Finishes – Star Four Patch and Square in a Square

These ones have been a long time in the making and I’m pretty happy with both of them. They were machine quilted by Pam Hammer who did a nice job, I think.

Folded and Ready to Go

I sewed the binding on by machine for both quilts – for speed and to make them robust. And also because I don’t fancy hand sewing that much. The star quilt binding flew into place while binding the square in a square quilt gave me no end of trouble. I had to unpick seams many times, I think because the square in a square quilt is stiffer and a little thicker, due to its synthetic (and relatively inexpensive) batting. Using different batting in each quilt has taught me a lot and I will always go for the thin cotton batting when I can afford to do so.

Square in a Square Quilt also Finished

I had planned to give the star quilt as a gift to a friend who turned 40 recently, but I have a feeling she might prefer the square in a square lap quilt, which is more in her preferred colour palette. It’s not as nicely finished, nor as big (53 by 44 inches) but I still think she might prefer it.

A Much Anticipated Collection from the Long Arm Quilter

While I was away on vacation the professional quilter in my neighbourhood was busy quilting the two quilts that I’ve been working on since Christmas. The square in a square lap quilt was a summer practice project and the star four patch kind of just happened a while after.

Quilted and Ready for Binding

Now it’s time for binding, a task I plan to take on one day when there is some reasonable light to work by and when I’ve got a couple of more urgent sewing chores out of the way. I got the off-cuts from the backing fabric back, but not the left over batting. I’ll have to ask for the batting back next time as I can use it for pot holders.

There’s enough backing fabric left from the square in a square quilt to use for binding as the colours tone in really well, so that’s the latest version of the plan. At this stage I am not planning to mitre the corners but I am thinking about hand stitching the biding down on the reverse of the quilt. I’m not sure about that one because I don’t enjoy hemming by hand and because I suspect the seam will be stronger sewn on the machine. Maybe I’ll test it out on the smaller of the two quilts and make my decision about the larger quilt after that.

Borders on the Floral Centre Square in a Square Scrap Quilt

The floral centre square in a square scrap quilt finally has borders, a few weeks after piecing and assembly. This one is my own design and on reflection I’m not sure how much I like it any more.

Square in a Square Quilt Top

It’s been hidden away while I’ve been working on my star four patches but this is a long holiday weekend in Melbourne and I’m feeling very motivated to see some projects near completion. Besides the professional long arm quilter should be back from vacation this month and my goal is to have something to give her when she says she’s ready.

I’m looking forward to seeing how much the quilting transforms the quilt. I’ve noticed that a bit of magic happens at each step along the way to completing the quilt top and I’m hoping the quilting and binding stages will take it to another level. If not, it’s been a good learning exercise and good preparation for the square in a square quilt I’m planning to make for my own use.

Assembling the Floral Centre Square in a Square Quilt

That purple sure makes a Statement

Playing around with new (to me) quilt blocks and making pot holders has been fun but it’s time to make some space for the next big project which will be a carpenter’s star quilt that I would like to have ready and waiting as a Christmas gift.

Batting and Backing Fabric

So yesterday I decided it was time to bite the bullet and get assembling. It took me a little while to remember how it was all supposed to work but it was fun, a bit like a giant jigsaw puzzle. I’ll be sewing this all together on the weekend, if all goes to plan.

Blocks ready for Assembly