I have finished another quilt! WOo Hoo! This one is headed to a coworkers little girl who just had a birthday. It has been awhile since I quilted and there were a few things I forgot…
1. Trust your gut on fabric choices, if you spend too much time fretting you’ll never get started
2. If you haven’t freehand quilted in awhile you should definitely practice before you take your quilt anywhere near your machine.
3. If you choose to piece your binding as I did take the extra time to measure out where your seams will be so they don’t end up at a corner. This, as you can imagine, will save you lots of headaches in the end.
4. Make sure you have a full bobbin when you start to quilt, for a baby quilt I usually have to fill the bobbin 3 times, but nothing is worse then getting started and having to change it right off the bat.
5. Check the status of your batting stash before you start. I switched to an all natural batting a couple months ago and I LOVE it. It’s so soft and inviting, unlike the scratchy polyester version. The only drawback is the price, a hefty $12/yd at my local Hancocks. So I wait for it to go 50% off and stock up, but I’ve missed that sale the last few times and am running low. I’m hoping for a sale this weekend! Keeping my fingers crossed!
The front of the quilt is a mix of fabrics coordinated off of the backing which is from the Chocolate Lollipop line by Anna Maria Horner for Free Spirit. I really like the stripe, which was a last minute substitution, I think it pulls it all together and keeps it from being too girly.
As usual I have a million projects started, including 3 quilt tops or “floppies.” I saw that term used on one of the quilting blogs I read and I can’t for the life of me remember who, but I thought it was an appropriate name for the tops to quilts that have been pieced and are waiting for batting, a back and to be quilted. None the less I think things might finally be starting to get in a rhythm around here, so hopefully the posting will become a bit more consistent!
This is beautiful. I could be wrong, but if this is for Chandler, I think that stripe fabric is the same one I made her a top with when she was first born! How strange!
BTW, I stocked up on fabric to mimic your purse into a new diaper bag, but I am too chicken to start. I need pointers!
If you have chosen your fabrics that is half the battle! I do recommend sandwiching canvas between the exterior and interior fabric to help it maintain its shape. I also cover webbing for my straps, I found it makes them incredibly durable. Now all you need is to find the time!
Love this quilt (all your quilts, actually)! I am fairly new to quilting. Are you willing to share your measurements for this quilt – block size, etc.
Thank you.
Barbara