Quilting is Fun

So, Spring to Finish is not going in any particular order. I started this quilt sometime this year, which makes it barely aged amongst its peers there in the box, but it still had plenty of rest-time. Also, I stalled out at almost every stage after the initial piecing of the top, which spells doom as far as finishing is concerned.

 Well over a year ago, I was admiring Mom’s collection of charm packs. Since she didn’t know what to do with them, I snatched one of them and offered to create something with these beauties. Of course, I had no idea either, but that’s beside the point. This chestnut provided the answer. (Yes, that makes this here quilt number 2 of 3. Well, or 4, if you count the one I sort of started for Kevin. I kind of got on a tear, and then burned out, if you can believe it. I know—shocking!) The large background squares are made up of some treasures of my own that had been wasting away on the shelves, just waiting for the perfect home.

Even though I didn’t participate in the very cool Oh Fransson Quilt Along – which, if you’re new to quilting and haven’t seen it, you should definitely check it out – I did pick up some really great tips. The section on free-motion quilting really got me over the hump this time around. I usually start in the middle of the quilt, which I hate. Turns out, you don’t have to. Great! Also, the way she stippled helped on this particular quilt, because I wasn’t sure how to get around the large squares without coming across the next ones (which I left unquilted). Once I worked that out, I decided to quilt the center of each block with a tiny flower. Surprisingly enough, it actually even looks like a flower.

See?

The back got a little wild. Well, variety is the spice of life and all that.

I also tried the method outlined here  for attaching the binding, and like it so much better than the traditional double binding that I always use.

If I’d made a label for this quilt, it would have had something cornball like “To Mom: For everything, and just because”, which is the only way I can sum up the reason I wanted to move this one to the top of the list. My mom helps me hang onto my sanity in a million different ways every week, so there’s no way I could ever repay her, but I can make her a quilt. Besides, who fusses over your work like you mom? Talk about an ego boost!

And, as a bonus, now I can get back to #3, which is the one I’m making for myself.

 

Edited to add: And I finished it just in time to join the Bloggers Quilt Festival - extra bonus!