February Finish - Week #1 DONE!

I finished this about 5 minutes before midnight last night.  Just made it under the wire!

I am going to wash and dry this today before taking some better pictures.  I will post them as soon as I get them snapped and uploaded.

I stitched the last of the binding during the Super Bowl.  Of course, I had to look up when the commercials were on ;-)

This quilt was made with two layers of batting so it is very substantial and heavy.  I love it so far and can't wait to see how it comes out of the dryer!

I am working on a big Moda Bake Shop project that is going to take a bit of my time in the next couple of weeks so my next February Finish week is going to be challenging!  I think I'm going to tackle the Michael Miller Christmas Quilt next.  It needs sashing, basting, quilting, binding.  So there is quite a bit of work left in it!  Right now it looks like this:



This quilt is part of the original Old Red Barn Co Quilt Along.  Why, yes, I do mean the one that started in 2009!  It's one of the most simple patterns too (Rail Fence) but when you make anything in holiday fabric, it becomes very difficult to work on when that holiday is nowhere near.  I need to get this WIP monkey off my back asap.  So that's what's coming up this week.  Stay tuned for updates!

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Basting and Quilting Fig Tree Fresh Cottons Quilt

My first target of the February Finish challenge is my Fig Tree Cherry Delight Quilt made with the Fresh Cottons line.  I bought this as a kit.  I love anything Fig Tree and putting this quilt together has been a breeze.  Instead of adding cherries to the center block, I added circles and a flower.  So it's more of a Fresh Cottons quilt than a Cherry Delight Quilt in my case.  Or maybe a Flowers Delight.

In this case, the top and back were already pieced and ready to go.  I needed to start this week by basting it.  Ugh, I hate basting.  Luckily, I have a nice, big area of bare hardwood floor in my foyer that works very well for basting.  It's well lit by natural light, there is no furniture to move, and I can easily move around all four sides.  Also, we don't use the front door that much so it isn't an area of heavy traffic.

First I use painter's tape to tape down the backing:

Please notice that I blatantly break the quilt police rule of trimming off the selvage edge when piecing the backing.  I don't do it.  And so far in making, washing and using qulits, I haven't noticed a difference.  Please feel free to chime in here and give me some good reasons to change my routine.  I'm open to criticism.

I guess one reason would be to have all of that lovely selvage to make selvage projects with! 

For this quilt I decided to try double layers of batting.  I'm not entirely pleased with how thin my quilts are.  I use Warm & White cotton batting.  I like it and it's very easy to use.  I just wish the quilts were a little more substantial.  Heavier and thicker but not poofy like with a high-loft polyester batting.  I would love any input about how to achieve these results.  I've looked around online and someone recommended just doubling up the batting.  So here goes.  After carefully laying and smoothing out the two layers of Warm & White, I add the quilt top:

Yes, the sides are a bit wobbly.  I'm ok with that.  I can always square it off before binding.

Next I take it to the machine for quilting.  Because I want this quilt DONE, I choose a very simple quilting plan of quilting down the center of each strip.  This will form concentric squares on the quilt back which will mimic the design on the front.

I just eyeball the center and let er rip.  I'm using the walking foot and my machine's needle down feature.  When I get to the point of needing to make my 90 degree turn, I just stop, pivot, and continue.  Easy peasy.  I'm using a Shmetz quilting needle and Connecting Threads thread in a nice light peach color.  I really like the way this thread looks in the finished quilting stitch.  It looks cottony, if that makes sense.  And it doesn't end up looking too thin like piecing thread or embroidery thread. 

After an evening of finishing up the quilting, I unfurl the quilt to admire my work and see at little mistake.  See post below for that story.  Next steps, binding, washing and photographing finished quilt.  Only two days left to get this one finished for the February Finish Challenge!

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February FINISH Challenge

Monday Confession Time.  I have a serious WIP problem happening here.  I have started a gazillion projects in the last few months and need to get some good solid finishes behind me.  Or as my husband would say, I need to get these monkeys off my back.

Here is a list of the quilt tops or partial quilt tops:
1) Glace' Squares Quilt (top is done, still need to make backing)
2) Fig Tree Cherry Delight Quilt (top is done and backing made)
3) Old Red Barn Co Quilt Along Quilt or as I call it The Christmas Quilt (needs sashing and backing)

Here are quilts that are cut and in various stages of piecing:
4) Luna Notte Nesting Circles Quilt
5) Mill House Inn HST Table Topper
6) Oh Fransson Mod Quilt Along Quilt
7) Wee Play Merry Go Round Hexagon Quilt

Yes, people.  It is THAT bad.  The only quilt that I'm not still excited about is the Oh Fransson one only because it uses super-traditional fabric that I don't love.  I originally picked it out thinking it was perfect for my mom but she has since told me she's "meh" about it.  Meanwhile, she purchased all different fabric for me to use in a quilt for her but I can't even bear to add that to the list.  It's not even a WIP yet!

All of the other quilts on this list are actual quilts that I am still excited about.  That's the good news :-)

So my challenge to myself is to finish a quilt per week for the month of February.  By the end of the month I should have at least half of my list knocked out.  My challenge is to also NOT START A NEW QUILT for the month of February.  I have stacks of gorgeous fabric staring me down begging to be made into something.  I need to ignore their Siren Songs for now.

Now, lest you think me a complete non-finisher, I have completed quite a few projects in the last six weeks.  These are: my Mom's Verna Quilt, my own Verna Quilt, my Scrappy Mug Rug, the Memory Quilt and the Jane Market Bag.  All of these projects can be seen on my Flickr page.

I have also been working on changing my domain name and Thomas from WayCoolKid is helping me with the design.  His talent as a designer is obvious and his help has been invaluable.  He is an exciting new talent in the fabric design industry.  Check him out if you haven't already!

So, are you ready to take the February Finish Challenge?  Do you have some WIPs that need a good kick in the pants to get them completed?  Please join me!

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