Big Bed Quilt Done!

I finished binding my big bed quilt this week and even got the label on it. I was so happy to have it done, I didn't even wash it before putting on the bed. I am happy it's done, but also, I love it. I have to give great thanks to Rachel at Stitched in Color for the push to finish this quilt.

Last summer I won some fat quarts of Improv by Amy Friend. When I received them, they were even prettier than their pictures. So I ordered some more that I didn't have and I added to it from my stash to make this big bed quilt. I pieced it in October and then folded it up and let it sit.

 I love all the colors and the way they look together. The pattern is Cobblestones, I think a free pattern from Fat Quarter Shop. I didn't know what to do next.

 And then Rachel spurred me to action with the Big Bed QAL in February. I had the top, but I needed the back and wasn't sure how to do that. One of her sponsors, Pineapple Quilts, sells some of the most beautiful wide backing fabrics. Once I knew that, I had a plan.

 I was thinking of quilting it in continuous eights, and Rachel confirmed that for me with her suggestion and a few tips on the width I could use for them. I quilted this over about a week and a half, using 2-3 rows as my limit for a session. It was big and heavy, and I didn't want to get worn out or discouraged. That worked rather well.

 I used leftover backing fabric to make the binding and I love the border it provides. The top thread was a Superior Threads variegated thread which I loved on the spool, but wasn't sure about on the quilt top until I saw a big chunk of it and then I knew it was right. It adds so much interest to the quilt.

I hope the next time I need a new big bed quilt I can afford to have it long arm quilted. I know just the person to quilt it for me. Happy weekend everyone. Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts.

I'm Back and I Only Sewed Two Days This Week

Back from my visit to North Carolina. I had a great time with two of my daughters and their husbands and oh, those grandchildren. I can't believe how much they have all grown since I saw them last August. I go home Tuesday night and I was pooped. I only did a bit of sewing on Wednesday and a wee bit on Thursday. The weather here was so pretty I have found several tasks to keep me busy and out of the sewing room.

 I finished assembling this quilt top for the Hands 2 Help campaign that Sarah is hosting on Confessions of a Fabric Addict. This one is either good for a boy or girl.

 Then I cut the neutral squares for this more girly one. I need to get it stitched up this week so I can get backing done and get them finished up. Technically I have until the end of May, but I hate to wait until the last minute. Now that I am more rested, I should be able to get them moving forward this next week

 I also made the binding for the Big Bed QAL that Rachel at Stitched In Color is hosting. I used edges of the wide backing that were leftover after it was quilted.

 Looks a little washed out in this picture, but I got it pinned and stitched on to the quilt.

And now that that is done, I have an evening hand stitch project to work on stitching down the other side. After that, label and wash and dry and on to the bed!! Can't wait to see it all finished up. I will talk to you soon.

Big Bed Quilt Check In

So I am checking in on the last day of February to share my big bed quilt progress with you. Here is what we have so far:

 Last fall I started to piece my queen size quilt. I had fabric I loved and found a pattern that would really show it off.

I figured out a layout that would work for all the prints in this quilt and photographed it so I could refer back to it as I went, and I drew a map of the placement as well.

And I ended up with this lovely quilt top. At which point I hit a wall and folded it up and put it away. I knew I would eventually return to it, but when?

And then Rachel rescued it. She proposed a Big Bed Quilt Along. So I decided to join her and get this thing done. Since I had the top finished, I needed a back and I really didn't want to piece it, but all the wide backing I had seen was awful.

Rachel to the rescue again. She has a sponsor called Pineapple Quilts that has LOTS of 108 inch backing fabrics and they are great! So I found one I loved that would go well with this top and ordered a 3 yard chunk.

My goal for February was to get the backing and get this beast pin basted and ready to quilt. I finally did that last week and a wee bit ahead of schedule, I found a thread  and began quilting.

    This green cross weave is the backing I selected and it is perfect for this quilt.

 Here is the top all pinned and ready to go. It took about 3 hours to pin the whole thing and there was furniture moving to accommodate it on the living room floor.

And now here are the first bits of quilting. I chose a variegated thread to quilt with, just for fun. I emailed Rachel to ask advice on the quilting motif and we agreed on this one. It took me most of a day to do the first two rows from top to bottom. I broke a needle and I can't believe how much thread it took for just these two passes.

So if I only do two rows each day I work on it, I have ten days of quilting left. Yeesh that sounds awful, but I am hoping it gets better.  It is very heavy as well and my shoulders can only take so much. So, wish me luck. I know I can get it done.

Talk to you soon.