Challenge quilt reveal!

I'm not sure if it's allergies, or a cold. Regardless, I've been kind of out of it the last few days. And now I feel as if I'm falling behind. Eep!

On Thursday, I went to the monthly guild meeting where we had the big challenge quilt reveal. It was fun seeing what people got and how they finished them, particularly the UFO I turned in!

Before:

After:

The woman who completed my UFO used the pattern I included as her guide for finishing it. She completed all the applique in the center, and then added the outer blue border. She used her own backing fabric and then turned it to the front to create the bound edge, which was kind of cool to see (I've not seen very many quilts finished this way). I also liked the quilting. She stippled most of the background and then did some fun free-motion flowers in the baskets, and a vine in the border. I talked to her after the meeting, and found out she was actually very new to machine quilting, so this quilt was really challenging for her. I'm just so happy that my old, forgotten UFO has a new, happy, and finished life!

I also met the woman whose UFO I completed. In fact, I was actually standing right in front of her, commenting to my friend, "I just don't know what she was thinking with those chenille bits..." When the woman sitting in front of us interrupted and said, "Well, it was my project, so let me tell you!"

Apparently, she signed up for a class on making the popular Yellow Brick Road quilt. When she went to the first class, the instructor gave everyone a bag of these chenille pieces and told them to use them with coordinating cottons to make their quilts. She was about as thrilled with the chenille as I was, and she didn't even bother going back for the second class. And so, those chenille bits ended up as her UFO. It was a pretty funny story the way she told it.

There was voting on the quilts in three categories, including Ugly Duckling (best transformation), Best Adaptation (taking what was completed and then doing something different), and also Best Overall. Of course, we don't get to find out the winners until the next meeting. Should be exciting!

Feelin' Kitty!

With a name inspired by the song "Feeling Groovy" by Simon & Garfunkel (I'm not sure why that song was running through my head, but there it was), I present to you my completed challenge quilt, Feelin' Kitty!


Not the best pictures... it was finally sunny outside and I wanted to take advantage of it, but the shadows got the better of me.


It feels really good to get this project finished! It's not my best work, but I learned so much from doing it.

It forced me to be really creative... remember, it started like this:


In addition to the challenges in using the chenille bits and strips, I also got to work with lots of other materials/textures in making this quilt, including minkee, micro-fleece, woven suede, corduroy, satin, flannel-backed satin, and cotton flannel. Combining all of them was both fun and challenging.


It definitely stretched my quilting skills. Quilting it, with its backing of flannel-backed satin, was definitely adventure. I would have thought it would be slippery, but really, it took some serious force to get it to move around. My arms got very tired.


I love how much texture the quilting added to back! I went with a big curvy stipple, in large part because I wanted to try and use the quilting to help stabilize the chenille (which easily pulls apart and sheds). But the quilting is far from perfect. Part of it, I attribute to the fact that I couldn't actually see where I was quilting. The quilting was completely invisible in the chenille areas. So I ended up crossing over previous stitching a bunch of times. On the bright side, it's not like anyone will be able to tell except from the back. Another issue was that I didn't do enough basting. It really needed more pinning to stabilize it and prevent some of the little folds I got.


I also had my first real experience with bias binding. The quilt didn't need bias binding, but since I was having to cut bias strips for the piped border, I went ahead and cut the binding strips at the same time. It worked out really well, and I think the little extra stretch/ease from the bias helped make working with the satin a little easier.


And, finally, the label.

Overall, I'm feeling pretty happy with it. As per the rules of the challenge, I get to determine the fate of the finished quilt. Initially, I thought I might donate it. But, what with the instability of the chenille, I'm really afraid the quilt isn't going to hold up to much use. So I don't feel comfortable donating it or giving it away. But, my son loves touching the fabrics and snuggling with it, so I think it will have a good home here.

The big challenge "reveals" will be at the March guild meeting, next week. I'm really excited to see what everyone has done, and in particular, what became of my UFO contribution! Hopefully, I'll be able to get some pictures.