King Sized Difficulty and NTT

In case there was any doubt, every step in the process of making a king-sized quilt is more difficult, right down to photographing it.  Add a little wind in there, and getting a nice, smooth shot of this massive (108" x108") quilt top was next to impossible.  That being said, I love love LOVE it!

Since this quilt is going on my bed, I had to take the opinions of Mr. MQI into account, which usually doesn't happen with quilt design.  Finding a pattern that kept the larger prints intact and wasn't too fussy was key.  Just in case you missed my last post where I showed my AMH hoard, you can rest easy knowing that I had way more prints than needed, so I also decided to pull out some of the fabrics that were heavy on hot pink and fuchsia, leaving just enough to keep the quilt balanced.

I opted for a 12" block that I like to call 2-4-6.  Beyond basic patchwork, this one is about as simple as it gets, but it lets those prints shine beautifully.  Here are the block measurements, just in case you're wondering-

These are finished measurements, so you would need to cut your pieces 6.5", 4.5", and 2.5" wide x 12.5" in length.  Then I just alternated the position and direction of the strips in the quilt.  Easy peasy!

I have enough fabric to make a completely reversible quilt (plus some), and I'm working on the backing now.  I've decided to turn this monster over to my friend who is a professional longarm quilter.  Her Christmas rush is already on, and since I'm not on any sort of deadline, it will be after the first of the year.  Having someone else quilt for me is a first, and though I truly enjoy quilting my own (reasonably sized) projects, I'm not going to lie, the fact that I don't have to baste this sucker is making me do a little happy dance.

Alrighty friends!  I've been super busy sewing this week, and I know you have as well but before we party, let's check out some of the amazing projects from last week.  This set of cheery quilts is by Simply, Sarah, and I love the bright colors and fun, random piecing.

Soma at Whims and Fancies shared her crisp and pretty Squares Plus quilt.

and finally, check out the quilting on this modern beauty by Leanne at Devoted Quilter!

Okay, y'all!  Let's kick off our first Needle and Thread Thursday of October with a bang!  It's time to party!

1. You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)

Tips for a Fast Finish

As I mentioned in my yesterday's NTT post, this quilt was done in a big hurry- three nights to be precise.  I know...crazy!

I will admit that there were some late nights involved in getting it finished, but since next week is Fall Break and this is for my principal, that simply could not be avoided.  There are a few tricks I have up my sleeve to finish quilts FAST when I need to.

1.  Pattern choice is key-  I pick patterns that are simple to sew and quick to cut.  Even with varying the 

    direction of the strips in this quilt, this top was quick to put together.  I could have had the strips 

    going all the same direction and it would have been even faster.

2.  Shop your stash-  Rather than choose colors that I wanted and try to make my stash fit those colors, I  

     allowed my stash to determine the colors.  I didn't have to go the the fabric store in order to get 

     down to business.  I also try to keep a well-rounded stash so that I have plenty of choices!

3.  Multitask-  I know this is easier said than done with little ones, but I sew while helping with 

     homework, between stirring dinner on the stove, while watching TV, etc.  If I have 10 extra 

     minutes, I'm sewing.

4.  Make the quilting easy-  Everybody has their favorite go-to quilting method.  Mine is 

     meandering/stippling.  I just love it (I know you can tell).  It's relaxing for me, and really quick.

Even with a fast finish, quilting should be fun!  These are four ways that I keep my sewing stress-free- even when I'm under pressure to get something done quick!

I've named this one Fishing at the Creek.  I can just see a little boy in overalls on the banks of beautiful, clear water on a summer day.  I always tend to have lots of blue and green in my stash.  I guess it's because I find these colors so happy and peaceful, that I'm just drawn to them.  

You can also see the backing fabric really well in this picture.  I really lucked out with this Denyse Schmidt fabric with the perfect shade of blue and the little green dots.  Incidentally, this is the only fabric I purchased especially for this quilt.  You probably recognize those lime dots too- that's left over from Serendipity.  And of course, no backing of mine would be complete without adding in the scraps!

The finished quilt measures 48 inches square and I hope that it is loved for years and years by that sweet little baby boy.