I'm always so pleased to finish hand quilting a quilt. A finish! And yet it's also a sad time. I've usually spent hours a day for months quilting and nearly every inch of fabric has passed through my hands. It feels like the quilt and I have become good friends. I walk into the family room expecting to sit and quilt, then suddenly remember it's finished. No hoop, no quilt. Anyone else feel that way?
You can see the diagonal lines in the blocks and the zig-zag quilting lines across the sashing in this photo.
After I laid the quilt on the floor--gosh, it seems so big compared to
Flowers!--I was trying to decide what color binding to use. The likely possibilities, considering the colors in the quilt, were red, blue, or brown.
And then I remembered that I was reproducing an old quilt and should see what color the original maker used. Red! The original quilt does not have a sashing-and-cornerstone border; it just ends with the blocks. Even so, I think a red binding will be just right for my version of this quilt. (And I hope I still have some of the red fabric I used for the cornerstones!) By the way, the pattern for this quilt is called Cheddarback and was a sew-along offered by Gay Bomers of Sentimental Stitches. I'm grateful to Gay for recreating the block patterns and sharing them.
Finishing hand quilting this quilt was my One Monthly Goal for March. I'm pleased to have finished on time. And I'm grateful to Patty who hosts the One Monthly Goal challenge and link-ups each month. Thank you, Patty.
I'm linking this post to
One Monthly Goal March Link-up at Elm Street Quilts. Follow the link to see other One Monthly Goal finishes.
--Nancy.
Such a beautiful finish on Cheddarback!! Great work hugs, Julierose
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julierose. I suppose I'll post this one last time after I get the binding on and it comes out of the washer and dryer. I suspect regular readers have become very familiar with it and are getting tired of seeing it!
DeleteAnd a beautiful finish it is! I think red binding will be the perfect ending, and you'll still have more hours hand stitching down the back.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat. LOL. Yes, many more hours with the binding. I was thinking the other day about the various aspects of quilting -- planning, choosing fabric, cutting & sewing blocks, all the way through to quilting, then sewing on the binding -- and I was thinking about which parts I like best and which I like least. My least favorite is measuring and pinning the binding to the front of a quilt. I'm good with sewing it to the back but sewing to the front is a nerve-wracking challenge for me. But, yes, more time with this quilt!
DeleteI know that feeling. One of the rewards of hand quilting is you really bond with your quilt. Yours is lovely! Beautiful job!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandy, for the sweet comments about this quilt. I loved making it!
DeleteWhat a great accomplishment and a red binding will be perfect. Your relationship with the quilt isn't over... it will just be different, but I know what you mean!
ReplyDeleteIt feels like a huge accomplishment, Cynthia. I think the quilt was a year in the making as a sew-along, and a year or so of rest, and now, finally quilted. It's been fun. I'll be glad to get the binding on for a complete finish!
DeleteWonderful! It just looks fabulous. I especially like the background of the lily block. I wish I had done something more like that. I know what you mean about walking into a room to work on a project where all the decisions have been made and all you have to do is relax and quilt. I'm always surprised about some quilt tops that I think are ho-hum but by the time I've spent time quilting them they are are just as great as when I was attracted to the project in the first place. This turned out so nice and it will look great with the red binding.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Robin. I like the lilly block but it's funny you should mention it because I was looking at your quilt and thinking I should have made the block (and it's sashing) a little more like yours. But I know when we look at our own quilts without comparing them to another's, we'll probably both be satisfied.
DeleteI actually hadn't thought about enjoying the quilting because all the decisions had already been made but there's truth in that. I'll have to get another top layered and basted soon (after I get the binding on this one). And it's encouraging to know that quilting them makes the difference in the quilt to you. The tops I'm not satisfied with I usually lay aside and get no further with them. Maybe I should just quilt one and see if I like it as much as I did when I first came up with the plan to make it. You are so wise!
Ohhh Nancy, I just love that quilt, it's so very pretty, and I'm always especially fond of reproduction style quilts.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean about being sad for finishing, I've felt that way often.
*hugs*
Tazzie
Thanks so much for your kind words about this quilt, Tazzie. It was a sew-along from 2019 so the quilt's been waiting a few years for a finish. It has some pretty unusual blocks but it was a fun challenge.
DeleteOh your Cheddarback is finished! I remember the blocks in this journey so I know how you feel about it being a little sad too. Red would be perfect I think esp. matching those cornerstones. Happy Stitching,Nancy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jocelyn. Yes, making those blocks was a long (and fun and challenging) journey! So glad to move to the binding and then a complete finish.
DeleteI feel that way, too. It's kind of like finishing a really good book, right?
ReplyDeleteYes, Sandy! Exactly right. A good book, a great trip, and finishing a quilt. There are probably other things, too.
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