Design Wall Monday 11/15/10

This is what is on my design table today. They are blocks made by various guild members from the patterns that were distributed at last year's quilt show. That was the last one KC guild will have at Crown Center. We had patterns for blocks that people could collect from the participating shops. In the past then these patterns were made into blocks, and then assembled in a quilt that served as a door prize as visitors filled out slips to be drawn at the end of the show. I was asked to assemble the quilt for this year's show.
As expected, the blocks that are supposed to be 8-1/2" unfinished range from 7-3/4" to 9-1/2". I pulled out my well used copy of Sharon Craig's Setting Solutions, and decided that the quickest way to fix these was to do a double or triple twist. I liked the look of some of the other ideas, but I don't get to keep this quilt, so quick, but still good looking, won out. Remember, I have a personal challenge to make 50 quilts from stash before I buy fabric, so these fabrics all came from my stash. I wondered if the crayon fabric was too "juvenile", but it was the right colors and in my stash, so it won.
I also finished quilting a "use up all the flannel" large lap quilt. I tried quilting each strip with a different freehand pattern. I was even brave enough to try Dawn's fungly feathers and dwirling, as well as leaves, vines, zigzags, etc. I still have a long way to go.
I pieced the back for it - more use it up- and it loaded better than I thought it would. No tucks, so I guess it worked. I used Bonnie's (Quiltville) 10" blocks, but off-set them so I didn't have 4 corners meeting with the bulk of the flannel. There was one time after I loaded it that I thought a back seam was showing through, but after I quilted it I couldn't find it. I used Hobbs 80/20 batting, so this quilt is a bit heavy. I did buy a small bolt of all poly batt at the Lee's Summit Guild Quilt Show, but this quilt will probably be washed to death, and I think the blend will hold up better.

I still have no finishes on my personal challenge, but 2 quilts waiting for binding, and the binding is made.

Happy Quilting, Becky