I pushed hard this week to finish my niece's quilt. Since it was in progress so long, the finish was all the sweeter! (I got about 1000 mosquito bites while trying to photograph it. That was not so sweet.)
I used my Go! baby to cut out the circles, then I appliqued them (without fusible) onto solid gray background squares using a blanket stitch on my Janome. After all the applique was done, the top went together super fast!
I used leftover pieces of fabric from the front (plus a little extra stash fabric) to piece the backing. It's like a big puzzle and it takes awhile, but it's so rewarding to bust the stash in this manner. Plus, it makes the back so interesting! I really love how this one turned out.
I stippled the background and quilted free hand swirls in each circle. (I used Aurifil #2600....it is THE most perfect gray thread ever!) The quilting on this is far from perfect, but I reminded myself over and over to let go of my perfectionist tendencies and just do it!
Binding fabric is from the Wild collection by dear Stella. Isn't it so fun? It matched the colors of the quilt so well and I thought it was a sweet way to finish the quilt.
This is my favorite detail of the entire quilt. That piece of white binding is only about 1 1/4" long. Eeeep! Makes me smile!
The quilt measures about 60" x 75". Hurray for a finish!
Thanks for your feedback (last week) about whether or not to run finish it up Friday through the summer. Based on your comments, I plan to keep up with it as much as I can. I love that it helps me stay motivated. I can ALWAYS use the push to get things done. :)
Now it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week! Thanks, as always, for joining me for finish it up Friday!
Such a cute quilt!! I'm sure your niece will love it :)
ReplyDeleteShe's going to love it. I like the back almost as much as the front. Good Job!
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt AmandaJean! That little bit of white binding is so sweet. ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is so fantastic. I love the quilting and the scrappy back and binding. Also, the photos are awesome. You are so good at taking creative shots of quilts. I love how green and springy the background is. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThat quilting looks pretty darn perfect to me : )
ReplyDeleteAwesome finish!!! Yay for another Friday finish!
ReplyDeleteThe quilting looks great! I really love the swirls in the circles. And that itty bitty bit of white in the binding is cute too.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you'll continue Finish it Up Friday. I really enjoy seeing all of the posts even if I didn't get anything done myself! Love the quilt for your niece.
ReplyDeleteLovely finish! I love the solid gray background - I'm a sucker for gray! Thanks for continuing Finish it up Friday as much as you can. I always love to link up!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love the quilting - especially the extra dimension that the swirls give to the back of the quilt!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous quilting, I love the swirls on the circles. The whole thing looks like a Damian Hirst painting!
ReplyDeleteI love circles on quilts.
ReplyDeleteThat's really pretty!
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely quilt! I am so glad that I had a chance to see all of your photos!
ReplyDeleteI love the quilting on this one - the swirls in the circles with stippling in the negative space. Great choice.
ReplyDeleteI like how you applique'd your circles, I need to give that a try. The swirls and blanket stitch are so pretty. And thank you for continuing Finish It Up Friday!
ReplyDeleteYou must be the best aunt ever next to me, of course. I know you spotlighted that circle in the corner just for me. :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the circles, and the quilting is on point!
ReplyDeleteLove your linky party, but I wish it had pictures... Is it more difficult to do that? I've not tried to set one up myself - not enough followers to bother.
Hugs
WOW! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quilt you've made. I'm sure your niece will love it. It's really different and unique with circles. I love the colours too.
ReplyDeleteAurifil 2600 is indeed the perfect grey thread!
ReplyDeleteYay for circles too.
Great finish! Letting go of perfectionism is so hard and so necessary.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! The binding is so cute and the circles look brilliant! May I ask why you didn't use fusible?
ReplyDeleteYippee! I'm so glad you're going to keep Fridays going, although I would have understood if you decided to take a break. It would be difficult to go without your great finishes and your sweet little comments about details such as your little white binding strip. Love the circle quilting!
ReplyDeletewhat I lovely quilt! I cant wait to try some applique quilts on my machine
ReplyDeleteFrankie
http://www.knitwits-owls.blogspot.co.uk/
it's beautiful!!! sorry about the bites. ;p
ReplyDeleteA sweet sweet quilt and finish! I had to look for it, but I found the little piece of binding in the first picture :) Very cute!
ReplyDeleteIt is fantastic. I love that heart fabric too, very versatile.
ReplyDeleteIt turned out so nice! That binding is perfect. I'll keep an eye out for it.
ReplyDeleteThe binding is fantastic!! Thanks for keeping the Friday Links going. I just linked up for the first time!!
ReplyDeleteLove your quilt and colour choice Amanda. Your niece is a very lucky girl. I am sure she will love it! As always, thank you for hosting the linky party! Marie x
ReplyDeleteMmmm, love that quilt! The binding is awesome, you are the bomb! :) (I sound like a teenager)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you "let it go"! :)
I love your style! Thanks for telling us about Aurifil #2600 - I'll have to hunt that one out. :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the simplicity of this
ReplyDeleteSpectacular and the binding caught my eye!!
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this quilt from the simplicity of the circle, the quilting, the edge binding and the back! Nice job. You have one lucky niece.
ReplyDeletevery nice, love the circles, are they put on with bondaweb? What a very pretty name your niece has
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt - enjoy summer with your kids!
ReplyDeleteMalena is going to be so thrilled! What a gorgeous quilt. The scrappy backing and binding are such a compliment to those sweet circles. And the quilting is amazing. Stupid mosquitoes.
ReplyDeleteI just love this quilt! The simplicity, the fabrics, the quilting...it all ties together perfectly. The backing is great too!
ReplyDeleteLove it. Both front and back...really bright and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteVery very beautiful quilt, on both sides! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt - I am just trying circles on a quilt I am making - this is perfect inspiration - thank you
ReplyDeleteDo you happen to know the brand and color of the background fabric you used? Thanks for sharing your work.
ReplyDeleteCheers to a job well done!
ReplyDeleteI am currently working on a large applique quilt as well! My stumbling point is the quilting on this one. Sometimes I am comfortable with quilting over appliques, but not with this one. I plan to have it finished by end of July...that's my goal : )
Would you like a pic of it finished?
Love it! It's so unique and fresh! May I ask an unrelated question? My son wants a quilt that is monochromatic grays and beiges. I was wondering if a large slab would work. Have you ever just kept going with a slab until it was a full size? Would that work?
ReplyDeletePretty! I really like the combo and simple design. Plus the quilting add to it as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun quilt. The interesting binding really makes it pop!
ReplyDeleteSo cool! I think it's time for me to get out my Accuquilt circle die and make a quilt. I love this!
ReplyDeleteI love the quilt. Making a circle quilt is on my to make list so I enjoyed seeing your quilt.
ReplyDeleteOh the quilt is wonderful! Love the backing!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to give this a try - my Bernina has a blanket stitch an your's looks great! Love the colors, too!
ReplyDelete