Tuesday, February 16, 2021

First Personal Quilt Finish of 2021: Christmas Sweets Disappearing 9-Patch Snuggle Throw

Yes, I see you all posting your timely Valentine's Day and Spring-themed quilts all over the Internet.  I know what month it is!   But I'm like that straggler way at the back of the race, finally stumbling across the finish line a month after the marathon ended...  Or something like that!  


I actually finished quilting my Christmas Sweets Disappearing 9-Patch throw on New Year's Day, when I wrote my goofy fairy tale spoof about it (you can read that here if you missed it).  But then, as the Christmas trees were piling up at the curb and the decorations were being packed away, I just wasn't feeling very motivated to get it labeled and bound.  I also had a few customer quilt commitments that I needed to attend to first.  

Crinkly, Snuggly, Post-Washing Cuddle Factor

I quilted this one with "Let It Snow" edge-to-edge pantograph design using Glide thread in Sand.

"Let It Snow" E2E Quilting Design, Prior to Washing

For the machine stitched binding, I cut my strips at 2 1/4" wide and use clear monofilament thread in both the needle and bobbin.  It's just a narrow zigzag stitch, nothing fancy.

Invisible Machine Binding with Invisible Monofilament Thread

I chose Quilters' Dream Orient batting for this quilt, a blend of silk, bamboo, cotton and Tencel fibers that is similar in loft to an 80/20 cotton/poly blend but SO much softer -- it has the most wonderful drape.  This is going to be fantastic for bundling up on the sofa to watch all my favorite cheesy Christmas movies, oh, NINE months or so from now!  My Long-Suffering Spouse and Reluctant Photography Assistant thinks this quilt is extra-snuggly, too.

My Photography Assistant Likes the Snuggly Quilters Dream Orient Batting

I did cut out another Christmas throw quilt at the same time I started this one, a tumbler quilt in the same novelty prints, but I've packed that one away at least until the Christmas-In-July craze kicks into high gear.  Enough with Christmas already, am I right?!

Meanwhile, QuiltCon Together begins tomorrow night!  I've signed up for a workshop on quilt photography and it cannot get here soon enough.  I took so many pictures of this quilt today and was not able to get a single full shot of the whole quilt that I liked.  So frustrating!  Hopefully I'll learn some helpful tips and tricks from the workshop so I can get better photos of the next quilt!

PSST!!  I'd Love to Quilt for YOU!

By the way, if you or any of your quilty friends has a quilt top or two that needs quilting, I'd be delighted to quilt for you!  My turnaround for edge-to-edge quilting is currently running about 2 weeks, and you can click here to find out how to book your quilt with me.


It did feel good to take something OFF my Works In Progress list.  That leaves me with nine, still more than I'm comfortable with.  My next priority is Anders' kaleidoscope graduation quilt, with a deadline of May 31st.  I've got my design, I've got my fabric -- time to start CUTTING!

77 x 99 Anders' High School Graduation Quilt


Tuesday's To-Do List:

  1. Cut out all of the navy background fabric triangles for Anders' quilt
  2. Start piecing blocks!
  3. QuiltCon Together!  I'm registered for a bunch of quilt history lectures in addition to my photography workshop, and my Mission Impossible quilt is entered in the Modern Traditional category for the virtual show.
Have a great week, everyone!  If you haven't registered for your QuiltCon Together virtual show pass yet, you're not too late!  Click here to find out more about this year's online format and to get your pass to the show.

I'm linking up today's post with the following linky parties:

TUESDAY

To-Do Tuesday at Home Sewn By Us

WEDNESDAY

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

THURSDAY

Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation  

Free Motion Mavericks with Muv and Andree

FRIDAY

Whoop Whoop Fridays at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Off the Wall Friday at Nina Marie Sayre

 TGIFF Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday, rotates, schedule found here: TGIF Friday

22 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I love the kaleidoscope quilt pattern and now you have a Christmas quilt done way in advance of Christmas good for you! I never did sign up for anything from QuiltCon I kind of forgot all about it. Your quilting is going really well.

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

Hurray for your first finish of the year! Well done! I've done the happy dance that you took a project OFF your list! Keep up the great progress!

Jenny K. Lyon said...

What a fun quilt! I LOVE Orient, wonder why more have not discovered it

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Any finish is good! And having your Christmas quilt done means you can enjoy it from the beginning of this coming season and for years to come.

chrisknits said...

How exciting about your Quilt Con entry!!! Love the design on the Christmas quilt, I dream of getting a computer system some day!! Thanks for linking up with To-Do!

Rebecca said...

I prefer to think of it as being 10 months ahead of the curve...

Lynette said...

Congratulations for Quilt Con. But Yay! Anders' grad quilt is a GO now :) That's going to be so pretty. Love your early Christmas finish - it's going to be so nice to pull out next holiday season.

SJSM said...

Rebecca, think of your 2021 Christmas quilt as a good luck charm for the first of many (personal) finishes this year. You’ve started the year strong. I hope the weather is treating you well enough. I’m still trying to get grandma's quilt cleaned up to take pictures to send you. I must admit a bit of fear about ruining it. Not being a quilter it’s a little intimidating as I think the quilt top is around 60 years old or more.

Love your son's graduation quilt. Cant wait to see blocks forming.

piecefulwendy said...

You're not late - you're ahead of us - you have your Christmas 2021 off to a good start! It's all a matter of perspective, right? The colors in that next quilt are really striking! Enjoy your photography workshop - is it with Kitty Wilkin? If so, I think you'll enjoy it!

The Joyful Quilter said...

Congrats on finishing up your Christmas quilt, Rebecca!!

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting said...

I think you're really months ahead of the rest of us! Congrats on wrapping it up, and on your upcoming QC classes!

Quiltpiecer said...

I love your disappearing 9-patch Christmas quilt. So bright and cheerful. You've inspired me to make one for this year. Thanks for sharing.

Jennifer Fulton Inquiring Quilter said...

You're doing great in my book! This is a wonderful finish and there's still snow on the ground so it counts. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.

Anne-Marie said...

Definitely ahead for this year. Love the stripy binding. I like those mini blocks within the blocks for your son's quilt.

Chris said...

What a fun quilt! Now you're all ready for next Christmas!

Kate said...

It's never too late to finish a holiday themed WIP, there is always the next holiday to enjoy it. It's a very fun finish, love the striped binding. Good luck with your graduation quilt, it's a very cool design.

Elizabeth V Kelbaugh said...

Great Christmas quilt! I understand when your quilts take a backseat to customers. I look forward to seeing the graduation kaleidoscope quilt finished.

sue s said...

I enjoyed your fairy tale and I'm glad to see the finish of this fun quilt! This past Christmas I had last year's (2019) top to baste and quilt, but didn't. Instead I started another one that, like you, I hope to be inspired to finish in July! I rlly like Anders' quilt with your insert pieces!

Vivian said...

Good for you in getting your D9P done and ready early for the holiday season. And you strike off a WIP too --- bonus! Yeah, your DH looks like he's going to enjoy that quilt come holiday time which makes it all worth it. I had fun looking at the Quilt Con entries!!

Andree G. Faubert said...

Hi Rebecca, what a lovely quilt. I'm going to look for that batting, it sounds wonderful. I hope that you'll share some of the things that you learn in your photography class. It's always a challenge, especially with larger quilts. Congrats on your finish....just 9 months ahead of time :-) Take care.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Oh WOW!!!! I love that Christmas one!! and you are the tortoise in the race - hahaha!
and your graduation quilt for Anders - oh that is just going to be stunning!

Muv said...

Hello Rebecca,
That's hilarious. Are you late for last Christmas or early for next? It's a gorgeous quilt. Thank you for linking up with Free Motion Mavericks. Your quilt is this week's featured project!
Love, Muv