Yes to the Borders!

Three rounds of borders happened yesterday to complete my Easy Breezy quilt top.

Isn't it amazing what borders can do for a quilt?  I tend to want the borders to add something to the quilt, to tie what's going on in the inside together with what's at the outside.  To add a needed something to the whole, not just "slap something on there to make it bigger."  Are you the same way?

Some of you asked yesterday what I meant by "finishing the nine-patches at the edge of the quilt" so I took this photo just for you.

Where the sashings and cornerstones meet the blocks in the center of the quilt, you can see what looks like nine-patches.  (That really aren't, but have the appearance of being)  Do you see them?

If I left the quilt center the way it was, there would only be "partial" nine-patches at the edge of the quilt center.  It just didn't look "finished" to me.

I was also asked if this whole quilt was made piece-by-piece or if there was any strip set sewing done in the construction.

While you could strip piece some of this - I didn't.  It was made block by block, piece by piece, in between the lines of sewing other things.  That's what Leaders & Enders are.

So for that "completer" border that finishes the nine-patches - I just got out my scrap box of 1 1/2'' squares and sewed sets of 3.  And then I laid out the rectangles in between them to build my border.

Adding that "completer" border to the quilt center.

Oh, I just have to laugh here and let you in on a little secret!  I set up to take this photo - so that I could share how much fun I had putting half a typewriter in as sashing just above a block that had Grumpy Cat as background.

I shot the photo, continued to sew all the way to the end - and found out I had sewn more than 3/4 of that seam WITH NO BOBBIN THREAD! LOL!

If you look behind the machine on the fabric that has just been "sewn" you will see there is no seam line there.  What a dork.  LOL.

Lola says - don't let it phase you!

Just find the sunny spot!

Thank you, sweet girl!

Keep your eye on the simple pleasures.

There now - doesn't that look more "complete"?

To me it was worth the effort.

(And it didn't make a dent in the squares box!)

Another reason why I didn't "strip sew" anything - VARIETY.  it's hard to get enough variety when sewing from long strip sets.  All of the units cut from that strip set are identical.  That's great when you are making a quilt out of just a few pieces of yardage - but it doesn't often work with the kinds of scrappy quilts I like to do.

Last border going on -

And YES!  There is bobbin thread!

And this is where I left it yesterday afternoon about 3pm.

The green and electric blue pieces I have had for some while.

Not sure who the green is by - but the blue is a Gerald Roy piece.

I could have mitered the corners.  Mitered stripes are GREAT in corners.  But with this quilt - I didn't feel that a fancy corner treatment was needed.

I will use the blue crackle as binding -

It picks up the lighter blue stripe in the outer border.

Of all of the things to be grateful for this Christmas season - I smile every time I walk over to my stash cabinets and search for just the right piece that will make that quilt shine.

I am grateful for the time to work on the projects I have in front of me - as well as the ones swimming in my head.

We've presented 2 mysteries, a Leader & Ender Challenge, and numerous other fun things that wouldn't have come about as easily if life were "normal." 

I've finished some long term UFOs in ways that make me really happy with the finishes - not just "get it done and off the list." it was worth it.

I have some other projects creeping up on the design wall - things to be released in the coming year.

In so many ways, this really odd horrible year, has been a blessing.

Perhaps you are feeling some of this too?

Zoey says "Good Morning! Where's my treat?!"

She had the cutest expression on her face - until I pulled out the camera - and her ears instantly go back, and she turns her face away.  Silly girl!

But that tail is a blur under the table - and I am counting Zoey and Ivy as our best gifts of 2020.

Ivy was completely unsure of this cat activity:

Today's plan?  Pull together a backing and start in on some machine quilting for the Easy Breezy quilt!

How about your own Christmas Eve?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Happy Christmas Eve, quilty friends! ⁣

May your dreams be merry and bright!