Progress Times Three: Quilt Finishes

If my iPhoto calendering is correct, these are finishes 2, 3, and 4 in 2014. I've started at least that many more since the new year. Two are scrappy and I'm collecting fabrics for the other one. But, these are exciting to finish. I have the St. Louis 16-Patch on our bed. It was super easy and fun to make.

I was in the mood to cull quiet fabrics. I used many that I had and then bought some fat quarters along the way. I really enjoyed making the blocks and choosing the fabrics but when I had sewn them all together, I was ready to be done. I added one more row that is a bit random just to increase the size of it. This is the largest quilt I've made. I made it almost large enough to fit on the California King. It was all-over quilted at Quilted Works.

While shopping for fabric for another project, I found some good sashing fabric to finish the Sugar Block Club quilt from 2013. 

I had put the finished squares in a drawer but was happy to pull them out and get to work. I really like how it turned out. I stitched in the ditch on my home machine which wasn't too terrible because the quilt is not large. The batting I got was very thin but puffed up after being washed. It kind of lends the look of hand quilted work. A nice surprise! The background fabric on the front is a white-on-white polka dot which was gone from the store by the time I needed a backing. So, I got a white-on-white cute little fabric for the back. 

And the last finish is a baby quilt for my visiting teaching companion who had her third boy.

I've seen similar quilts online and wanted to try an all-solids quilt and machine quilt in circles (mine are organic!). I used the quilting guide on my machine for the first time. I would quilt like this again on a small quilt. I think I learned some things. Like, keep your eye on the guide, not on the needle.

I have never finished so many projects in one week. But, I say Hallelujah!!

On Man Quilts and Such

I am quite against making quilts for men. My husband is always warm and rarely pulls a blanket up. I've seen quilts with tools, planes, lumber fabric, and the like that quilters make for their spouses. I imagine the man smiles and thanks the well-intentioned woman, and never uses the quilt for comfort. I don't know why women do it. I think they probably made each child a quilt and feel they are leaving their husband in the cold. I don't know.

We got this kit at Quilted Works a while back (Triangle Trips). It is made with Woolies fabric which is thick like flannel and very soft and nice. The sample was on their backroom wall for a long time, in these colors. Then Mark and I met and married and ever since he saw the quilt at Quilted Works and knew we had one, he was in favor of it. This year he said it should be one of the first quilts I make. So . . .  since his birthday is at the end of March, guess what? He loves it. It is on our bed.

Linking to Finish It Up Friday!

French Roses

French Roses. Pattern by Heather Ross.

This quilt is going to a newborn girl, freshly minted and living in San Diego. Her mother waited a long time for her to get here. She has a twin brother too. They are so happy! I love this pattern so much and wanted to make it with a girly fabric. I chose some of Camille Roskelley's fabrics (and interestingly, the baby is named Camille!). I had never used them (late to the Marmalade party) and must say, the backing flannel is delightful. I will back more quilts in flannel after this!

I washed it twice in warm water and it looks nicely frayed. It was simply quilted on my home machine since it was small enough. Every time I use my machine to quilt, I decide to never do it again though this foray was more successful than my past.

Now I need to put a label on it and we're done! I will deliver it to the parents in a few weeks. I would definitely make this pattern again but want to use more subtle colors next time. The great thing about this one is that when you trim the centers from each layer of the rose, you end up with baby layers and can make a small French roses quilt after. Linking to Finish It Up Friday!