out like that? It'd be nice to know.
Ok, so I got it working fine again but then as I was beginning to stitch the strips together, the seams weren't lining up perfectly. what the... It's not like I have some complicated pattern I am trying to follow. Just sewing squares together! So either, on my late night of cutting (because I did do it very late one night in my determined-ness to get it done in time) I messed up somehow. maybe I didn't measure exactly 4 inches for each square, or as I cut them (since I folded the fabric and cut so that it would go faster) there was some slippage here and there resulting in unevenly sized squares? I don't know. When I asked Ryan what he thought, he said it's not that big of a deal, and that he didn't even notice it until I pointed it out to him. He didn't think Jenny would notice eithr. Well, I can't give someone a baby quilt for her first baby and not have it be immaculate. So, needless to say, I did not bring a baby quilt with me up to Stillwater. I can't forever be remembered as the aunt who sews crooked quilts. Here are some shots of the fabric squares though. They are so cute. SO CUTE. I can't wait to see the finished quilt.

I LOVE that blue and white Sunbonnet Sue print from Windham fabrics.
Wouldn't that just make the cutest little dress?

three solids, ten prints, one hundred sixty 4" squares and one very sore arm.

I think these will make such a sweet little baby quilt!

And it works out great because Myla was born this morning! Now I can also embroider her full name and birthday on it, and I think that would make it extra special. I would not be able to add that little touch if I gave it to Jenny last week.

By the way, Mommy and baby are doing great. Myla was born at 5:14am at 7 pounds 10 ounces and 21 inches. She's a perfectly healthy, beautiful little girl!

I've got lots of sewing and seam-ripping and some square-trimming to do this weekend. I'm excited though, and ready to bring it. I'll let you know how it goes.

Have a great weekend!