Hurray for the first finish of 2019!! My goal was to link this up as a finished quilt during the Fireburst celebration over the New Year’s weekend. Alas, that didn’t happen.
However I happened to have a bit of sewing time this week and I finished it up. I started the spiral quilting which is always a bit difficult and wonky for me at first. I was following along at the width of the walking foot but after several full spirals, it started to look a little too tight.
The beginning of the spiral quilting.
I decided to stop quilting and I set it aside. My main concern was whether the quilt would be stiff if I continued to quilt it with this density. I am not a huge fan of dense quilting unless it is a quilt hanging on a wall.
After waiting a bit and asking for input on Instagram and Facebook, I started working on it again. I did a somewhat gradual widening of the spirals such that by the outermost edge, the stitching lines were two full inches apart. I like this so much better. If I could have, I would have started to widen the spirals earlier but I think this looks really nice.
Sewing the binding on. Isn’t the plaid binding so cute?
The quilting took very little time. After the spirals were finished, I used a fun, decorative stitch on my machine for the orange border. I really like the way it looks. There are so many cute stitches available on the machine and I rarely remember to use them. Anyway, that was a lot of fun.
For the backing and binding, I shopped downstairs, where I keep the Needle & Foot bolts. It didn’t take long to choose Folk Fleur and Homespun from the Meriwether line by Amy Gibson. I think these fabrics are so sweet. Plus, a bias plaid binding??? Any sort of bias cut binding is the best. When a fabric is a plaid that is already on the bias, so much the better. What do you think? This quilt looks great from the front or the back.
I am really happy with this sweet baby quilt. I am unsure where it is destined to live as of yet. But I am sure it will go to the perfect place. That usually seems to just make itself known. Thank you to Tish for hosting the Fireburst mystery QAL. I enjoyed the whole thing! This was also my January “One Monthly Goal” for the event held over at Elm Street Quilts so I will happily link up there when the linky opens!!
Finally, want to see another cute finish from this week? You might remember I spent some time in Vermont over the holidays. One of my favorite ways to spend time was having a tea party with H. When I posted this picture on Facebook, my friend Karen, Kaholly.com, suggested I make some little tea bags for her to pretend with. What a great idea!!
Tiny teabags for a tiny tea party.
I came home and made these. Using little scraps, I stitched up these squares with a bit of batting inside. To make the strings, I braided three strands of Perle cotton thread. Aren’t these fun! Lemon team, strawberry tea, pineapple tea, and…… kitty cats??? I don’t know why I made that one – I think I will tell her it is so she can make kitty tea for Jenny and Polly (their two cats). Clearly I didn’t think this through but it should work out. Maybe her cats want a spot of tea? Those poor cats – I can just see H following them around with a cup and this tea bag hoping they will want a sip. These were so fun to make. I hope she has as much fun using them.
Wishing all of you a great weekend. I know there are some huge storms threatening the Northeast. Stay safe and warm in your sewing room. we are expecting a lot of rain here so I will be doing the same thing!
I have had a sale running in the shop all week. It ends tomorrow which means there is still time!! Save 25% off on all Michael Miller fabrics. So many pretty prints and cozy flannels to choose from! Come take a peek. Remember shipping anywhere in the US is always $6.99 no matter the size of the order. Quite a deal
Newsletter!
Have you signed up for my newsletter? It is published every month or so and contains information about my shop, new arrivals, sales, and events. Click here to sign up!
Hi Bernie! Oh those tea bags!!! How fun are they. H will have so much fun with them, hosting tea parties left and right. And the kitties and anyone else who may wonder in near tea time will have to surely enjoy a cuppa. Unless, in the kitties case, they can dodge the issue. And your Fireburst turned out great! I love a good spiral, and this was a fabulous idea for a different take on it. I think I’ll PIN both of your fabulous ideas, sending everyone back here for more details. Happy Friday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne
Thanks Roseanne. I suspect the kitties will hide out when they see her coming. She loves them so but they don’t always seem to return her affections. Thanks for pinning and sharing!!
I love the way your Fireburst turned out! It looks just like I envisioned it would. How fun! Those tea bags are so darn cute — the cat one is catnip tea, of course, just for the kitties. I’m pretty sure Wilbur would love it, but he really doesn’t need any more catnip. Haha!
Catnip, of yes, that was my thought. Sure, exactly what I had planned. 🙂
How is your Fireburst coming along? Time to get it quilted up!!
I really had to restrain myself from shopping your sale, Bernie! I’m having to really watch my pennies right now. Your quilt looks amazing! Gradually increasing the width of your spiral worked like a charm and the whole look appears entirely intentional! Not to mention, it’s probably the prettiest Fireburst I’ve seen! Your tea bags came out great. I’d made some up for a young friend of mine a few years ago and she loved them, and I know your sweet granddaughter will, too.
Love this quilt. I wish I had know about it when the quilt along started. And that beautiful girl!! Your tea party looked like it was a smash hit. As for the kitty tea bag, of course you meant to make it. It’s filled with catnip, right? Happy Weekend!
Hi Barb – this was a fun mystery quilt and a good way for me to get my feet wet with that process. Maybe next time we will do one simultaneously – that would be fun!!
Oh I love how you finished that up! Such a fun quilt, and your quilting is just right! And those teabagsare brilliant!! You know she and the kitties will love them!
I am so grateful for the rain we received her yesterday (and over the last week, really). It is a huge blessing.
I have to comment on the tea bags first: oh my gosh, how perfect? How is this not something I have seen everywhere? I think you could sell these in your Etsy store!!
Your Fireburst quilt is a beautiful finish. I like the way the quilting is more dense in the center: just like the burst of a firework. And the binding is great; I love stripes and plaids on the bias. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Hi Yvonne, The teabags were so fun to make. I can’t wait to see H and enjoy a cup of pineapple tea with her!
As far as striped and plaid bias bindings – yes – they are the best! Looks like the rain is calming down for us. I wish we had a rain gauge because the storms over the last couple of days have been incredible.
Your Fireburst quilt turned out beautifully, Bernie! I love the idea of widening the spiral as you went outward – it looks great! The teabags are a really fun idea, too. I’ll have to tell my friends with granddaughters about them!
Your quilt turned out lovely, Bernie, but oh my gosh, the teabags! They are so perfect. I’m sure she will love them. I would like some pineapple tea, please! 🙂
A very pretty finish. I love the spiral quilting and may have to give that a try.
The kitty teabags are my favorite. 🙂
It must be so fun to shop among your bolts!
As I write this, it is blowing a gale outside, and the temperature has dropped almost 10 degrees since we got up this morning. I think the whole state of Texas is under a wind advisory! I’m wishing for snow, but sadly it’s not going to happen. Good sewing day though. 😉 Have a great weekend Bernie!
The spiral quilting is fun and goes so quickly. I just need to get better at starting the spiral. For me – that is the hardest part. But after the first spiral it is a breeze. Give it a try! Shopping downstairs is a lot of fun but I have to discipline myself – not always easy for me. Haha.
Cutest tea bags ever!! And your Fireburst quilt is just perfect with the spiral quilting. Congrats on these fun finishes 🙂
Congrats on the finish. I like how you widen the spirals. And that plaid binding is awesome.
Thanks Anja!
What a gorgeous quilt. I love the spiral quilting and the plaid binding.
Your fireburst turned out great! I feel like you do about dense quilting but am doing more and more of it. In fact, I am just taking a break from some of that work right now. Those tea bags are so adorable! What a lucky young lady to have such a wonderful grandmother.
For now, H is my only grandchild so it is fun to dote on her. Making these little things is so satisfying. Now, I just need a trip to Vermont for a cup of tea!
Those tea bags are adorable!!! Blessings to you and your family. Thanks for sharing this special time.
Bernie, I love the quilt…so many great places to explore with your eyes. I love the orange quilting design and the binding is perfect. Then that wonderful quilt design! Excellent! I’m inspired to try a few new things. And yes we’re having some very cold weather here on the east coast, but that just offers perfect weather for spending time at the machine.
Best wishes, Carol
Bernie, that baby quilt is fabulous. I love the way that decorative machine stitch looks on the back of the quilt, too, and your spiral quilting came out great. Lots to love — congrats on your lovely finish!
Bernie, I LOVE it! I think spacing those circles wider and wider was an excellent idea as well as that neat little stitch in the border. Those tea bags are so cool!! She will have to much fun pretending to have tea time with everyone.
I think that must be Kit-tea. 😊 They are so cute. It must be so fun making things for her! Lucky girl!
Haha! Good one Tami. It is sooooo much fun to have this grand child. I get to see her next month which I am really looking forward to!
Eep — I love your use of Meriwether here (I keep coming close to pulling the trigger and buying that line, but I haven’t yet)! The plaid is a perfect binding selection. And those tea bags are the cutest!
Well when you pull that trigger, come check it out at my shop!! I love the plaids too. They are so cheerful. Why is that? Plaid on the bias gets me every time. ☺️
The quilting is just perfect! Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish!