my only completed project of the year

Even as I was creating some tester blocks, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite quilts.

It was supposed to be a baby quilt. But I found myself unwilling to compromise the design. I would have had to remove a row to make it reasonably baby-sized.

I wanted stars in each corner, and one in the middle. Since I also didn't want the quilt to be too small to use, I had to just go big. Then of course I had big dreams on the border, so I couldn't reasonably call it a baby quilt anymore. But I was thoroughly pleased with the design.

Next, I pulled out all of my quilt stencils. I picked my only stencil that doesn't have flowers or a scroll pattern.

I decided to do this motif in each all-white block, and thought I'd find something easier for the pieced blocks. But then I decided to just try the same motif in a pieced block, and...

Yeah, I loved it. That's why it took me all summer to hand quilt. That's also why I haven't done a post in a long time.

After doing this design in every block, I decided the motifs had to connect somehow. I didn't like having the quilting just floating in each block. So I pulled out all of my cups and rulers, and eventually came up with the right combination.

Sewing up the binding was the worst part! The fabric I chose was a little stiff, so two of my finger tips are still in the process of growing their skin back. I stabbed myself so many times. I just cannot work accurately with a thimble. But by the time I was done, I didn't even care. I SO fell in love with this one. And while quilting it, I discovered that it adequately covers an adult who is sitting on a couch watching tv. The new owner will have some options in how she would like to use it.

Here's the completed quilt. I believe you can click on the photos for a bigger image (someone tell me if that's not the case).

I was so pleased when I pulled it from the washing machine. No color bleeding, and no funky puckering. I hung it up and stretched it, let it set for a couple of hours, then threw in the dryer for a few minutes.

Folding it up and packing it into the box was the hardest part. I found myself coming up with reasons to keep it... And I have a lot of good ones. But in the end, I know it's going to a great home. I know it will see a lot of love and a lot of life. And really, if I keep every quilt I make, we'll have to move into a bigger house.

This was just mailed Monday. So of course, I am periodically checking the tracking information for anomalies. I do not want this getting lost in the mail or falling out of a truck and landing in a mud puddle, forgotten forever. Okay I'm scaring myself, because I know I can't actually find out those scenarios with just a tracking number.

I'm now imagining a Tom Hanks character opening up this box after a horrible Fed Ex airplane crash over the Rocky Mountains, and discovering that while he found the quilt to be adequately warm, his feet will stick out because it is too short for a reclining adult!

There may just come a day when I stop ignoring standard quilt sizing.