Free Motion quilt challenge #1

King Tut thread on top, aurifil in bobbin, Hobbs wool batting, leaves pattern, free motion without my BSR, been a while since I've done this! Stitches got better as I went along, way to big to start with.

Diamond in a Square

I started cutting out this quilt in 2001. Did not make a lot of progress (only the red rectangles got cut at that time). I ran out of red, and wanted to use it more, but alas, it was not to be. I ended up getting more fabric, washing it, and not getting back, you know that old distraction thing. I had started something else, and this had lost its appeal. Fast forward to December 2011. The Free Motion Quilting challenge 2012 was announced, and solid fabrics were prefereable for samples because you could see the quilting. And I had a picnic basket full of solid fabrics for this quilt. Still wanting to make this, I decided to make the top, all 96" square of it, then make sample sandwiches with leftovers. One sandwich is now ready to go for the January stitch-out. Stay tuned!

Piecing a backing

The Civil War BOW needs a backing so I can baste and quilt it. Unfortunately, the piece of fabric I thought would work is just a tad small, in both directions. Fortunately, the backing for the Wild and Crazy Kinda quilt was big, very big, so I am stitching the widest bits to two sides of the too small backing. After measuring, there is about 3" or so all the way around, I'll need to be careful when basting, but it should be OK.

Wild and Crazy Kinda Quilt - done

Bound, labeled and loved, "Best gift ever" according to my DD, the recipient, one happy Mom.

Brackman Civil War BOW - Top done!

After a year of working on these blocks, with the final one received on Saturday, 31 Dec 2011, the quilt top is pieced. It seems like I have been doing nothing but blocks all year (2011), and now the fruits of my labor are several quilt tops all at once, the Churn Dash, the Mill Girls, Christmas Greetings from Elm Creek Manor, and now this one, A Civil War Christmas.

Brackman's Civil War BOW

49 Yankee Puzzle - fun to make with fussy-ish cut toile, I used Marti Michell templates,

50 - Grapes of Wrath - again used MM templates

51 New York - Paper pieced (thank goodness for EQ!)

52 Christmas Star - another paper pieced block

53 Union Shield - and the final paper pieced block

And my final extra block - California - because it was in the Union then, had a minor role in the Civil War, but it is also my home state.

Now to get them all sewn together! Just the final rows to stitch, then onto borders. I was waiting for the last blocks in case I wanted to move anything around for color placement.