Quilting in Progress on Morning Stars - OMG Finish for September

When I quilt without marking a pattern on the quilt I call it "free-motion hand quilting."  I can do it with Baptist Fans but I'm not sure how well I would do with a more complicated pattern.

When I quilt this way I don't worry too much about things like that little crooked first curve on the green block.  (It's taken me a long time to overcome my tendencies toward perfection.)  Once it's washed and dried no one will notice that little crook on this baby quilt (unless they go over with with a close eye).

I decided against the monkey fabric for the back because even after a third wash it seemed scratchy.  I found the fabric below earlier this week and decided it would be fine.  It's super soft.

Choosing fabric, layering and basting this quilt, and beginning the quilting was my goal for the September OMG (One Monthly Goal) challenge at Red Letter Quilts.  I'm linking to One Monthly Goal Linkup: Celebrating September Finishes! to celebrate.  Thanks for hosting, Heidi.

Today I'm linking to Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict and to Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts.  Thanks, ladies.

I hope you have a great weekend, whatever you do.

--Nancy.
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September One Monthly Goal

My One Monthly Goal (OMG) for September is to find/make backing for this quilt, then layer, baste, and begin quilting it.

I found fabric with stars online and showed my husband.  It was a small print with stars in colors similar to this quilt (except that there were yellow stars, too).  He thought it was too busy.  But he did like the fabric below with monkeys.  (Please note that the photo below shows a much smaller section of fabric than the quilt above.  The proportions are not accurate.)

While I'm fine with the monkey print I'm not thrilled with the feel of the fabric.  It's not soft and seems a little coarse for a baby quilt.  I'll wash it again and if it softens up I'll use it but if it doesn't I'll choose some other fabric (or piece several other fabrics) for a back for this quilt.

And that's my goal.  Find others' goals at One Monthly Goal: September Goal Setting Party, a link-up hosted by Heidi of Red Letter Quilts.  If you'd like to set a goal yourself and joint the party, I know you'd be welcome.

--Nancy.
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A Finished Top

It's been a long time between finishes around here so I'm pleased to have one this month.  This is based on "Morning Star" but I didn't measure the triangles that create the stars so they're not exact.

When I was cutting squares and rectangles it seemed like I kept cutting more and more greens, more greens than any other fabric, but now that I look at the photo of the quilt green does not seem to be the dominant color.  Maybe it's just that the reds are brighter and the greens are more muted....  The colors are not exactly evenly dispersed but I think the stars overpower the background colors.  It would be less obvious if the quilt were larger but it is what it is.

I didn't measure it before I folded it but it should measure at 43 1/2" x 50" or thereabouts.  I hope to get it layered soon so I can begin hand quilting it.

I'll be devoting the rest of this month to my medallion quilt.  I've taken to calling it "Little Miss Medallion."  She seems to be just as particular as some little girls.

I'm linking this post to August Finishes: OMG Linkup at Red Letter Quilts.  At the beginning of August I declared my intention to choose a pattern for a baby quilt and begin.  I'm pleased to have not only chosen a pattern but to have also finished the top!  Thanks for hosting OMG, Heidi.

I'm also linking this post to
> Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.
> Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF) at The Quilt Journal
> Show Off Saturday at Sew She Can
> finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts
Thank you for hosting, ladies.

I hope you're enjoying life.

--Nancy.
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Almost a Quilt Top

I've been cutting and sewing, snipping, ironing, then cutting and sewing some more.

Squares, rectangles, triangles....  It's such a scrappy thing with prints, plaids, plains, in greens, reds, blues, and browns, all together in the same quilt.  I love scrappy quilts for babies.  (Well, let's just be honest:  I love scrappy quilts period.)

All that sewing and finally, blocks are becoming rows.

I hope to have a finished top by the end of the week.

I'm linking this post to
> Building Blocks Tuesday at Quilter in the Closet
> Fabric Tuesday #284 at Quilt Story
> Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework
> WOW at Esther's Blog
> Let's Bee Social #138 at Sew Fresh Quilts
Thank you for hosting, ladies!

I hope you're enjoying fabric, family, and live in general.

--Nancy.
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Maybe. Probably.

Ignoring color placement, I think this pattern might work for my grandson's baby quilt.  I like the scrappy aspect of it (though it could be scrappier if I used smaller scraps to create the large squares). 

This variation of Pat Speth's Morning Star pattern has uneven star points instead of identical ones.  I like it if I look at the stars, less if I look at the shapes in the sashing created by the star points.

Because I'm so late with this quilt I wanted something that wouldn't take much time but wouldn't look like I'd taken the easiest way out.  I thought this quilt fit the bill.  With 5" blocks, sashing half that size, and only four seams per sashing unit, I thought I'd whip through this in no time.  But let me tell you, I was wrong.  It might be quick for someone who already has a lot of 5" squares and 2 1/2" strips cut, but I have neither of those.  And the points take time, too.  Only four seams, but each has to be pressed, then trimmed, then the fabric behind cut away.  Time, time, time.

I'm more than half-way finished sewing the star points on the sashing but have a few more sashing strips to cut and eight more squares.  It would be great if I could finish the top this week, but that may be too high an expectation.

And all the while I'm sewing little star points I'm thinking about the star border for my Gwenny medallion.  I suppose her stars influenced the stars in this quilt.

I'm linking this post to
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Design Wall - August 8, 2016 at Patchwork Times
Let's Make Baby Quilts! {8/12/16} at Michelle's Romantic Tangle
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

I hope you're having a good day.

--Nancy.
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