I chose my Sister's Choice top for her, because, if I were given the chance to choose a sister, I'd choose her. She's fun, supportive, clever, vulnerable, fierce, silly, mischievous, smart - just a great person!
First, I needed a backing, and it had to be something I had on hand because there was no time to go shopping. I love this sun and moon print, but I didn't quite have enough, so I added a strip of dark blue batik. The backing was pieced and the 56" square quilt was basted on Monday night.
Since I didn't have much time, I wasn't going to be able to hand quilt, so I put aside my fear of machine quilting, slapped on the walking foot, and started straight-line, stitch in the ditch machine quilting on Tuesday night, finishing it up on Wednesday night. On Wednesday, I also made the binding (luckily, I had already set aside the fabric to do this and stored it with the quilt top), and stitched it down on to the front.
On Thursday, I woke up early to start stitching down the binding by hand, skipped lunch, and spent two hours after practice and dinner but before the party to get as much done as I could. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough time. I still had one side of binding left, and while I had buried all the thread ends on the top of the quilt, I hadn't yet gotten to the back. I wrapped it up anyway.
She did not disappoint when she opened the present - she seemed to be both genuinely surprised and honored. I reassured her that it was a utility quilt, meant to be used, and then asked for it back so that I could finish the binding and burying the quilting threads.
It is back in her permanent possession now, and I am feeling mighty pleased with myself for FINISHING something. I much prefer hand quilting, and I am infinitely better at it (it is HARD for me to consistently quilt in the ditch by machine - why? It's just a straight line, for goodness sakes!), but I feel empowered knowing that I can finish something with some simple machine quilting in a pinch.
I'm linking up with Oh Scrap and Monday Making.
15 comments:
Bravo. I think your efforts paid off. Nothng better than getting another top out there to do some good.
Great job! I love it and I'm sure she will too.
I do not like quilting in the ditch as I seem to go crooked all the time. I find it easier to space masking tape down diagonally and quilt grids. Very quick.
I like your idea of having completed quilt tops ready to spring into completion. As another commented, if you cross hatch, it is still straight line but not in the ditch.
Nice quilt. I've had to take back a couple of quilts to finish them, too.
Very nice gift! She looks thrilled with her new quilt! You did well to get it done, almost on time!
What a wonderful gift!! LOVE the photo. She looks SEW pleased!
Congrats to you for machine quilting and for the finish! Looks like the recipient is very happy!
You never fail to amaze me. What a great friend you are! So, you had a bit of finishing to do... It was a bold move and great success. I would never be breve enough to quilt on a machine ... even if I had one.
awesome job! You are amazing! Hugs to all.
Awesome job! Can't believe how quickly you got that quilt quilted!
I love it!! what a great finish!!
Simply wish to say the frankness in your article is surprising.
Great job! How many finished tops to you have?? Glad to see from more recent posts that you abandoned stitching in the ditch - it is NOT easy! I sometimes go for outline or echo stitching instead, but crosshatching sounds easier still!
This subject provided by you is very effective for proper planning.
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