Finally Finished: Two More Patchwork Throws

I finished the remaining two out of the three patchwork throws this week and was racing to take photos before the rain started again.  It's either been rainy or humid, both ideal conditions for staying indoors and finishing up these two patchwork throws.  The first patchwork throw, Scrap Vortex II was finally finished and you can see it on last week's post.

Both of these tops were backed with only plush fabrics, no batting in between, and when I do that I call them patchwork throws instead of quilts. I mentioned in last week's post how much I like how quilt tops with plush backing look and feel and that they really make quick finishes.  You can see the simple quilting I did. Sometimes, you just want to make something nice and simple. The only time consuming part is when you're pinning the binding down before sewing and once again for machine binding because you do have to pin every inch then.

Here are some details about these two patchwork throws which were both DrEAMi projects meaning they were both unplanned and not on my project lists.

I call this patchwork throw Gee Whiz and it was mentioned in this post several weeks ago and named so because it reminded me of a Gee Bend quilt and am amazed that it turned out the way it did.  I made the top from a charm pack of Denyse Schmidt's New Bedford and yardage of Chicopee so this would explain the unusual but fun color palette.  

I started making the top after I had stumbled across these fabrics back in May and got as far as making 2.5" x 4.5" rail blocks and was trying to figure a layout which involved several times ripping out and sewing back blocks twice.  I ended up with 8-patch blocks made from the yardage and four-patch strip blocks made with the charm pack. For some reason, I couldn't decide on the layout and put these blocks away on my project cart. Several weeks ago I came upon these blocks and knew what to finally do with these rail blocks--inspiration happens sometimes when you least expect it.

Such a simple layout and I don't know why I couldn't figure it out, alternate an 8-patch with a 4-patch.  Well, I'm glad I figured it out and knew that after all that I didn't want to quilt it, mainly because it only measures 48"x70" and knew it would be perfect as a patchwork throw.  The backing is a chenille plush which is my favorite although it is a little messy once you cut it but not bad as long as you have a Swifter nearby to clean up the fuzz.  And one last tidbit to add to the Gee Whiz of this quilt, I already mentioned the time involved in binding these patchwork throws, I had just enough of the tone on tone black used in the top for the binding.  After making the binding,  I was pinning it down and was almost to the end, I realized I did not have enough, I was one 42" strip short which I couldn't believe, I thought I had enough.  So I had to unpin the binding thinking I had to come up with an alternative and spent at least a half hour going through my bins of black fabric trying to find a replacement and in hopes of maybe finding more of the black on black tone fabric, but I didn't, and came up with using the last 1/2 yard of Kona Black I had.  So after, I cut the strips and went to my sewing machine, what does my wondering eye see, a strip of the black on black tone fabric which had fallen off the table and I didn't realize it.  So, I added this strip to the already made binding and once again had to pin it back onto the quilt.  I can say calling this quilt Gee Whiz was the nicest of all of the names I could have called it.

The Fairies Patchwork Throw is made from Lecien's Cinderberry Woodland fabric and started making the top during the waning days of August while working on finishing up other projects.  Yes, DrEAMi projects are meant to be interruptions.

Isn't this fabric just so adorable; it reminds me of Strawberry Shortcake and came to be in possession of this bundle back in May thanks to the Master MMM-nabler, Sandra who was helping a friend destash and asked if I would like to buy some since she thought it would make a cute quilt for my Granddaughter, Micah.  How can I say No to a sales pitch like that.  I was itching to make something with it but for the wrong reasons--I thought it was Holiday fabric and it's not, the red and greens misled me.  I decided to make a simple quilt with just 8" squares and 4"x8" rectangles and made sure I included every piece in the bundle.  I used brown polka dot fabric from my stash for the binding and in keeping with the polka dots found throughout the fabric, I used a dot plush for the backing.  This patchwork throws measures 52" x 64".  I'm planning on keeping this at my house and will use it for Micah when she's in the car with us but then again plans can change if she decides she wants to take it home with her.  Again, how can I say No to my sweet granddaughter.

Here's one last look at my row of Patchwork Throws.  If you're looking for a nice gift for the upcoming holidays, (btw I can't believe I'm typing this), you may want to make one, especially if you already have a top already made. I'm looking forward to working on the September smorgasbord of projects I have lined up and hopefully will have the time but not the weather to work on them.

Linking up with: My Quilt Infatuation, Needle and Thread Thursday,  Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Can I Get A Whoop Whoop Friday  and Crazy Mom's Finish It Up Friday.