Orca Bay, Part 8! The Big Finish!

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Happy New Year!!

Can you believe it!? It’s HERE!  I remember being in high school, studying history, pondering about the Mayan calendar and wondering if the world really WOULD end in 2012? Some how I didn’t think so…and I’m glad.  I’ve got too many projects to finish!

I’m writing this post ahead --- because as it airs, I’m in Texas celebrating New Years by giving some classes at Fabric Fanatics, and doing a lecture/trunkshow for the Garland Quilt Guild!  These guys really start off New Years with a BANG!

There is no better way to reveal this, than just to reveal this…So, are you ready? TADA!!

This is Orca Bay!

And if you have followed along up to this point, you’ve got all the components to put it together.  The only thing you need to add is an inner border – and we’ll get to that!

Look at this diagram carefully and notice that it is all in horizontal rows..there is nothing on point here…Row 1 consists of blue string blocks, and  the string geese units that we made Friday.

Row two is constructed of string geese units alternated with the Ohio star blocks…with every other star having either a neutral background, or a black background…followed by another row of blue string blocks, and string geese units.

Lay out all the quilt center blocks and parts in rows as shown, paying careful attention to the direction the blue strings point.  The “real” quilt photo above will help you.  Join the units into rows, and join the rows to complete the quilt center.  Press.

Inner Border:

Cut 8 2” strips of neutral fabric ((I used one shirting print, but you could go scrappy if you wanted)) across the width of the fabric from selvage to selvage. Join the 8 border strips end to end with diagonal seams to make a strip approximately 320” long. Trim excess 1/4” from seams and press seams open.

Lay the quilt center out on the floor, smoothing it gently. Do not tug or pull. Measure the quilt through the center from top to bottom. Cut two inner side borders this length. Sew the inner side borders to the quilt sides with right sides together, pinning to match centers and ends. Ease where necessary to fit. Press seams toward the borders.

Repeat for top and bottom inner borders, measuring across the quilt center, including the borders just added in the measurement. Cut top and bottom inner borders this length. Stitch the top and bottom inner borders to the quilt center, pinning to match centers and ends, easing where necessary to fit. Press seams toward borders.

Side Borders:

Left facing

Join 13 border units ((Yes, these are all border units!)) with the black triangles all pointing left.  Make 2.

Right Facing

Join 13 Border units with the black triangles all pointing right.  Make 2.

Join a left pointing border section to a right pointing border section as shown.  Make 2.

Sew the side borders to the quilt sides with right sides together, pinning to match centers and ends. Ease where necessary to fit. Press seams toward the inner borders.

The Top and bottom borders are pieced the same way, with one fewer unit per end, and the 3” hour glass units you pieced in Part 7 in the center:

Join 12 Border units with the black triangles all pointing left.  Make 2.

Join 12 Border units with the black triangles all pointing right.  Make 2.

Join the left facing border half and the right facing border half with the hour glass unit in the center.  Make 2.

The diagram doesn’t do it justice, because it can’t show the variety of the scraps, OR the strings!

This is the top, right after I completed it, laying on my studio floor.

I quilted it using antique tan colored thread, in an edge to edge design called “Feather Meander #1” by Jessica Schick.  There are a lot of busy pieces in this quilt, lots of seams, and the quilting wasn’t going to show much anyway..I love the texture this added to the quilt! Don't you love the chickns and the candy corn in there? FUN!

I love how the direction of the strings make my eyes travel all over the quilt surface!  I bound the quilt in a solid black to give a definite finish to the quilt.

Even though the picture didn’t photograph well because of the sunlight…look how the texture of that quilting shows!

I’m so glad you followed along this journey with me!  I can’t wait to see what your progress shows!  Remember to come back tomorrow, Monday, Jan 2nd, for our Mystery Monday Link-Up!  We’ll probably do ONE MORE Link-Up after this one --- just to give people a chance to catch up with their tops.

Don’t forget to check in on last Monday’s Link-Up!  There are some beautiful quilts taking shape!
Happy New Year!!  GET SEWING!!