Today's article is about near finishes and opportunities that present themselves on the way to finish-land. In contrast, Linda, an AfterFLOCK member, posted this spectacular *finished* king-sized quilt online over the holiday break. She made it from 36 FLOCK blocks using the Big Day Quilt pattern for the big finish. She appears not to have been side-tracked in her mission to complete her truly inspiring quilt! Thanks for allowing me to share, Linda. If you're inspired, I know where you can get the block kits to make one of your own! *Wink!*
As for me, I used the holiday break to finish the wedding quilt I've been making for my niece's upcoming wedding in two weeks! This is based on the Pick-up Sticks pattern I gifted you a while back (if you don't have it, send me a reply and I'll fix you up). So good to have it done and ready for the January 17th wedding. . . . But wait. . .
Just as I was finishing up the binding, I happened to take a glance at the invitation and I noticed that the invitation was a pretty good match with one of the purple-themed fabrics that I used in the quilt. I was considering the fabric for the label.
Then I had an idea. . . I found a solid-reading purple print and let the idea hatch.
A few measurements, four small squares creased diagonally, a felted-wool butterfly applique, and some mis-matched borders, and soon I had a small wall-hanging to display the wedding invitation as a keepsake. After all, I still have two whole weeks before the wedding!
I layered the top with batting and backing and machine quilted the piece. As I was contemplating binding I decided to fancy up the binding a bit was a faux-flange. But I haven't done one of those in a while and pulled out two pieces of a scrap fabric for a test run. I cut one strip 1-3/8" for the main binding, and the other strip 1-5/8" for the flange. I sewed the strips together, then pressed the seam toward the main binding, then pressed the strip in half. And there you go! The narrow flange appears like magic!
I repeated the process with my chosen binding fabrics and sewed the the binding to the quilt just like normal - EXCEPT - I sewed the binding to the BACK of the quilt with the main binding fabric facing the backing, and the flange side facing out. When I flip the fold to the front and sew it down by hand, the little flange appears on the front, just like magic (again).
Once the binding is sewn by hand, I stitched in the ditch by machine along the flange/binding seam to flatten the accent flange and puff the binding a bit.
Ta-almost-da!
I'm going to add two buttons to the top binding edge with a ribbon tied between them for a hanger. To keep the top quilt corners from curling in, I'll sew a small wooden dowel to the back of the top of the project.
So, just a few more steps and a week or two to spare.
Now, I just have to try to avoid getting sidetracked by another idea!
I bet you could do this with a baby announcement or graduation photo! Now there's an idea for you! Graduation season isn't far away!
Happy Stitching!
Head Hummingbird
Hummingbird-Highway.com
I would like to have the pick up sticks pattern must have missed it .Thank you Kathy
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