When my seven year old daughter and I decided to make a special quilt for a special young friend recently, we both knew exactly what fabric we wanted to use - Out to Sea by Sarah Jane.
We added in some other favorite fabrics and then just started cutting and piecing it all together, improv-style as usual!
When it came to quilting, I used several different designs and motifs - some new to me and some I've been using since I started trying new things with FMQ.
I also decided to try machine stitching the binding. When I started this blog earlier this year, I wrote about trying different binding techniques and had decided that I liked to attach the binding to the back first, flip to the front, and finish with a zig zag stitch (a variation on this tutorial from Stitched in Color.) Then at some point, I realized that what I really like - both for the process and aesthetics - was hand stitching the binding. However, I was on a time crunch for this one so I tried the stitch in the ditch method for attaching the binding by machine using a similar method as shown in this tutorial from Red Pepper Quilts.
I really liked using this technique. From the front, I think it looks like it was hand stitched. I will definitely try this again. I did "miss" in several places on the back but it was easy to just go back afterward.
Since we were gifting this straight out of the dryer (literally!), I only had a few minutes to take photos and I only had a small helper to hold the quilt outside. So, I quickly snapped this pic right before it left the house. This was taken just minutes after the other photos but inside - isn't the difference in the lighting just crazy???
Oh, and in my defense, I could have gifted this next week but my "little helper" was very impatient and wanted to give it to her friend while she was visiting - thus, the rush on the binding and photos!
Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF.
I love how fearless you are with FMQ!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a fun quilt! And I love that you and your daughter made it together!
ReplyDeleteI think it looks great. Love the improve style coins - I still need to make a quilt using this style.
ReplyDeletei am so in love with this quilt.....the colors, the fabrics and the quilting are so great
ReplyDeleteI love that line of fabric and how you have used it in this quilt. Lucky recipient!
ReplyDeleteI adore this quilt! From the improv styling to the quilting designs you and your partner made a beautiful present!
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt. The color and the modern design are beautiful. You are going to make someone very happy. I want to give that method of attaching the binding a try. Sounds very interesting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quilt and great story Beth.
ReplyDeleteBeth, this is beautiful! I love the way the mermaids are highlighted in the design. A fantastic quilt -- I bet she loved it!
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is lovely. Do you hesitate to try new techniques on "real" items? I made a quilt to stay at our house (a rare thing!) and tried the stitch in the ditch method (am I the ONLY one who hates this method?) and a new binding technique I read about in the last couple of weeks. You iron the binding in half as normal and then you iron each half under (like purchased binding) and then machine stitch both sides at the same time. I think this would be a great method for a dark binding but my binding was medium purple and I would have preferred my normal hand-stitching. But you don't know until you try! Thanks for blogging.
ReplyDeleteBeth, this looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteAmanda
It's a really beautiful quilt. I haven't seen that line of fabric before but I really like it.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the pink and navy blue together! It's such a pretty quilt! I almost always finish binding by hand, but I find if the binding is cut on the bias, it is much easier to machine finish. It hugs the edge of the quilt better. I hate cutting bias binding, though, so hand-stitching it is:)
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful quilt! I always finish binding my quilts by hand. One of these days I will try machine binding.
ReplyDeleteWow, way to go with the FMQ, Beth! It looks great. I love the colours too! Thanks for linking up to TGIFF!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Perfect use of that line. Since I'm an official convert of machine binding I should learn the stitch in the ditch!
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely quilt. I might try that binding technique. I always end up binding by hand but I'd love to find a quicker way that still looks similar :)
ReplyDeleteI love it. That is a great fabric line and the quilt is adorable!!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite fabrics right now. It just makes me so happy!
ReplyDeleteI love this so much! I want one for myself. I need to try that binding technique, still haven't found a machine one I can do well.
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