It has been a long time since I made something with batiks. This finish is actually one of teamwork though. I was in the Goodwill at some point in early spring and found this quilt top for $5.00. I sure don’t know why someone donated it and I knew I couldn’t leave it there! How easy it would be to finish it up and donate it to Mercyful Quilts.
With life calming down around here, I found a few minutes to spray baste it and get it quilted. This was the first time I quilted a project that had been spray basted and it was lovely. No pins to fuss with and the backing stayed nice and flat. No wrinkles or puckers to be found. I am in love.
Quilting this was actually a quick, fun process. (Sometimes the quilting part gets a bit boring for me). But I decided to do (mostly large) circles and they look cute. It is a really cheerful quilt between the bright batiks and the bubbly circles.
The backing is a very soft voile I have had on the shelf. The photo doesn’t show the exact color which is a soft orange. I love voile backings – they have a wonderful drape and make for a cozy quilt.
I think the best part of the quilt is the binding. When Sophia and I were on our mini shop hop last month, she found this cool rainbow hombre fabric and suggested I use it for the binding. By cutting it along the length of the fabric (parallel to the selvage) the shades alternated in a lovely fashion. It worked out so well.
The scary part was washing it. With so much of red batik in that quilt top I was quite apprehensive.
Two Color Catchers to the rescue!! I am ever grateful to whomever invented these great little guys. Not a bit of fabric bleeding happened.
This simple project is a finish and now I have three quilts ready to send off to Mercy Hospital. Each one is very different which is great because each of the families served are just as unique. We like to have a variety to offer them.
If one (or two) readers want to join me and do a joint contribution to Mercyful Quilts, I would be happy to finish a quilt top of yours. Lap size and not made with any juvenile prints are the main requirements. I know there are many of you with extra quilt tops made and maybe you’d like to send one to me for finishing. Let me know and we can work through the idea together. Alternatively, you are always, always welcome to send a finished lap quilt to Mercyful Quilts on your own. If you need more info, let me know.
Thanks everyone!! Happy weekend to all of you!
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What a bright and cheerful quilt, sure to bring some joy to someone in need of a quilty hug.
I agree Carole! Thanks so much and I hope all is going well with you. š
I love the project you finished and enjoyed reading about the process. It was a good choice to bring the quilt top home with you.
Thanks Sherry! I couldn’t leave it there – it was well made, pretty fabric – it deserved to be finished!
What a fabulous find and a perfect binding! I love the color catchers, too. I always try to prewash quilts before they go out the door to make sure the recipient doesn’t wind up with a mess. Isn’t spray basting awesome – glad you found it and like it – it does take a lot of the work out of basting!
Spray basting for the win. Next time I will buy a bigger can. I wasn’t sure I would like it. But it was much simpler than I thought.
I prewash quilts before giving them away – I want to be reassured nothing will come apart and the color will stay. It would be awful if the recipient had problems with washing it.
Beautiful! I agree with you about color catchers! Perhaps, the family didn’t know what to do with the top. . .ahh. . .if only the quilts/top could talk. . .what tales we would hear!
For sure – so much history behind the quilts that end up in thrift shops.
Color Catchers are a wonderful invention. I am grateful to the original inventor!!
Loving the bright batiks, the circle quilting and the luscious changing binding!!!! Awesome š.
Thank you! I think the binding fabric could not have been better. I just love it. Sort of wish I had bought more of it. I think I may have enough left to bind one more quilt. Take care Pamela.
So good you take it and finishing it and the best is to donate it. May be the one who sewed it, is now on a cloud, looks down and is happy that the unfinished one will now find a new home.
Basting with spray – yes, as well my prefered method!
You did welll trying it.
Happy to read that now at home all is running better!
I like your suggestion that the original quilter knows that her quilt has been finished. That is lovely.
Thank you Eva.
Oh, that turned out so well. That’s wonderful that spray basting is working so well for you and yes, hooray for color catches. Have a fantastic weekend!
What a great find! It was just waiting for you to add your beautiful touches. Your quilting is very nicely done, Bernie. I love color catchers!
What a great rescue, Bernie! And your quilting looks fantastic!
Oh my goodness — I would not have even thought to look for quilt tops at a Goodwill! I’m so glad you rescued and finished this one. It turned out terrific!
I love checking out the thrift shops for quilt tops and unused blocks. I have a big stack of HST’s made with this cute Carrie Bloomston fabric. I trimmed them square and need to decide what to do next with them. But there are about 55 of them – 5″ trimmed. I think I paid $4 o4 $5 for them? Might as well use these things up!!