Solid challenge quilt

I shared my solid challenge with the Valley MQG this month. The top was finished and spray basted. I spray basted these two at the same time.  Because of the intricate piecing and slightly larger size, the New York Beauty is heavy!!!  Really really heavy.  I know I mentioned that before, but working two quilts at a time really emphasized the heaviness.I quilted in a way that I won’t be repeating, using a ruler I quilted inside every patch.  The ruler part isn’t a problem, I really like the ruler and want to do more ruler work. The problem is the stopping and starting every few seconds.The backing is also a solid, I don’t know if is had to be. Funny thing about this fabric, the other side has an all over tiny floral print which would have been so much better for hiding all the sins on the back here. Notice the birds nests as well as all the tiny ends?  When your machine cuts the thread for you, it is a very nice feature, but leaves more of a mess.

One benefit of the solid background is that I could turn it over and see the elements I missed, so that I could go back and fill them in before binding. I used more threads than I’m showing here.  I even tried a monofilament, (it’s the one in the sleeve). Didn’t like it, even though it’s low sheen, it still shines in a way cotton or poly thread doesn’t.  You may have noticed that I switched threads on the back as well. This is because no matter how much you play with tension, if the two threads don’t match – you can see it when you look very closely. So I sort of tried to match darks and lights.  No one will be looking that closely that I felt the need to really match each thread.And now for the artful shots at the lake.

I just realize that in my scrappiness, I always piece together the binding. I just do.  In this case I tried to keep the color story somewhat true to each section of the quilt. Solids of course.Being at the lake means a lot of birds, I only captured a few on film.I’m not a rainbow person, I am pleased with how the colors flow here. Forcing myself to work with one charm pack  from Michael Miller  Cotton Couture plus the highlight color from Kona – really forced this kind of design. I also really like that the block, the Churn Dash is lost in the colors, this is what I was trying to achieve. Use on block but really let the color tell a story.Side by side, the NY Beauty is much more ‘my style’, both in scrappy prints (I did adhere to a color theme) and in the FMQ.  The Rainbow was a true challenge for me. One I loved doing, but I don’t see it changing my preferred style.I didn’t put a sleeve on the rainbow, I’m not even thinking of a name. After I share this in both guilds, I intend to gift the rainbow to a dear friend. It makes a perfect lap quilt for cuddling up on the couch.  It won’t be hung anywhere and she won’t care if it has a name.

Now onto making that baby quilt for the new grandson who is due in less than three months.