Flower One Block Wonder

Sometimes I get to the point where it will only take a couple of hours to finish a quilt, and I pack it up and put it away for months.  I think it is because in my mind, this quilt is already done.  I know what it is going to look like, and I have already made all the finishing decisions. The fun is over. I usually stop when I have all the rows put together or when it is time for borders.   This quilt has been packed away 3 times, and it has taken me a whole year to get it all put together,

Here is Flower One Block Wonder:

This quilt is 60"x70".

I used a type of fabric I usually wouldn't pick, but it was only $4 a yard, and the colors were great.  I also used a bigger triangle than I usually use: 5 " vs 3 1/2".  You would think a bigger triangle would make the quilt come together faster, right?  

Some of the octagons remind me of fruit sections.

A few look like snowflakes.

Yesterday, I finally got it all together and made a pieced back, something I rarely do.  I think I like the back as much as the front.

I fought the impulse to make this quilt bigger. I know that not every quilt needs to be queen sized, but I like big quilts.  I am not sure who is getting this one.

Linking up: https://conniekresin.com/2018/09/linky-tuesday-september-18th.html

Stash Report:
Used this week: 7.0 yards (flower OBW front and back)
Used year to date: 140.5 yards
 Added this week: 12.5 (Labyrinth Walk, missed this earlier)  
Added year to date:166.75 yards
Net Added: 26.5 yards

Labyrinth Walk Top Done

Several weeks ago, I realized that I had made a tuffet for my oldest child for Christmas:

And  a quilt for my youngest son's girlfriend:

But I hadn't made anything for my youngest.  If both his brother and girlfriend were getting handmade gifts, he might feel left out.  Or he might not really care.  Who knows?  To be safe I'm making him a quilt.  He is a big fan of M.C. Escher, so I wanted to make an optical illusion quilt.  I chose Labyrinth Walk by The Guilty Quilter.  Here's my version:

It is 84"x84".

  

I used Stonehenge Gradations, which I would have loved to buy at a local shop, but there was none to be found.  Contrast is very important in this quilt.  I had to order my fabric online, and I got lucky that it all worked.  

This was a great pattern with many illustrations.  You have to be very careful to use a 1/4 inch seam, so everything will line up correctly.  I made several errors because I didn't read the pattern closely, but those mistakes were all user error.  Even with ripping out many seams, this quilt only took about 2 1/2 weeks to put together, and I didn't sew every day.

Linking up:  https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2018/09/lets-bee-social-242.html

Stash Report:
Used this week: 7.5 yards ( Labyrinth top,  scraps given to Brenda)
Used year to date: 133.5 yards
 Added this week:  0.25 yards (sale FQ)
Added year to date 154.25 yards
Net Added: 20.75 yards

A Quilt for Claire

I used to have a hard and fast rule:  boyfriends and girlfriends are not quilt-worthy.  This girlfriend of my youngest son has changed my mind.  She is smart, hardworking and brings out the best in my child.  She is a peacemaker.  Our boys don't argue when she is around.  I am so happy she is in our lives right now, even if their relationship doesn't become permanent.  I was originally going to give her this for graduation, but she is getting it for Christmas.

This quilt is a Swirly Girls pattern called Perfect Ten.  It calls for ten fat quarters plus border and accent fabric.  I used a Riley Blake line called Our World.  I changed the borders a little, adding an inner border and cornerstones, but the body of the quilt is straight from Perfect Ten.  This pattern is super easy with big pieces, no triangles, and clear directions.  Perfect Ten is a perfect beginner pattern.  This quilt measures 61"x74".

Debbie Cooper of Finish My Quilt did the longarming.  She used a simple loopy swirl.

The back of the quilt is dark blue minky.  I know that a lot of people use minky on baby quilts, but I also know that it makes a super cuddly quilt for anyone.  

Most of the time, I print quilt labels using the computer, but for special quilts, I cross stitch them.

Linking up: http://busyhandsquilts.blogspot.com/2018/09/jelly-roll-railway-twin-quilt-finished.html?utm_source=bloglovin.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BusyHandsQuilts+%28Busy+Hands+Quilts%29