Pink is Done

Yes, the pink baby quilt is done, and as promised I am posting the final pics.

Really? Just This Much

Have you ever been at the end, or in my case today, almost at the end of my project and run out of bobbin thread?  Today, I had less than a 2"x6" area to complete the meandering quilting of the baby quilt I had started yesterday.  I used to get really upset, but I also used to be more pressed for time.  Now that I am not working, it didn't even bother me.  But I went ahead and took a picture and decided to do a post, as I know it has happened to all of us who not only quilt, but any sewing with our machines.

Another Quilting the Quilt Post

I complete the quilting on the pink quilt I posted about yesterday, made the bias binding, and attached the binding. I put it aside until I have an occasion to sit down and hand stitch down the binding.  Pictures and a post as soon as the binding gets done.

I mentioned that I completed a baby quilt top almost identical to this one using the fabric line "Newton" by Clothworks.  The first one I made was quilted using a cross-hatch method.  This second one, I am using a meandering method over the entire quilt.  If you look close, you can see the meandering towards the back of the picture where the quilt is folded.

Somehow I ended up with enough of this line to make about 4 baby quilts, so the next two will be in a different pattern for the quilt tops.  I also have another "Newton" line, called "Newton for All Seasons", which is just as cute, and will be making these later this fall.

Quilting the Pink

Today was spent, between laundry and some housekeeping work,  quilting the quilt of the pink baby quilt I posted about yesterday.  I had my "helper" right beside me  sleeping overseeing the project.  I like making baby quilts, because you can see a completed accomplishment rather quickly!

Third Baby Quilt Done, Another One Started

Anyone who says that quilting the quilt takes forever, you need to believe them.  I think that is why quilters have more quilt tops and ufo's because of the all too common "quilt as desired" found at the end of all quilt patterns.   And most quilters (including myself), do not have a longarm.  My husband is kind enough to offer to purchase one for me, but I think these machines and frames are way overpriced, and they require at least a whole room of at least 10' by 14'.  Now, many quilters send their finished tops of to a person with a longarm machine, and does it for a fee (not a small one either!).  So, because I choose not to have a longarm, or send my quilt tops to a professional longarmer, I spend the "forever" time to quilt my own on my regular machine.  It is somewhat easier to do the baby quilts as they are smaller in size.

Here is the baby quilt I blogged about a couple of days ago when I only had the top done.  The fabric line is called "Simple Nature" by Wilmington Prints.  This is the finished view: 

I mentioned that I was going to use a small checked flannel backing.

Every time I finish a quilt top and go on to the quilting, I look at it as a blank slate.  I am not one to do meandering all the time, sometimes I use straight stitching.  This time, I decided to do a combination of both meandering and straight stitching.  I started with meandering the center piece, then I did straight line stitching next, then meandering again, and then finally some more straight stitching out to the edge. I really like the way it turned out!

Oh, and this is always my favorite part!  The binding!  I think the binding makes the quilt, it finishes the quilt, thus making it a tangible quilt ready for use.  My favorite print for bindings is a striped print cut on the bias.  This fabric line fortunately had a stripe and it looks wonderful!

And it is always nice that the quilt is comes out square, after all that is the goal.

Now, on to the next one, the pink one of the same fabric line.  I was able to get the top done today. it sandwiched and pinned, ready for the quilting.  (I also made another "Newton" quilt top (see picture and post here) and it is ready to be quilted too)

I feel very lucky today too, as I found a pink flannel backing with brown, white, and darker pink dots.  It is almost a perfect match.  It is as though this flannel was made for this line.

Working on the Third One

This is the third baby quilt that I am working on for a client.  But, I think I am going to have a pink one out of the same fabric line, because we don't know what the mother is having yet.  Fortunately, I have this fabric line in pink.  I pieced this together yesterday, sorta following the fabric line's pattern.  It measures approximately 38" X 44" and it has a small checked blue flannel for the backing.  I really like the small amount of brown that is in this one!

Final 12th Block

Well, I have closed out another BOM project, abet just the blocks.  This is the 12th and final block of the Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Block of the Month for 2012.  I already have received the finishing kit and backing, and will be making the sashing blocks, the framing sashes for each block and the borders with cornerstone blocks.  Finishing the top is and will be as much work as the 12 blocks were over the last year.  And to top it off, by June 15th, the next Fat Quarter Shop will be shipping the first block of the next BOM!!!!! Yikes!!!

I have pictured the previous blocks below to give you a look of all the blocks done to date.



Block 11:

Block 10

Block 9

 Block 8

Block 7

Block 6

Block 5

 Block 4

Block 3

Block 2

Block 1

Next One Done

Here is the final version of the second quilt I had started last week for the baby quilts I am working on for the order I was asked to do.  I was waiting for some more fabric to come in the mail to complete the pattern I designed using with panel print of "Nathen" by Clothworks.

Here is the quilt folded with the binding I choose to use?  I think it makes it pop!  All the colors in this quilt are gender neutral, but I especially like the pastels that used in the whole line.

I choose a very pale yellow flannel backing and used thread that matches the binding for the cross-hatch quilting on the blanket.