Friday, June 21, 2013

A Finish LONG in the Making

Well, I finally did it. I finished one of my oldest UFO's!
I started this quilt more than eight years ago. I took an introductory class on paper piecing and made one of the blocks in this quilt. The colors of the block were inspired by the border fabric.
In the class, we made just one block, but I fell in love with paper piecing and just had to make another eight blocks to make this quilt.
What got me motivated to finish this quilt? My new longarm! This quilt top had been sitting in the closet of my studio for years. When I got the longarm, I wanted to try some quilting on an actual quilt, not just some scrap fabric. This quilt seemed like the perfect one.
For starters, it was my first paper pieced quilt, which I've grown to love the technique. My technique wasn't the best and I can point out MANY flaws, so it felt like a good quilt to practice on. Second, while I will always like this quilt, it's not totally my style any more. I can't remember the last time I put a border on a quilt. The fabrics are more traditional than I like now too.
The only fabric I can identify now is the binding, which I just added this week - a BasicGrey Origins fabric left over from my storm at sea quilt I made recently.
I am VERY happy to have this quilt finally f

13 comments:

  1. Yay! Looks gorgeous - and great pic against that gorgeous grass :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Look at you low-voluming it up 8 years ahead of your time! This is beautiful all around.

    ReplyDelete
  3. i'm diving into EPP as soon as my paper templates arrive. your blocks are so pretty! love the design. the quilting is spectacular. yay for the new longarm.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're quilt is beautiful! I totally understand about not it being your style anymore. My very first quilts were also very traditional but I still love them.

    Your quilting is looking great! You seem to have great control over the longarm. Did you use the regular handles or micro handles?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations on finishing the quilt, that must feel great. I have made a few things now with paper piecing but nothing as big as a quilt - and I love it too :-) I have joined in on Kristy @ Quiet Play Paper Piecing Weekend you should check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great job on the finish - how satisfying to get a quilt done after 8 years! I have one that I started back in the 90's... maybe this is the year I will finish it. (or maybe not)Very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  7. paper piecing is fun! Love your colors in this one!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good job. Nothing like getting a long arm to quilt through all those waiting tops. A beautiful finish.

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a beautiful quilt, well worth finishing! Love your quilting, what I could see of it. =)

    ReplyDelete
  10. You did a fabulous job, the color red is so cheerful in this quilt. I bet this felt good to complete!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your quilt is beautiful! A beautiful quilt to "practice on" makes it all the more enjoyable quilting!

    ReplyDelete