Sometimes, I just make to make. I have to. I'm the type of person who always needs a project. It's a blessing and a curse. This quilt was one of those projects. No destination, no parameters, no recipient, no rules. Just something to do. And I think it's one of my best technically and aesthetically. I'm a proud peacock!
I would pick this project up from time to time between commissions and whatnot so it's been in progress for quite some time. Sometimes, I find it so helpful to snap a photo of something, walk away, study the photo, and see how I feel about my design decisions. Maybe it's just me but it's like seeing it through new eyes...through my phone. ;) Since this piece took a while, I accumulated many photos during the process.
Randomly enough, the patterned fabrics came from one booth at the Flea Market a few months back. They presented themselves to me together. I thought they complimented each other quite well. Pulled some coordinating solids and just started building. One-inch strips galore. That'll make you go a little cuckoo.
I probably spend too much time just staring at my work, trying to figure out what to do next. If I'm going to cut something up, I want to be sure that it's the right decision! Over-thinker extraordinaire over here.
I tried a different method for basting this time around. At the old house, I had a great space in the kitchen for taping and pinning quilts but I just don't have that same type of floor space here. Since this is a small-ish quilt, I decided to just lay it over my work table and smooth it out as I pinned. It had potential to be a catastrophe but it ended up being the most consistent basting I've ever done!
Then there was the quilting. I quilted the hell out of this thing. All eyeballed. Half-inch strips in V-formation over and over again. I went through SO much thread. I freaking love how the quilting shows up on the backside. It was a labor of love.
After all of that, I opted for simple, pre-made, white bias tape that I added with my machine. One of these days I'll hand stitch on my binding. Once it was complete, I took a deep breath, tossed it in the washer, and hoped with all of my might that it would come out a success. It washed up divinely. That crinkling is perfection!
I foresee this being a great baby blanket, a toddler blanket (filled with colorful roads for the creative car-obsessed kid), a lap quilt, a couch blanket, a bed accent, or whatever one can dream up. It's currently homeless and is dying to be used....just sayin'.
Another beauty! Wish I could see these in person! The quilting is perfection!
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