It's Done - Dylan's Stardust Quilt is finished.

And he loves it. His big smile and hugs warmed my heart when I gave it to him.

The quilt label was the very last important step to finishing this quilt. This time I drew a heart on a piece of muslin approx. 5¼″ x 5¼″ in size and I monogrammed  the following using my Janome Horizon machine.

We are made from Stardust so shine so shine Dylan shine.

Quilted with love for Dylan Howell,

18th Birthday,

by Grandma Anne,

25th May 2013

 

I stitched interfacing (stabilizer) to the front of the label (covering the label), stitching a scant ¼in seam all the way around the edge of the heart label, I then cut a small slit in the middle of the interfacing and turned the label inside out, the back of the label was now encased and all of the seams were enclosed,

then I ladder stitched the label to the quilt back in one corner by hand.

And a big thank you to everyone, who has encouraged me along the way, I have really appreciated all the advice and comments I have received.

 

 I am on the lookout for a new project to quilt for my next grandson's 18th birthday Lachlan. I will keep you posted when I find one.

Until next time. Happy quilting
Anne
 
 

Update Dylan's "Stardust Quilt"

OMG, the weeks have gone by so quickly the time has flown, this quilt has to be finished by the 25^th May, only a few days left to get it finished in time for my grandsons 18^th birthday on Saturday.

So here is an update on what I've been doing, the quilt has been sandwiched and hand basted (the back is a mirror image of the front only the colour placement in the stars is different on the other side) Whew! It was a mammoth job to get this step done.

and thanks to Leah Day's blog at  http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com.au/p/365-designs.html I was able to used combinations of different stitches from her blog 365 + Designs to free motion quilt this  baby.

 

 

Then I squaring up the quilt

Now I only have to put in a few more hours into preparing the binding and it will be ready for hand stitching. Yay. Fingers crossed I make the deadline.

Until next time happy quilting
Anne

 

"Affairs of the Heart" 5 down and 31 blocks to go

"Affairs of the Heart" block 5 -    I love the colour combinations on this one.

 

Until next time happy quilting

 

Anne

"Affairs of the Heart" 4 down 32 block to go.

"Affairs of the Heart"  - block no 4 - I am not totally happy with the way this block turned out, the colours are a bit bright, (in your face colours), I am crossing my fingers and hoping that when I embroider the scroll hearts around the applique they will tie the block together.

 

Until next time happy quilting

Anne



"Affairs of the Heart" - 3 down 33 blocks to go

Wow!! "Front Basting" Applique.   This technique is truly wonderful another block done.

 

No pins or freezer paper to remove, and best of all, the marked lines are all on the back of the block. Only 33 left to go. Yikes, I had better crack on. Lol.

Until next time happy quilting
Anne

 

 

"Affairs of the Heart" - 2 down 34 blocks to go

I am using "Front Basting" Applique to do these blocks. This technique is super easy - no freezer paper, no glue, and no pins are used to hold the applique pieces in place. Instead the applique is machine basted in place.

This technique is so simple all you have to do is draw the design (which will later become your basting sewing line) on the back of the background fabric, pin a large piece of fabric that is large enough to cover the whole shape to be appliqued on to the right side (front) of the background fabric.

Then simply machine sew on the wrong side (back) of the background fabric with the applique piece pined in place on the front, following the drawn design line made earlier, making sure to stitch exactly on the design line on the back of the background fabric. The fabric is  now basted to the front of the background fabric and ready to be appliqued in place.

Trim around the basted shape leaving a scant ¼" or even less a scant ⅛". Then needle turn (applique) the basted fabric in place by removing a couple of basting stitches (only two or three) at a time follow the perforations left in the fabric by the removed basting stitches. The applique fabric will want to turn under and follow the perforated basting line naturally.

And so far it has been so easy to use this applique technique and the results are great.

Until next time happy quilting
Anne

Adding Borders & Miter Corners

Yippee - last night I finished appliqueing the centre of the quilt to the four side borders, making sure to leave a small section at each corner unstitched, this to allowed me access to join the corners by a mitre,

 

then pressing the mitered seams open, I then appliqued the unstitched section to the border.

 

Until next time happy quilting

Anne