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And the Verdict is…

I recently decided to have some of my quilts quilted by a long arm quilter.  As a dedicated hand quilter, this was not an easy decision to make, but a huge backlog of quilts awaiting quilting was enough to finally put me over the edge and give it a try.  Remember this block of the month quilt? 

It’s the first one back from the long arm quilters’ and the verdict is… I love it!
Here’s a look at the finished product:
Actually I’ve had the quilt for a couple of weeks, but between baseball and lacrosse games, puppy school and a submission deadline, I didn’t get around to starting the binding until yesterday. 


I’d like to say that I’m finished with the binding, but in the interest of full disclosure, I should probably tell you that I’m still working on sewing it down on the back.  Sigh…

But back to the quilting.  I love how the stippling in the inner border makes the appliqué pop…

I think the pattern on the setting triangles is really pretty…
And I especially like the “piano key” pattern in the outer border…
The drape is a bit stiffer than with a hand-quilted quilt, but my mom assures me that it will soften with use.  And it is a very different look than hand-quilting — although no less pretty.  In retrospect, I might have chosen a less visible thread color for the blocks and setting triangles, but short of changing the thread color to match every block (and probably driving up the cost) I’m not sure what would have looked better.
But all in all I’m very happy with the finished quilt — the operative word being “finished.”  Let’s be honest, it would probably have taken me a year to finish by hand (IF I finished it at all) and I would never have attempted that outer border.  Quilted and bound in less than 2 months (well, almost bound) all while working on other projects and without sore fingers.  I’m sold!

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Anonymous August 22, 2012, 11:02 am

    Can't believe I haven't seen your blog before now! Don't you just love FB? I really love the little birds and can't wait to make some!

  • Anonymous August 22, 2012, 11:03 am

    Just commented and forgot to leave my email… skkirby@frontiernet.net

  • Anonymous August 22, 2012, 11:23 am

    Love the birds. they look easy enough that i would even try making a few…
    acetheshy1@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous August 22, 2012, 1:21 pm

    Love the table runner, wish I had pattern right now,
    msrjtr@hotmail.com

  • Anonymous August 22, 2012, 1:21 pm

    Love the table runner, wish I had pattern right now,
    msrjtr@hotmail.com

  • Anonymous August 22, 2012, 1:57 pm

    Gail –
    gamandli@yahoo.com
    Love the fabrics, runner and bird ornaments. A great combination of easy and elegant. Kind of gets you in the mood for Christmas (even though it's in the 80s today).

  • Barbie Burns August 22, 2012, 5:39 pm

    I've been collecting snowmen projects this summer to do before winter. This will be on my to do list!

  • Deb August 22, 2012, 5:56 pm

    Love the snowman runner pattern – I collect snowmen and this will be a definate project for this fall to be ready for snowman time!!

  • Denise Wallace August 22, 2012, 7:47 pm

    I love, love, love the birds!

  • debbiekay August 22, 2012, 7:59 pm

    Very cute "calling birds". My granddaughter could help me make them.

  • Aileen Lenzi August 23, 2012, 12:57 am

    Love the table runner, looks fast and easy.

    alenzi1950@gmail.com

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