April is starting out better for getting some quality quilting time in, and I have enjoyed that. Sewing has always been my therapy and stress reliever, so it was good for me to be able to spend some time at the machine. I had to miss the day retreats at the guild last week, three day-long sewing days where you can sew with friends, then leave your machine and go home to have dinner and sleep. It’s the first one I’ve missed in several years, but couldn’t be helped. I hate that I missed that time with one of my dearest friends who is moving away in June. I’ll just have to have her over for a sew day here, then make her a nice lunch. Back to the sewing, I finished up the Quilt of Valor. When I last talked about this quilt, it was on the longarm and I had sewn one pantograph row.
The pantograph is called Blue Star from Urban Elementz.
I finished the quilting, then did a machine binding with the leftovers from the backing.
All done, and ready for the label.
The backing I used was a wide back fabric, and I had a lot left at the bottom when I finished quilting the QOV. I have several of the adorable Hungry Animal Alphabet panels, and two of them fit nicely in that space that was left. So, I could use up the balance of the backing without having to load it again. I placed the panels close to the QOV, changed the pantograph to a cloud one, and stitched the edges on both.
I used the same white Glide thread for these, quilting all the way across to get both on one pass. You all know how obsessed I am with this adorable panel. I just love looking for the items starting with the letter in each box. Oh, look, a pig in pajamas with a parrot buddy is eating pancakes, and the vultures have umbrellas, eating vegetables on the veranda.
The flamingos have fish, and the jaguar has jam. Can you see more F and J words? I get so distracted by these, LOL!
When the quilting was done, I carefully cut apart the quilts, trimming up as I went.
With the remains of the backing, I made more binding for one of these quilts and attached it by machine.
So, one all done.
The binding color goes well with the panel, and matches the back.
For the second panel, I used the trimmings of the green check. I had trimmed this off both panels before quilting, and it was just enough to go all the way around. Both of these will be for sale at the Garden of Quilts show in our longarm booth during my work hours. If they don’t sell there, I’ll have them as part of my sample sale planned for late May.
I had counted the wide backing in for Stashbusters at 7 yards. When I was done with all three quilts, I had less than a fat quarter left. Whoopee, nice fabric out totals for April so far, and I have more to go!
What did you work on this week?
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From My Carolina Home 
Oh my you are BUSY…….
You did get quite a bit done. I am sorry you weren’t able to sew with your friends. I really love your alphabet panel quilt; the gingham is just perfect.
You did a beautiful job on all your projects. I am sorry you missed the opportunity to quilt with friends. I had the same thing happen last weekend and it was such a downer to not be with my kindred spirits.
I am starting a quilt for my cousin who is having a baby. Her husband is from Ecuador and they did a mountain theme in the nursery so I am making a mountain quilt using 1/2 square triangles. Hoping it’s a quick project.
I love how you used that backing so efficiently!! Curious if you ever put on music while you long arm quilt or does the hum of the machine make it too hard to hear? Sorry you missed out on your sit & sew retreat. Our guild has those twice a year and I missed the one last fall and keep looking to see if there is another one scheduled yet. Busy week, with Guild meeting on Monday, Dentist on Tuesday, Grandma Uber duty on Wednesday, Eyes dilated Thursday…..fingers crossed for today. I am working slowly in between (when I can see….giggle) on the Bonnie Hunter Ukraine hearts blocks. 10 done so far. Thinking of you and hoping the spring green and forest animals are brightening your day. HUGS
I do love this ABC design fabric.
Beautiful quilts. Amazing how close you came on backing fabric. I’m all to often a fat quarter short, or mega yardage too much. I’d much prefer to hit that sweet spot you just did. Definitely helps to put a good dent in your stash.
That’s fantastic how you were able to finish the QOV and then use the excess and backing for the other Hungry Animal quilt. I don’t have a longarm, but that does look neat to do. I made a quilt with the Hungry Animal blocks. It is a favorite of mine, also.
this is wonderful to get these quilts all finished!
Sweet quilts. I am sure they will sell at the fair
The QOV quilt is gorgeous. And, I love the “Hungry Animals” panel quilts. They are adorable. As always you have done a wonderful job. Oh, have a pleasant sewing day and lunch with your friend.
That alphabet cute is so darned cute! And I love the red/white/blue and the border. You have such a great sense of what works with what! Happy weekend — I hope you get more stitching time!
Oh my, but that alphabet panel is so perfect! I just made a quilt using the Flower Fairy alphabet panel, but had to cut the letters apart & frame them. It’s so nice to have one the right size, & the way they fit on your leftover backing is quite the coup! It’s too bad you couldn’t fit in sewing with your friends especially as one is moving. Some one-on-one time together before she leaves will be extra special.
I’m sorry you missed time with your friend who is moving at the retreat, but having her over for a sew day sounds like a great solution. Looks like a really fun and productive week!
Great to get those quilts quilted……
So glad to hear you got some sewing time in this week, even if not with friends. It does help with stress levels for me, too. I love that wide backing you’re using, and the animal ABC panel is adorable, too!
Love the little dancing stars – will try this for the next baby quilt! Spring has sprung but mostly in downpour rains. But that means more time to sew. We have sit and sew and the church and they had to give us a bigger room with so many new people. Yeah! Thanks,
Wow, Carole, you had so much done! I love those animal panels, they are so cute! Enjoy the weekend!
Well done, you! I know your time has been very fractured of late, glad to hear you got some thread therapy in! I finished Round 1 of the Sewing Bee Monday night and have been cleaning up yesterday and today, reading reviews and blog posts. I am almost ready to tackle a BOM or two, which will be fun!