Well, hexagons won out :) This wasn't too bad to put together. Here's the picture I started with and did a couple test runs of how big the hexagons should be:
I used Moda Sundrops charm pack from Missouri Star Quilt Company:
I had this wonderful peachy pink that was a perfect fit as the accent color:
I cut my 5" squares into hexagons:
And then I cut all the strips I needed to then make into smaller strips
(or keep long for the border and binding):
One set got cut into 3.5" x 2" to go onto the hexagons to then be squared off:
Like so; here's one of each side getting pressed before adding the other two on the hexagons:
I squared them up (my least favorite part of the whole process)
and put them up on my new design wall:
(before I played around with where they would end up)
Final placement with the first set of sashing strips next to them (not sewn yet):
Then I laid out the border to see it come together:
I finally got the middle sashing strips cut along with the cornerstone with the peachy pink:
I sewed the hexagon blocks to the sashing strips to the right of them and then into a row:
And then I sewed the sashing rows with the cornerstones together:
Staring to line up WAY better:
All along the way, I pressed the seams so they would eventually nest into each other so it would be easier when I sewed them all together into a quilt top:
I then sewed the border to the quilt top
(the ones to the left and right first and then the top and bottom):
On to basting the quilt up on the design wall (a first for me):
We decided we were going to add a letter "E" for the baby as an applique onto the back:
I went with a butterfly stippling for the quilting design:
All stenciled and ready to go:
Starting the quilting:
When I did the top half of the quilting, I then figured out placement for the letter "E"
on the back and did a blanket stitch around it
(after adding heat and bond interfacing to it and ironing it down into place):
I went slow and steady around the corners to make sure there would be no puckering:
All done!:
I trimmed off the excess batting and backing and prepped for binding:
Back view:
I went with a straight stitch on the binding. This is before the wash:
Here is the famous color catcher that I used to get the washable marker out from the stencil:
And look how pretty:
Up close:
Back:
Up close:
Folded oh so pretty:
And then to see the monogram just pop:
This was a fun quilt to get done in less than a week.
Back view:
Front view:
Thanks for everyone's input to make this quilt become a fun reality!