Thursday, July 30, 2009

Summer Delight!



The photos are poor quality but the quilt is finished! This is the disappearing nine-patch lapsize quilt made from white and Moda "Sanctuary" charm squares.

I'm calling it "Summer Delight" and giving it to my favorite aunt and uncle. It just so happens their twenty-eighth anniversary is next week, but I also made this as part of my 101 mission (101 things in a 1001 days).

Inspired by Amanda Jean's work over at Crazy Mom Quilts, I pieced the back using a plain white muslin and more Sanctuary charm squares. I think I like the back better than the front! The fabric is so soft and cuddly. I loved working with the muslin so much (and the low price doesn't hurt either), that it's become my new favorite. In fact, I love it so much, I used the muslin for the front of my other disappearing nine-patch.

I quilted using "in the ditch" and just went around all the squares. Even though I took a free-motion quilt class a couple of months ago, I'm too chicken to try stippling on a big quilt. Guess it's time for me to get over it - but I'll probably start off with a baby quilt as my experiment and not something bigger until I'm proficient.

The quilt is labelled and ready to be delivered. I haven't washed it yet, though, and I'm debating whether I should before I give it to my aunt and uncle.

I love the crinkly look of a washed quilt, but is that the protocol? To wash the quilt before you gift it?

What do you do?

-k

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Sweet Peek!




I finished my Moda "Sweet" disappearing nine-patch top! I cannot wait to baste and quilt this baby, then snuggle under it some lazy afternoon. I love the look of a scrappy quilt with lots of white. The photo is from my i-Phone, so definitely not the best quality picture, but you get the idea.

Work has been crazy busy, but I finished the Sanctuary disappearing nine-patch for my aunt and will post photos of it too. I'm really happy with how it turned out, especially the pieced backing. I'm hoping to have time this weekend to at least baste this quilt. And, if I'm really ambitious and energetic, I'll finish the top on my double wedding ring (I only have the borders to sew), and baste it too.

Hope you're having a good week!