National Quilting Day Lows and Highs

 

I hope everyone had a fun and productive National Quilting Day on Saturday. Mine started out with a giant hiccup, but after a walk to calm the mind, it ended up just fine!

 I started by trimming two of the borders for my “Bird’s Nest Soup” in preparation for binding (you may remember that this is a potholder quilt and all the center blocks are already stitched together). After careful cutting, I decided it would be best to double check my measurements. Yup, they were both an inch and a quarter too short. After a few moments of reflection, I popped the quilt into the washer with about 100 color catchers. After a few minutes in the dryer (I know, just breathe…) I set it out on the bed and picked up the tape measure. It was hard to measure with my fingers crossed so tightly, but miracle of miracles, it had shrunk exactly 1” all around.

 Before I started binding, I spread everything on the floor. Hmm…, second disaster of the day. I didn’t like it at all. Maybe it will look better in a photo

– ah, no!! This is one of the problems of not having a design wall big enough to audition everything at once. This is where I take my (long) walk.

 When I returned, I knew that it truly wasn’t going to work for me and that I had to salvage this somehow. The quilt could stand on its own at this point but I had my heart set on a border and I already have the corner blocks done. So, off to the drawing board. I have a number of things in mind which I will share when they are finalized.

 The good news it that I have been thinking about a “strippy” potholder quilt for a long time and with those silly border pieces, it is already half done!!

 After all this turmoil, I needed a pick me up. I grabbed some happy juvenile novelty prints and started cutting squares. I used Katy’s (KatyQuilts) US map quilt as my inspiration. What fun! Thanks Katy!

The squares finished 2 ½” and I realized it wasn’t quite big enough to be useful for a crib quilt, so I added this marvelous border. 

This was designed by Brandon Mably for the Kaffe Fassett Collection. 

I adore it and am sad to now be down to one 5” strip. I'll quilt it next weekend. I’m sure it will be cheerfully used by some precious child.

 And, to top it all off… I played thread chicken and won!!

So, my day ended on a happy note and I hope yours all did too!

 Happy Spring!!