Monday, December 17, 2012

finally finished

I started this quilt before Christmas of last year.  I finally found my mojo to finish it!  Yes, another gingham quilt!  I only have 3/4 of a box of blocks to use up now.  LOL!  My youngest sister decided to get a regular-size bed so I thought it would be a good idea to make her a quilt that fits it for Christmas.  Weeellll, a year later it's finished just in time for Christmas!  LOL

This is a 'trip around the world' quilt set together using the Crazy Shortcut Quilting method for quilt-as-you-go.  This works really well for bed size quilts.

Here's the plan from EQ6:

I had to do some playing around with where I wanted the setting strips to go.  I wanted a nine-patch that was balanced on both side and top-n-bottom.  I end up starting in the middle and working my way out, some days I'm a little slow.  ; >)

Then I went through the box picking out blocks for the colors I wanted to use.  I picked out all the seams, pressed the individual pieces and trimmed or rejected any pieces that were not the right size.  Then I stacked them up in piles to sew together.

Then based on my plan I started setting the blocks together and quilting them by stitching in the ditch.  I used 80/20 cotton batting because polyester batting beards through fabric with high polyester content like gingham fabric.  I used scraps of backing fabric from Mother's other quilt projects for the backs of each block.

I ended up numbering each block as it was finished because I was having trouble keeping them in order and reversing the tops.  I choose black for the setting strips because I wanted the eye to see it but not focus on them.  This is, also, why symmetry was so important.  You want the eye to see the whole design.  I used gingham strips on the back for some color and the border.

I had to repair a block.  Somehow, I nipped the quilt somewhere along the line with either my scissors or the rotary cutter.  I used fusible web and 2 small hearts of gingham to add a bit of whimsy to the repair.

The borders were sewn on after setting the body of the quilt together.  Then stuffing the batting between the two pieces of fabric and quilting.  I have started using a basting spray because I want to stipple a quilt so I gave it a shot on holding the batting in.  Much better than what I have done in the past.  I wanted to use gingham for the binding and thought about a multicolor one.  I rejected that idea as too busy and went with just black.  I'm glad I did.

I ask myself, "Why did I lose interest in finishing this quilt?"  I have a couple of thoughts. One, gingham is very ravelly and can be a trial to work with.  The other is I have done quite a few quilts in gingham and want to move on to something else.  Then you really don't get a sense of accomplishment as you are setting 'a trip around the world' together like most quilts.  The, "Oh Boy, this is looking good!"  You have to wait until the quilt is finished and then stand back and look at it.  I'm glad it's finished and I like it a lot.

More quilts to come have a good day!

Judy

Update 12/23/12:  My youngest sister came over on the 21st and saw the quilt hanging over the balcony railing and said she liked the quilt with the yellow in it.  I said that was good because it was hers. Yeah!

6 comments:

Leigh said...

Beautiful! Such eye candy this time of year. Not much cheerful going on outside, but your quilt is delightfully cheerful.

Shadowmoss said...

It is beautiful. And congrats on finishing a project. I keep hearing the sweater calling me to finish it. I'm worried about making the button holes, but I know when I get there I'll just do it. Onward.

Judy said...

It has been dull (overcast) here quite a bit. I had to put off photographing the quilt for several days waiting on some sunshine. When Hubby first saw the quilt he commented that the quilt looked 'Hopi' because they like such bright colors.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

Judy said...

One down and a tub full to go! LOL Are you knitting the button-band on after the body of the sweater is knitted? I've been too chicken to try that with my knitting.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

Shadowmoss said...

This sweater (Sawtelle) only has 3 buttons at the top. I probably won't even use them, and have considered just not have any. However, I'll never learn buttonholes if I don't just dive in and do them.

Judy said...

I looked up the pattern. The yarn-over buttonhole is easy, not very elegant, but easy. I haven't tackled anything that requires sewing. The mattress stitch doesn't make any sense to me. I wonder if you could leave the shoulders live and Kitchener them together. I can do that really well! When you get it finished, it will be a nice looking sweater!