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Practice Pieces

I found this patchwork quilt top for a song at one of the antique markets we visited, and it's kind of a mess. It's unfinished, the fabric choices are odd, and sewn so poorly it doesn't lay flat.

It was also sewn together with zig zag stitches, which I've never before seen a quilter do. Anyway, as it is I can't save it or finish it, so I decided to recycle it into stitch practice pieces.

I do want to hand stitch some reclaimed patchwork into my September tote, so I really need to practice and see what I am still capable of doing.

I put together two mug rugs and a mat for practice stitching. The rest of the quilt top will be repurposed for other projects.

I also learned some things doing this. I'm not going to be able to feather stitch or embroider much longer, as I fought my fingers just to get this much done.

I can only manage huge straight stitches unless I use a very small, very sharp quilting needle, which was a nice revelation. So while this top could never be finished, it taught me quite a bit.
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