then I started, then I stopped, then I exercised my right to reverse course

While on my "stay at home" art retreat in Kansas last week, attention was given to this quilt. For some reason, unsatisfied with simply a solid background, I elected to sew together a strip of most of the colors used on the front to add to the back.

I think you will agree, it looks like a strip of lights on an airport at night. Landing lights? I like how it pops off the black starry night fabric. 

Then the sandwich was assembled with the able bodied assistance of Chris to keep wrinkles to a minimum in all three layers simultaneously. 

Then I pinned, rolled, and contemplated my options for quilting. 

Experts were consulted - Mary Joan who is a hand quilter with the callouses to prove it, and Ann who is a fearless long arm quilter.



I wanted to use a method I was most comfortable with, and having previously enjoyed hand quilting small projects, I settled on that. Then I started - as in got out the hoop, watched a hand quilting video, dug out the thimble.  Then I stopped - do I really want to do ALL this by hand?  Then I exercised my right to change my mind and reverse course. Not all the way to the long arm, which I have never done, but rather to my trusty Bernina. I decided a priority was to finish this and get it on our bed. SOON. Also, I need to experiment with quilting. So I am playing. Doing what feels right, knowing that once it's quilted and washed and has that wonderful "crinkled" look, I will be happy with it. No matter the method used to arrive at that effect. 

P.S. It's also helpful to banish the thought that "I might mess it up".  That kind of thinking has NO place in making. 

Comments

[jacki long]

Wow! It is wonderful, Carol.
I really like your combination of colors, Bravo!

[Terri W.]

Your quilt is amazing, and the strip down the back is a perfect touch. You were right to reverse course. I've hand quilted one quilt and it took me literally YEARS to finish as I would get fed up and put it away again and again. Go for the quick reward!

[Kathy Barrow]

The quilt is spectacular!! You are so right that no matter how you quilt and bind it...once it's washed and has that crinkly look...your heart will melt with happiness every time you look at it. Congrats on a wonderful project that's nearly done!

[Annie]

If you have a walking foot for your machine, it's pretty easy to do. I've done three twin-size quilts all on my own. Were they perfect? No. But good enough that I was happy with the results. You can do it! I totally love your quilt, BTW, I would have never thought to use those combinations of fabric, but they look so great together.

[Annie]

I just realized I should clarify, a walking foot is for straight-line quilting. If you want to do squigglies or anything roundish shaped you need to do free-motion quilting, there are lots of YouTube tutorials.

[Chris Oliveira]

Gorgeous!

[Dianne King]

I absolutely LOVE this quilt, Carol! Could you share what dimensions the striped blocks are? I'd like to make something similar. Am I right that the black dots on white are finished at 1" and the white dots on black at 2"? How big will the finished quilt be? And where, where, where did you find all those glorious Kaffe Fassett striped fabrics? I've searched and searched, but it seems they are gone now...boo-hoo!

[Carol]

Terri: I knew it could take me years and that I could NOT tolerate :-) thanks for endorsing my plan.

[Carol]

Thank you Jacki, Chris, and Kathy!

[Carol]

Dianne: I am going to contact you by email with more details. I started to respond but it's confusing! The pattern is "spots and stripes" and is available at Sarah's fabrics www.sarahsfabrics.com

[Carol]

Annie: thank you for suggestions. all the fabrics and the pattern is from Sarahs Fabrics in Lawrence - website listed in previous response.

[Ann]

It’s your prerogative to change your mind! There are NO quilting police. In the words of Jenny Dian, finished is better than perfect. 💜