Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Finished: do. Good Stitches Starburst Cross Quilt

I'm a quilter and the host for the Cheer Circle of do. Good Stitches, and I'm thrilled to have our first finished quilt for 2013 all quilted and washed with photos to share!


Taadaa! This is the Starburst Cross block from a tutorial by SewCraftyJess. It worked out well for a bee sewing project, since all the star points are situated towards the middle of the blocks.


There were some challenges, though. The tutorial called for scant 1/4" seams, and some of the tiny seams were popping even as I was piecing the top. I knew I was going to have to quilt it heavily. It was just as well since I needed lots of practice. I just wish I had more time! Somehow everything is getting pushed back this year, and now it all needs to happen at once.


The other issue was that two of the blocks came in a full inch too small. Rather than cut them all down and lose a lot of quilt top, I pieced in two coordinating squares of fabric on the top, and worked the small blocks into the back.


I've never done so much FMQ, and this is only the second quilt I've attempted it on after my most recent Marine Den quilt.


In the words of Angela Walters, I quilted it to death.


I'm confident that this quilt will survive many trips through the washing machine in the future.


I really love the sweet little touch of the appliquéd do. Good Stitches label. I'm so glad that I ordered a fat quarter of labels for the Cheer Circle. We'll be good on labels for years to come :-)


Quilty Stats:
Pre-wash dimensions: 56.5"x 45"
Post-wash dimensions: 54"x43.5"
Batting: Warm & White from The Warm Company
Front Fabric: Assorted prints from do. Good Stitches Cheer Circle Members
Back and Binding Fabric: Yellow plaid donated from my Mom's stash.
Quilting: Free Motion and Stitching in the Ditch with the Janome Horizon 8900 QCP.


All of this quilting has been so. much. work. I'm completely thrilled with the outcome, though, and I look forward to donating it to Project Linus. I hope you're just as happy with the projects you're wrapping up these days :-D

Happy Crafting!

Claire

14 comments:

  1. it's lovely! The colours are beautiful :-D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fabulous!! The quilting looks wonderful and it's such a cheery quilt :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful! I love everything about it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This turned out fabulously beautiful! I love the two patches of fabric on the front and the star squares on the back..... a great happy oops. Anyone who fmq is brave to me.. I can't seem to get the hang of it, I usually have tension problems. This is outstanding! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great idea for the fixes! It looks fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the colors, Claire, and the finished quilt! The backing, with the stars, and the fabric "blocks" on the front, work so well - sometimes Plan B is the way to go.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It fabulous, love the bright, cheery colours

    ReplyDelete
  8. It turned out beautifully, I'm personally very excited that my blocks made it to the front!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Those colors are wonderful! Such a nice quilt - katie k

    ReplyDelete
  10. You are getting good use out of our quilt display.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love this quilt and feel the urge to make it NOW ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I like it a lot. I have to try out this block, too. I like how you made the back.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love everything about this quilt! Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete