Wednesday, July 29, 2009

working away...

I'm still trying to make my last quilt finish under the wire of the 31st...but I finished my lovely 9 patch swap quilt this morning! If I'm doing the counting right...this make entry number 4 in the July prize drawing. Now prizes are good, but getting things finished and out of plastic containers is the main reason for me doing this.

I took my pictures and immediately put it out on the quilt ladder so I could enjoy looking at it! I really do like how this quilt turned out and swapping with Carol was so much fun!


I spent the last few days working on little things here and there...embroidery for the ABC Sampler Quilt, and some other projects while giving my arm a bit of a rest. The best way to avoid hurting it way too much is to stop before it gets really bad. I've learned since blowing it out!! Smart girl!

One way I do this is sewing my bindings on the machine now, unless it's a small quilt or something really special that I want to have a hand sewn binding. But for quilts like this one or the sofa quilts... those I whip out on the machine. My Juki walking foot kinda flattens down the binding and spreads it out so although it looks like I am going to sew over the edge of the binding it actually skirts right next to the edge and when it comes out the other side it pops back up and you can barely see the seam, *IF* you can see it at all! It works for me and saves the hand sewing for better projects like applique.

A few people asked to see a close-up of the fabric I used for the alternate squares. It's a Jo Morton print from her Fredericksburg line. I had some and wanted a bit more when I bought it maybe a year ago and it was tough to find. I'm not sure you'll find any more now, but search away!

19 comments:

Stina Blomgren said...

Ohh.. Its lovely.. Nine Patches is a wonderful block.. always fun to make!! :o))

Marian said...

Your binding looks perfect! Not sure how you sew it down by machine - do you sew on the front or the back?

I LOVE the red!

Carol said...

It is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

APPLAUSE!!
(did you receive those patterns?)

Gayle said...

Looks SO good! I love 9-patches - they're classic! And the colors are great too.

Jeanette said...

I love how your quilt turned out! I was wondering what your red fabric looked like, too. I love it!

Darlene said...

WooHoo - happy dancing across the hot desert for you!

Sharon said...

Well, I hope you win something, you've really stuck to this challenge, and the rewards are beautiful.

Joy said...

Love it!!! The terracotta in between really makes the 9 patch blocks POP!!
Hugs,
Joy :o)

Elaine Adair said...

I'm a firm believer that some of the simplest of quilts are the most beautiful. I've kept this photo as NEW when you first posted it - it's really lovely. Thanks for the eye candy. 8-)

Jan said...

I love this quilt...and the red is just perfect, Judy!!

Allie said...

This quilt is so, so beautiful!!! The red makes the squares just pop!

Lurline said...

Just beautiful and I love the way you machine-sew your bindings - I could never do it so neatly!
Hugs - Lurline♥

Janet said...

Fabulous finish, I love it and you are pretty clever to be able to do the binding by machine.

Ruth said...

The quilt is awesome!! I love 9-patch. The red looks wonderful. I have some of the same fabric in beige & blue & wish I had more of it. This is a quilt I need to make. I think I'll make a list of quilts I want to make and add this to it.

Karen said...

WOW that nice patch is stunning - LOVE IT. Congrats on getting projects done, it's always such a great feeling.

Hugs - Karen

Shakerwood said...

Congratulations on such a lovely finish. I love the colors on this one!

Kelly@ Charming Chatter said...

Gorgeous, just gorgeous. How fun that it was done with some swapping, too. Love that you can bind by machine -- I may have to give it another try! Keep up the great work.

Lucy said...

What a beautiful finish. I think I have to make a nice patch too. I never get bored of them.