Toronto Modern Quilt Guild: Kaufman Challenge Complete!

I finally got around to binding this quilt. I was having a tough time thinking of a binding that would look good with all the colours and was still kind of funky. My Mom actually came up with the idea to use the same one that I used on her mug rug. However, I only had about 12 inches left of that binding. I decided to check out a fabric store in the east end that has some quilting fabric. Oddly enough, when I got there, sitting right smack dab in the middle of the cutting table, was the exact same Michael Miller gray polka dotted fabric I had used for my Mom's mug rug. Very weird but I was obviously thrilled that I was able to find the fabric I had in mind.

 In the end, I think the binding was a perfect fit. I LOVE the wrinkly look after it's been washed.

Table runner for Nanny

Front of the table runner. Traditional pinwheel design. 

Table runners are very fun to make. They use the exact same process as a full quilt yet are much smaller and therefore take less time to complete. I made my Nanny this table runner for Christmas. I think that the colours were perfect for her! She really liked it and it looked great on the table.

Back of the table runner. I decided to give the back a design so it could be reversible. 

I decided to free-motion quilt the table runner. I love the look of free motion and it was a small piece in comparison to an actual quilt so I figured it wouldn't be too difficult. It went well, until I ran out of the light pink thread I was using when I had a 3in x 3in area left to quilt. It was Christmas eve so I knew I wouldn't be able to buy any that day. My aunt ended up saving me. She had gotten me a wonderful box of Gutermann thread for Christmas and gave me the light pink thread early so I could finish quilting the table runner. It turned out perfectly!

Close up of one pinwheel. You can also see the background fabric had gold designs which made it much more interesting (and fancier) than plain white.

First post, first quilt

This is my first quilt I made back in November 2010. It was a gift for a baby boy. I am really happy with how it tured out. I wanted it to be simple but not too boring so there is actually a pattern with the squares (solids, horizontal halves, solids, vertical halves etc)

Pretty scraps

Front

  It was my first attempt at free motion quilting. I learned that I should have gotten my machine serviced before I attempted free motion but once I started, I was too eager to finish it.

Close up of quilting. 

 I used moda Whimsy and Kona solids in white for the front and I am not sure the name of the blue fabric on the back. I used a really funky striped fabric for the binding and I think it turned out great!

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