I have a finish to share with you! It was actually my last finish of 2017 and I just barely made it. I stitched the binding down on December 31st! This fun quilt was made as a test for a new pattern designed by Sarah Goer, of Sarah Goer Quilts. This is the second pattern I have tested for her. (The first was Knock Knock and you can check that out here.)
Scattered Squares is a modern pattern designed with the idea of floating the smaller squares on a solid background. It could be done any number of ways though. It might be a challenge to use a directional pattern in the background though as one might lose the intended solid, floating appearance.
Sarah did a wonderful job with this pattern (as with her Knock Knock pattern). I am absolutely sure this is due to her background as a middle school math teacher. She knows how to provide clear and concise instructions. This pattern will be released soon. I suggest signing up for her newsletter so you hear when it is published! Click here and the newsletter sign up form is at the top of the page in a purple rectangle.
This pattern is a great one for a beginner quilter. The piecing is basic and there are no points to deal with. It is also a fun one to quilt up. The baby quilt finished at 30″ x 40″ which is a very reasonable size to quilt. I decided to stitch concentric circles and I am really pleased with the look. This is only the second time I have quilted spirals like this and I couldn’t really remember how to get started. I took a look at the tutorial written by Jayne, of Twiggy & Opal, for a refresher. Really after the first two circles or so, it is a breeze to do. I used the walking foot and the distance was set by the width of the foot, probably a 1/2″ or so.
The spirals create crazy movement on the back of the quilt! I had this brightly colored print in my stash and was happy to use it up. I do think the baby using this quilt may get dizzy looking at this side though! 😉
When I started to quilt the circles, I used my Hera Marker to trace the top of a canning jar for the first circle. It was nice to have a reasonably large circle to start with. But that left a blank space in the center that seemed to need something when I was finished with the circles. To complete the quilting, I free motioned a little sun in the center to fill it.
Binding was done by machine with the same yellow as the squares in the quilt. Machine binding is something I continue to work on. I feel like this one looks ok, but not great. I like it for kid’s quilts though. It seems like it will stand up to lots of laundering. Plus, it is much quicker than hand stitching the back.
This was a fun project and would be great for a baby gift as the quilt comes together easily. I think I will donate this one to Project Linus. I have a small stack of baby quilts and would love to have them be used rather than sitting on the closet shelf!
Linking to Finish It Up Friday as well as Finished or Not Friday this week. For more link ups, take a look at the Link Up tab at the top of the page.
Beautifully done. Way to start the new year, Bernie! Yay for machine binding. That yellow pops.
Really cool quilt Bernie, and your colors are just wonderful.
Re: Sarah’s concise instructions: I have a degree in mathematics but it makes me crazy to try to write out a pattern – lol!
Hmmm…. so maybe it isn’t just the math side of a person’s brain? I have noticed that several of the pattern designers I know have engineering or math related careers so I drew that conclusion. I am with you tho – trying to write out a pattern makes me nuts. The few times I have made a quilt without a pattern, I just sort of create it as I go.
This is a fun quilt. I especially like that backing, even though I agree that baby might get a little woozy. It’s just too fun though! I like the sun in the center too!
Thanks Wendy. When I chose the backing I thought the bright colors would be good since the top is quite simple. But wow, adding that spiral quilting makes it sort of crazy on the back side!!
Pattern testing can be so much fun. I bet that the child who receives this is going to treasure it!
I hope so. One of my goals for the year is to be a bit more involved with our local guild’s community service sewing. I have not participated but it makes sense to support the people in one’s own community who have gone through difficulty. So donating some of the baby quilts I have accumulated is top of the list!
Well done. The print on the back is awesome.
Thank you Anja! There is a whole lot of color going on the back side of that quilt. But I was happy to use a piece of fabric that has been setting in a drawer waiting patiently for it’s turn. 🙂
It’s just delightful!
Well, thank you Karen!! Hope all is well in your part of the world. 🙂
What a bright, happy quilt! The colors are lovely and the quilt design is perfect. Love the little sun!
Thank you. The sun was a lot of fun. This is the third time I have pattern tested for someone and I really enjoy it. 🙂
Fun pattern, I really like your spiral quilting with the sun pattern on the inside.
Thank you. If I were to do it over, I would space the spirals further apart. Sometimes, tightly quilted = stiff. Hopefully this will soften after I wash it. Take care Cheryl. 🙂
What a fun finish, Bernie! I really like how well the spiral shows on the solid blue—and what it does to the wavy fabric on the back. The sun is just right for the center since babies bring sunshine. This looks like a great project for quick piecing and then practicing a quilting pattern.
How cute – ‘babies bring sunshine’. Very true. Thank you Janine. 🙂
It is so fun finally see what all that sneaky sewing was all about! Great pattern, I love it! and I love the quilted circles juxtaposed on the squares!! What a super fun finish!
Thank you!! It was a fun project. I think the pattern is especially suited to both newbie quilters as well as people (you and me!) practicing their quilting skills. Like a huge blank canvas for quilting.
Love how you filled the center circle with sunshine!
Thank you. I thought it was a nice finish to the quilt. So glad you stopped by, Karen! 🙂
Hello Bernie,
This is such a cheerful quilt, and I love the simplicity of it. I have a tin full of neglected squares, and you have started me thinking.
Thank you for linking up with Free Motion Mavericks. Your quilt is this week’s featured project!
Love, Muv