Thursday, June 14, 2007

Scrap Happy Quilt

Here is my latest completed quilt top (YEAH – crossed it off the list!!). I made this for my ever so sweet niece, who lives in New York. It is made entirely out of my stash. I had purchased an unbelievably large quantity of four inch charms years ago, for some project or other that I was doing at the time. As luck would have it, I didn’t use all the charms up. In fact, the Depression Quilt that is shown two posts back is made entirely out of those very same left over four inch charms. That gives you some idea as to how many charms I had laying about. That quilt didn’t even use them up!

I drew the flower pattern freehand, making sure that each four inch charm would produce two petals. Waste not, want not, as my Grandmother used to say. Then for each of the logs that make up the inner borders, I simply cut a four inch charm in half. That also helped to use up a good quantity of charms. To make the flower blocks, I used a fusible product (Wonder Under) to adhere the petals and flower centers to the white on white fabric scraps, then top stitched them all down very carefully using my machine’s blanket stitch. I like to use a rather close setting on the stitch regulator when using the blanket stitch for appliqué. This way I am sure there will be no raveling after years of washing.

To finish this one off, I plan to use a medium to dark pink binding to “frame” it up. I need to figure out what to use for the backing first. All in all, I am quite pleased with this very simple, very happy little quilt. And again, nothing but stash!

I intend to complete, before Christmas, three more quilts for her siblings (egads!). I really would like to give them each a quilt for Christmas. I probably should have started in January…

**Post Script - I just discovered that Hubby took our digital camera with him on a business trip! Rather than hold back the post until he gets back with the camera, I decided that I would use the photo of the quilt top without borders and replace it with the finished one when he returns. Big Sigh...

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful quilt, your niece will love it! I can't believe you drew that flower freehand. I'm impressed.

I have a question about applique - do you have to turn the edges under? What if she washes it (which I'm assuming she probably will at some point) - will the edges fray if you don't turn under? This little dilemma has kept me from doing a lot of applique projects that I would otherwise love to do!

Great job on the quilt!

Rose Marie said...

What a sweet top and your niece will certainly love it!

swooze said...

Cute quilt! What size are the blocks?

Paula, the quilter said...

That quilt is so bright and cheery, who couldn't like it? Nice.

Andrea said...

I wish I was your niece - lol !! This is gorgeous. I have also seriously fell in love with the batik NYB quilt you made for your daughter!! Love your blog and thanks for nice comments on mine ! x

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

I really like it - I love the bright Cheery colors

Annie said...

I love the bright colors!!! You did a wonderful job!! Come to think of it......I have a charm pack that might work out into something like this.......thanks for the idea.....

dot said...

Great quilt. Your niece is going to love this. Good luck with the other three. I look forward to seeing them as they are finished.

Quilter Kathy said...

Oh Susan, this is so pretty! Great job...love your use of colour and the scrappy borders!