I'm pretty sure my sewing machine and my iron have missed me this month. I haven't touched either for weeks and weeks.
And I find myself singing that old Cole Porter song,
Night and Day, as I hand quilt this baby quilt. You know the song, "Night and Day, you are the one. You, only you, under the sun," or something like that. This quilt and I have become very good friends even though some of my fingerprints may never return. But I love it! (The photo below may show the colors a little more accurately.)
My
One Monthly Goal for March was to get the blocks sewn together and applique the circles. I'm so pleased to say that I've exceeded that a dozen times over by getting the quilt layered, basted, and most of it quilted. I have 7 of what look like half blocks around the edges and 2 corner blocks to finish hand quilting. If I continue as I've begun it will be finished before the baby arrives. I keep telling myself I can't let up the pressure till it's all quilted, though.
My last decision for this quilt will be choosing binding. I can't decide between the fabric I used for the sashing or a lighter color. Not sure yet.
This volunteer tulip appeared near our peony plants a few weeks ago. I haven't been out to look at it but I think it's probably about to bloom by now.
We've had beautiful spring weather--an early spring. But folklore says there will be three more snows after the forsythia blooms, and I haven't seen one in bloom yet. I love winter and snow but now that spring-like weather is here--with plants in bloom and buds on the trees--winter seems out of place and time. I've mostly enjoyed the spring from inside, with a quilt on my lap and a needle between my fingers. There's more spring to come so I'll enjoy it when the little quilt is finished and I'll spend more time with my sewing machine and iron.
I'm linking this post to
One Monthly Goal March Finish Link-up at Elm Street Quilts. Thanks for hosting, Patty.
--Nancy.
I love this quilt. You have certainly pushed through towards finishing it. Congrats on your focus.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jennie. It really seems to have been the focus of my attention since the beginning of March. I'm so glad to have it finished. Photos soon.
DeleteThis is such a sweet baby quilt! I can imagine the texture it's taking on as it is quilted. Good luck with finishing it before baby arrives.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat. I just washed it and dried it yesterday and I think it looks grand. And the baby's not here yet so I'm in good time!
DeleteThis quilt is turning out beautifully for you. Nice that you can quilt that much...I haven't done much in March after finishing my Geese hand quilting...kinda did me in for a bit...hugs, Julierose
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julierose. It was really hard to keep quilting on it. I painted my finger tips with liquid bandage every day before I began quilting. It helped but it wore off after not too long. Like you, I've lost my interest in hand quilting just now but I'm going to press on with the quilt I was working on before I started the baby quilt. Your geese are beautiful, if I didn't already say that!
DeleteThe baby quilt is a delight. I love the circular quilting and my, you are getting it done so quickly. Are you big stitching or is all that lovely stitching small? We have a hyacinth in bloom in the back yard. It's purple florets must have been in a hurry because nothing else is budding out. I like your folklore about the forsythia. We had one when we lived in Colorado. The mountain to the east of us had a swan shaped pattern as the snow melted. The folklore was that it wasn't safe to plant your garden till the swan's neck was broken.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Robin. The quilting is not big stitching but I found it impossible to do small stitches because of the thickness of the batting and the flannel, and all the seams in the top. No tiny fingers or toes will catch in the stitches but they're not as fine as I wish they were.
DeleteIt's been a week and a half since you left this comment so I'm sure you probably have more flowers in bloom. I hope the snow doesn't ruin the blossoms on your fruit trees. I like Janet's idea about Christmas lights on the branches. What a sight that would be!
I hadn't thought about it before but I guess folklore is regional. Did you find it true that it wasn't safe to plant till the swan's neck was broken?
Wow, beautiful and sweet quilt. Sorry for your fingerprints, but yeah! you did more than your OMG, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Frédérique. Yes, even if my fingerprints are gone, at least my fingers healed. I just finished the quilt the other day. I love it!
DeleteOh--I am so ready for Spring, but it will be a while before it shows up here. In the meantime, hand stitching is the perfect activity. Enjoy your time with that sweet quilt!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. I do love winter but now that spring seems to be arriving I don't want to go back to winter weather. We have flowers in bloom and a few trees, too, and it's getting warm outside. It's been an early spring here and I suspect that most of the flowers will be done blooming by the middle of May, and then who knows what the summer weather will be!
DeleteHow sweet is that baby quilt! So soft and calming. You have done such an amazing job of quilting it too.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the volunteer tulip is a bulb a squirrel re-buried last fall! I wonder what color it may be?
love
lizzy
Thank you, Lizzy. I like the idea of it being calming, especially because this baby will have 4 older, very busy siblings.
DeleteThere are buds on the tulip now but I still don't know what color. Yes, maybe a squirrel planted the bulb but I'll never know.
Hi, it's your genealogy buddy! I love the quilt, I'm making one for my wee grandson right now.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ellie. I was hoping you had a quilting blog so I could see your quilt, but it looks like you don't. I wonder how many others of us family historians are also quilters....
DeleteWow, it's great and you've well surpassed your goal. There is nothing like a hand quilted quilt, and this pink is so sweet.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cynthia. I do love the pink (with a little yellow/cream, a little green, a little white). I hope baby's mom will like it, too. I'm so pleased to have it finished.
DeleteLook at you go on that quilt! Incredible progress, Nancy.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would use the sashing color for the binding because a baby quilt gets a lot of wear and tear around the edges and the light color shows more of the stains and handling. Just my personal theory. It will be pretty no matter what. It has such a soft, gentle look to it.
I really put the pressure on myself to get this quilt finished, Janet. I would get ahead a little and think, heck, I can relax a little, go a little slower, and then reminded myself that I needed to keep a steady pace. I'm so glad it's finished.I had the same thought you did about the binding and how it takes a lot of wear and tear. I used the sashing fabric afterall.Thanks for your comments.
DeletePretty quilt! Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Patty.
Delete