A Sweet Finish

This ended up being the perfect finish for February. I was able to get the last stitches in the quilt last Friday and then throw it in the tub for a quick soak. Nope! No bleeding from any of those darker red fabrics. Yay! Write out a simple label and then it was time to hand deliver to my sister on Saturday.

Petra's quilt is finished!

She had forgotten that I had promised to hand quilt it over this winter! Too funny. I was hurrying, trying to get it all done before she left for a month long vacation. Oh well. Now it's done, totally checked off my list and hopefully, just in time for a little Valentines Day lift. 

Love the scrappy 16-patches esp.

I ended up doing a machine, stitch-in-the-ditch grid around all the blocks and in the seams of the inner border. I was hoping this would free me up from doing an intensive hand quilting effort, but in reality, there was plenty to do regardless. This is a big quilt. 82" x 98" before washing!

Surprisingly serene looking

Though the piecing was done years and years ago, it felt like an old friend. So many memories were brought to mind of the time spent making this top. Lots of the fabrics felt very familiar to me too as she had gifted me with the scraps and leftovers afterwards. Those pieces have made their way into many of the quilts made later on though honestly, I had totally forgotten the connection!

Very cuddle worthy...

The Geese Tracks block is still one that I favor, although I can only recall making one other quilt with it. Love the old fashioned simplicity and charm of the block. How different it can look depending on the color/fabric it's made with. 

Lots of sweetness

So very happy to have this quilt behind me and know that finally, finally it's going to be used, loved and appreciated. It's very sweet to know that my sister still loves it even after all these many years! Neither one of us mentioned that it was also used as decoration for her wedding reception, hanging on the wall behind her cake table. That part is just sad as she's now a widow. I tell myself that it's much more useful now as a finished quilt than it ever was as a quilt top. Let the new adventures begin!

I think she likes it!

In other quilt happenings around here, I've been going after the 'Country Stars' quilt project like a crazy woman. I keep making mistakes and then have to make corrections somewhere, somehow. So far I'm not letting it get me down as this quilt really doesn't need to be fantastic, only nicely done. I'm currently working on the applique prep work for the outer borders, with high hopes that the whole thing will perk up just a teeny tiny bit. Still so very bemused to be working with this particular color palette once again. Just doesn't feel as natural as it once did!*sigh

Country Stars before applique

And I'm also trying to keep up with the improv. quilt projects for my quilt meetings. We just finished up with the 3rd meeting and now I've got everyone sewing their blocks or 'slabs' together. Next meeting will be all about trimming and cross cutting for the rows. I'm trying to keep the meetings at a pace to work well with both the beginning sewers and also, the long time ones. Don't want anyone to get overwhelmed to the point of quitting, but as of meeting #4 I'm expecting to lose at least one young mama. Sewing machine problems and too much going on as she currently home schools her children. Really can't move any slower though or the experienced sewers are going to start getting super frustrated. 

Quilt Meeting progress

I've worked it out so there will be 7 meetings in all {ending the last of March}, with everyone potentially bringing their finished quilt top to the last one. At that point we'll regroup with anyone interested in moving forward with hand quilting. Technically I could probably show the basics of machine quilting too, but I just don't feel very good at that part of quilting. I'm very hopeful that our one 'long arm' quilter lady will jump in at that point and offer to help whoever wants to go that route. 

Always finding new inspiration

On a different note, I have been admiring this particular fabric in my latest quilt in the hoop. Just love that flower shape, how simple and easy it looks. Might have to keep something similar in mind for a future quilt!