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Thursday, April 09, 2026

Quilting Done!


One of the most wonderful feelings has to be advancing a large quilt to the next section to find that you are close to reaching the bottom borders.

As much as I love hand quilting (And I am missing hand quilting but am concentrating on finishing that eternal hexie quilt before I can't see anymore to do close hand stitching) the realization that it would take me 4 to 5 months of evening hand quilting to quilt a quilt that I can machine quilt in two days....

I know they are two different things - hand quilting and machine quilting. But dang!

Each type of  quilting has its own place. 

This quilt top had so many seams, along with all of the seams in the backing - there was just no way I'd be attempting to hand quilt this one.


Golly, thus border makes me so happy!

And I love seeing the purple scrappy rolling up on the take up roller too.


Do you check other people's quilts for fabrics you have in your own stash?

Or fabrics from long ago that you recognize even if you don't have them anymore?


There are some oldies but goodies in this photo -

That pink dress print from my first date with Hubster Dave in 1981 is there.

And you can see what a great choice the pale baby pink thread is for a scrappy like this with loads of light background.

I did check yesterday when the quilting was done, and this pantograph is called Nemish's Feather Grande.


I was able to get the quilt unloaded and trimmed before Debbie's Bitter Bees started arriving for retreat yesterday afternoon.


Hello, Gretchen!


I love the quilting texture! It doesn't upstage the piecing.


Next up binding!

But that may take a bit.  We hare having a Scrappy Mountain Majesties workshop at the retreat over the next 3 days.  Have you made one?  You'll find it under the Free Patterns tab at the top of the blog.

Cut a bunch of 8 1/2'' squares and join in for some easy and fun piecing with great setting possibilities!


Oh, and before I forget - here's the flip side.


The quilting looks just as great on the back as it does the front - so yes, it's a reversible quilt.

All of these seams do make for a heavier quilt - but that's not always a bad thing.  I'm happy to have used all of these random purple hunks and chunks.

I've got the margins from trimming the quilt to use as a hanging sleeve. (Always a hanging sleeve because I don't want to have to come back and do that later for any reason!)

Will I do this again? Yes!  I'm on a mission to use up fabrics in as many fun ways as possible.

And that includes our next Leader & Ender project coming up in July.  I've got leftovers from the quilt top.  Let's see what kind of trouble we can get into and keep sewing up the scrappy fun.


Flash Kitty Loaf!

Yesterday I wasn't able to sit with Flash while giving him his breakfast - son Jeff was on hand and touching up the pillars and porch railings with white paint.  I had to move his food aside a bit.

But in the afternoon when welcoming the ladies and enjoying a bit of porch sunshine, I spied him just as content as could be under one of the dining tables.

I zoomed in to get this shot - but he's looking pretty good, isn't he?


Quiltville Quote of the Day -

You are a work in progress! 

Never stop learning, never stop exploring the possibilities, never stop growing! 

Vintage spider web quilt found in North Carolina.

Have a terrific Thursday, everyone!

 

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your quilt is absolutely spectacular and oh that border. I love it!!! ๐Ÿงต☀️

Anonymous said...

Love your latest!
Flash is a beauty. Hope he tames.
Sharon M

Mary said...

I love Quilting feathers. The purple backing is great. Glad you made it reversible fir cold nights. I agree always a sleeve to hang it. That is required for a Quilt Show. It tells them which side is Up! Happy Thursday.

Kara Benavides said...

Yes. I always check scrappy quilts for fabrics I recognize, especially yours! Yes. That is a gorgeous quilt, even with some fabrics I remember thinking in the day, "I would never buy that". Now I have learned bought and gifted make fabric look different. And, Yes! Flash is lookin' fine.

Brenda @ Songbird Designs said...

I am so in love with this quilt...the blocks, the back, the purple, the quilting...ALL of it! It's been fun watching this one come together.

Anonymous said...

Hello Gretchen is FABULOUS!!!

Kept n Stitches said...

I do look for familiar fabric from my current and past stash in other peoples quilts. Hello Gretchen is beautiful. Love the scrappy purple back. You're inspiring me to do scrappy backs.

sue s said...

I spy a University of Michigan "M Go Blue" neutral. Go Blue! NCAA National Basketball Champs!๐Ÿ˜€

Anonymous said...

Wow, Gretchen you’re beautiful! ❤️❤️

Karen Fruehling said...

I am SO looking forward to this Gretchen pattern! Love, Love, LOVE everything about it!

Anonymous said...

I recognize that circa 1980 pink print LOL
vikki in ne wyoming

Debra said...

Flash looks like a well cared for Kitty. Clean and fed.
Your quilt X2 is just wonderful! Actually it's a 3 for 1 because you mentioned making a Project out of the border pieces..love the quilting pattern too.
Have a great day
Blessings ๐Ÿ™

abelian said...

I do hope you can get Flash to trust you. I think it’s been a bit over three years since Tula and Flash were dumped off at the QPO. Lucky cats to have found you!

Dot

C said...

Gretchan is spectacular ! I love the purple back as well.
Cindy A

Anonymous said...

I love your scrappy purple backing!

Tracey Honig said...

Hello, Gretchen!! I love the name and the quilt. It's all beautifully done. I love when a kitty "loafs!" He's looking well. Enjoy the new group. I have a binding party in store for the weekend. :-)
Happy sewing!

Anonymous said...

Bonnie you are doing really well with Flash. I got a 10 year old kitty named Rosie back September 2020. For her first 12 months she hide behind a quilt stand I didn't see her for nearly 12 months . I decided she was going to be an indoor kitty . I put her food down she was eating well one night in 2022 she can and hopped on my bed then can back every night after. September 2023 she started to come and sit with me on my lounge. Now she loves and trusts me. I cannot pick her up yet and I accept I may never will. It took her a long time I'm now loving every moment ๐Ÿ’• Hang in there with Flash he/she has loving eyes. I look forward to seeing how all your kitty's are going. Sue from NSW Australia

Karen Wolf said...

Flash is such a beauty. He looks totally content.
I think the border on Gretchen is at the top of the list of “best borders ever”

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