November/December Adventures in Sewing and Quilting: Part One    

First, I want to remember to tell you something, and I know some of you are going to be disappointed, but I promise in the end you'll be happy. You know that ruffle duvet cover that I said I'd post the pattern for? It turns out I can't. I've been asked to save it for something. It's something really good... So, my apologies. For now, I have to hold on to it. But I will be posting other items from my quilt market booth as tutorials very soon. (Should I open my eyes now? You aren't throwing tomoatoes at the screen are you?). Let's move on? 

I've been doing a ton of sewing and quilting as tends to happen in November and December for me. First I really really wanted to finish that hex quilt for my sister before I saw her at Thanksgiving time. But I was handquilting it if you remember. I decided the only way I was ever going to finish that quilt was to machine quilt it. 

As many of you know, I've done lots and lots of free motion quilting for fabric collage. And I've always said that fabric collage is a great way to get your free motion quilting feet (or hands as the case may be) wet. But as much FMQ I've done in collage, I've never attempted an organized quilting motif for a quilt. So I ordered both of my friend Angela's books and studied up for a bit. These books truly made things click for me, you guys. I really love them. I ended up finishing the quilt and now I'm totally addicted. You'll see in the next few posts... I can't stop quilting stuff. It it isn't nailed down, I'll quilt it. And let me tell you, it gives things such dimension and texture! I'm in love.

At any rate, for the hexie quilt, I ended up leaving in the hand quilting and machine quilting right on top of it. I was really concerned about that at first, but turns out, it's a look I really like. 

Do forgive my quilting as this was my first attempt at a whole quilt like this. I got better as I went along as you'll see in the next few posts. I'm showing lots of the back here because it was easier to see from this side.

As you can see, I got carried away practicing all the motifs in Angela's books...

 

I did end up giving the quilt to my sister after binding on the plane,

in the hotel room and in my brother and sister-in-law's living room! All's well that ends well!

Happy 40th a year and a half late, Ilisa!

PS the fabric is Flower Sugar from Lecien.

After this, I moved on to a table cloth. More to come!