Hits The Spot :: A Quilting Adventure

If you know me, you know quilting isn't my specialty!  I try and try again, always hoping the spark will take hold and I'll miraculously 'get it' and become a bit more skilled than I am now.  

That being said, this last quilting adventure left me feeling like I knew what I was doing!  

HITS THE SPOT
20" x 22"

I've become a bit obsessed with circles lately.  Just when I think I'm done, some new idea or a scrap pile calls my name and there I go making more circles.  Mostly I've focused on full or half circles, a skill worth mastering.  I'm not quite a master...but my time has been well spent and I love it!

We all have days where we just want to make something.  There doesn't have to be a reason or a plan, it's the process and need that propels us.  Such was the case with this quilt.  It had no future until one day...I decided to make it into a wall hanging that would test my quilting skills!



I've never been able look at a quilt as a whole and come up with a plan, it's always been section by section and hope for the best.  Instead of dwelling on it, I embraced it.  And to make it a little more difficult I was going to match thread colors too!  Why not, right?!

I used Aurifil 50wt in Neon Orange (1104), Peony (2440), Yellow Orange (2145) and Canary (2120).



I channeled some of my favorite quilters, focused on some details I love seeing and prayed I could pull it off!  It also didn't hurt one little bit that this is a very small quilt and I would easily be able to handle it without a struggle.

Once I started I knew I couldn't or wouldn't turn back.  I was in it for the long haul.  Mostly I used my walking foot, but there were a few sections where I used free motion quilting.  The center has the best of both quilting techniques.  I'm a huge fan of frames with dense quilting placed around them.  

 

I worked from the center and tackled each circle with a different design.  There was marking, measuring and many times I was bewildered!  What should the next round be?  Too much, too little?!  And there were times when I doubted I could even pull it off.  

I was not going to let anything deter me.  If it works great, if not it was a good lesson and I actually was having a fun time with it!  



Finishing it with a matched binding was always in the cards.  Some things just have to be!



The detail on the backs of quilts is sometimes better than the front!  For this backing I used Kona Salmon.  It really highlights the quilting just as I had hoped it would.



Part of my motivation for this quilting adventure was to see if I could do it, and maybe gain enough confidence that I would tackle this quilt:

Which has been hanging on my design wall for a month or more.  The good news is I did gain confidence...as long as it's a small, small quilt.  I don't think I can handle a large quilt like this.  SO, any takers?!  I don't have connections to long arm quilters and frankly don't know where to go to find one who would be willing!    



The upside is I love this goofy little quilt!  For something wasn't meant to be anything, it sure turned into something!  There were plenty of hours put into the quilting...but worth every second!

LINKING:

OH SCRAP! ● MAIN CRUSH MONDAY ●  MONDAY MAKING 
LETS BEE SOCIAL ● MIDWEEK MAKERS ● NEEDLE & THREAD 

PEACOCK PARTY  ● TGIFF 

BRAG ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIES ● FINISHED OR NOT FRIDAY