My 2013 Quilt Club Quilt

The quilt is finally finished!

I came close to giving up so many times, but now that it's finished I'm so glad I kept on going.

 

The quilt as you go method was more time consuming than expected.

Plus, it took more fabric than I expected so I ended up having to use a second fabric of a different print. Thankfully the other fabric worked out just fine.

 

 Elizabeth had her heart set on this quilt from the beginning. She knew I was making it for her and she was so in love with all the purple being used! It was her excitement that kept me going.

I used two layers of batting in this quilt; which of course doubled my cost. However, it added so much weight to the quilt that I'm planning to start using two layers from now on.

Oh how I'm so glad I finished this mammoth job. It was so much work. Each time I look at the quilt on Elizabeth's bed I smile and tell myself it was worth all the stress and time spent on every stitch.

Quilt Club 2013

 In 2012 I joined a quilt club and made an amazing quilt; with colors I loved. Because the quilt club was so fun I joined again in 2013. After the first month I came very near to quitting the quilt club because I didn't like the fabric colors. But I stayed so I could continue learning from all the talented ladies who are a part of the club.

It was not fun sewing up all the crazy colors each month. 

Who in their right mind likes purple, orange and green? 

 Plus, most of the fabric prints were just as "crazy" as the colors. 

(The blue you see in the the photos is actually purple)

So I devised a plan to help take the focus off all the crazy colors; I made some "normal" looking applique blocks to coordinate with the regular blocks.

Earlier this month I started quilting my blocks.

I'm using the Quilt as You Go method.

By quilting each individual block I am able to add quilting details that are harder to do when working on a larger quilt.

It's been so easy to maneuver the 12-inch blocks.

I really love how my blocks are turning out; the texture is amazing.

For the back of each block I'm using a purple fabric with pink flowers.

I'm not sure how long it will take me to finish my 2013 quilt. 

Hopefully not long as I'm anxious to see how the completed quilt will look.

My Completed Quilt

I am truly excited about my newest quilt! My plan was to make the quilt a twin size so it could be used on Elizabeth's bed until I have time to make her one with lighter colors.

 The edge of the quilt hangs nicely on each side of Elizabeth's bed.

 I used the same fabric on the back as I did on the front; plus I added a strip of the light fabric to add variety.

 The quilting is just a variety of designs that were made up as I stitched away.

 Elizabeth is thrilled to be the one using this quilt first.

Here is how the quilt looks after we added some animals, a pillow and another quilt I made Elizabeth a few years ago.

This posting has been linked to Crazy Mom Quilts' Finish it up Friday.

Quilting Tips

As I have been working on my quilt club quilt my mind has been focused on all the work that is needed to complete this project.

Pinning a quilt is very hard on your knees and back if you are working on a project larger than a toddler size quilt. So to help relieve some of the aches I like to put my cutting boards on our king size bed; it works very well and feels like you are working on a large table.

 I read on the internet if you use a crochet hook to help close your safety pins it will ease the sore fingers you generally get after closing hundreds of pins.

And yes, a crochet hook works very well, once you get the hang of using one.

My quilt is almost finished and I'm excited we will be able to use it during the cold weather!

Slow But Steady Progress

 I have been giving my iron a good workout.

First the bottom side;

And then the top side.

Now it's time to construct a back.

Quilt Club Quilt Progress

Today I chose two fabrics for the sashing on my quilt club quilt.

 Both are Moda fabrics that were purchased last year on clearance.

 After arranging the block layout I added the sashing and center blocks; I still need to cut the border strips.

Nothing has been stitched yet...everything is just waiting for me to begin.

Quilt Club The Final 6 of 12

 Last week was my final quilt club meeting for this year.

I now have the final 6 blocks completed.

Some of the blocks were a challenge;

 But it was good to be challenged.

I have learned a lot this year working with so many different patterns.

Once Christmas is over I hope to start assembling all my blocks.

I have already picked out fabrics for my sashing and just lack deciding on a fabric for the back.

I plan to make this quilt either a double or a queen.

Quilt Club Block 5 and 6 of 12

I'm getting behind on listing my quilt club quilt blocks.

Here is block 5.... 

And here is block 6. 

I am officially half way through my blocks.

Quilt Project

   The last couple of weeks has been very busy around here.

 In between moving and settling in I have been working on a commission quilt.

 I loved having an empty room big enough to lay out the quilt. 

 Recently I read on-line that painters tape worked well for taping a quilt to the floor.

It did work very well and pulled up off the floor with no trouble.

 This quilt is a queen size so I used almost every quilting pin I own.

 To help hold up the bulk of the quilt I set up my ironing board. It worked but wobbled a lot.

 Chenille was used for the sashing. It's very pretty and adds a lot of weight to the quilt. 

 The back is a striped fabric which I also used for the binding.

 I really love how the stripes worked for the binding.

And now it's finished and ready for a new home. Up next, some sewing for Elizabeth.

Quilt Club Block 4 of 12

I have been so busy the last few weeks that I completely forgot to sew up my April quilt block; thankgoodness I remembered before we meet this month.

 While at the quilt club last month I learned about a service project the sewing store was participating in. They were asking for volunteers to sew together small Christmas Stockings.

 All that was needed to complete a Christmas Stocking was to finish the edges and add some type of decoration.

I didn't have any Christmas fabric on  hand but I'm pretty pleased with how the Christmas Stockings turned out.