Elliott's Robot Quilt...it's DONE!

It only took me four months, but Elliott's Robot quilt is finally finished!  

Front

Back

Okay, so I didn't work on this thing non-stop...I had a few (understatement) breaks along the way (like when I REALLY didn't feel like piecing the back of the quilt, or fixing the 8-block section that I sewed in wrong, or when I was waiting for my backing fabric to come in the mail and for quilt batting to go on sale), but the breaks were VERY good for me! 

After piecing and sandwiching the quilt together, I decided to quilt this guy around the larger diamond shapes in light grey thread with my walking foot. I knew that the size would pose some problems on my tiny little machine, but with some shoving careful rolling of the quilt I managed to get the entire thing quilted (though I did have some issues with the material shifting...next time, spray basting!)  Ahhh...that last line of quilting felt sooooo good! 


The hand binding took a number of hours...I think I'm going to try something different next time. I've tried binding a quilt using my machine entirely (zigzag method), and I had a really hard time with it. Maybe it just takes some practice (like most things, I guess). I think that for the two quilts that I have ready to be quilted I'm going to try machine biding with my walking foot based on the tutorial found here by Rita at Red Pepper Quilts.


I was hoping to have the quilt done for Elliott's birthday on April 30th but wasn't able to get the binding handstiched on until May 1st. I think he'll forgive me though. :) Last night he told me that he's going to keep this quilt forever and then he'll ask his 'boy' if he wants to have it.  Tooooo cuuuuute!



Elliott truly loves his new quilt (which is crumpled up on the chair in the background)!  :)

The finished quilt measures about 70"x90"  and is way too big for Elliott's current bed!  The ideas was to make one that would fit a bed that's a bit bigger than his current one so that he can use it longer (and let's be honest here - as much as I'd love to make him another quilt, it's not going to be happening for a loooong time)!  I think we'll just have to master tucking the bottom of the quilt under the bed so that it looks like a perfect fit...we're so sneaky!

This is my favourite intersection of the quilting!

So that's it.  Completely worth the time, effort and love that was put into it.  It feels really  good to give my son something that I poured myself into...and it's something that he can keep for (hopefully) a very long time.  Life is good.  :)

~Karina

Elliott's Quilt - the Top!

Elliott's quilt top is completed!  What it lacks in detailed design, it definitely makes up for in size :)  My previous quilts (found here and here) were both baby quilts, so it was much different sewing such a big quilt (it will fit a double/queen bed when complete)...and I can imagine how much more time consuming it will be to actually quilt this puppy! 

Quilt blocks sewn together!

That said, I'm a little torn. Initially I was thinking that I would straightline quilt just on either side of the seams to end up with a modern looking finished product. But now seeing in person how big the triangles are, I think that it would be missing something. Maybe I should straight line quilt every inch or so to add some detail? Or free motion quilt? Any ideas? Well, I have some time to decide - I still have to find material for the back and also find batting on sale - it's CRAZY how pricey that batting is!   Oh, and I never ended up getting that material I was waiting for...looks like and email to that Etsy seller is needed! :)

To update you on those cute little hearts...my sewing machine ATE one and the button holer kinda messed up another.  Can you tell that I don't want to take the blame for my ineptitude? !  :)  My idea was to make button holes on either side of a two sided heart and string the hearts on ribbon, like garland.  Here's the first one that turned out (kind of...)

And now you all know I have yellow-orange panelling in my basement...

Despite the setback of ruining the first two, I decided to continue with these hearts.  After figuring out how to use the button holer on my machine I'm ahead of the game (or the machine, at least)! 

Here's the finished product! Just a little gaffer - I think I might continue with the length this evening!

Ignore the blue one that I threaded backwards! :)

I'm starting to get really excited for Valentine's day; I love special celebrations, and Valentine's day is one of my favourites!  My mom always made delicious V-day cookies that I now make for my kids (and husband, of course).  This string of hearts has put me in the mood for heart cookies!  :)

Well, that's all for today!  I've been a little sad that I haven't been able to update my blog as much as I had hoped...but I've been loving all of the encouragement and support!  Now GO, get your craft on! 

 ~Karina

Elliott's Quilt

So, one of my goals this year is to make both of my kids a quilt, and I'm happy to say that Elliott's is already on its way!  I was able to order the fabric before the New Year and the bundle arrived safely into my hands two days ago...

I've decided to go with a robot theme - Elliott is four and LOVES video games and everything of the sort.  The above photo is thirteen of the fifteen prints that will be included in the quilt front - I was hoping that the colours would be bright, and I think that's been accomplished with these prints!  My favourite print, by far, is the Soulful Strip in White from the Soul Garden collection by Carolyn Gavin.  I want more of this collection (especially this print)!

I've managed to cut the prints into 10" squares that will eventually be matched with the Free Spirit solid in Slate Gray to make a two-triangle block.  This quilt is going to be simple...yay! 

I'm just hoping that I can get most of it done before Curves Class starts on February 1st!    Check out Rachel over at Stiched in Color...she is seriously amazing and will be hosting an online class all about sewing curves.  I'm definitely excited...you should join me in taking the class...it's relatively inexpensive and Rachel's work is beautiful!

Well, that's it for today, folks.  I'll post more photos soon of the quilt progress.  Because the blocks are simple and the design isn't difficult, it truly shouldn't take to long!