Last year, I participated in Crazy Mom's June QAL and I finished the top in July (you can read about it here) and has sat in the studio waiting to be quilted. It was on my Quilty Confessions, UFO Busting List which I have to admit this list has been put on the wayside along with some of the other lists I made for 2018. Even though the June quilt would have been perfect to finally finish in June, I still hadn't plan to quilt it until I happened to come across a photo of the top on my Pinterest board this past Tuesday. My eyes immediately saw the quilting lines, just simple diagonal and horizontal grid lines and I was suddenly in the mood to start machine quilting. It also helped that we were experiencing days of heavy rain which is perfect quilting weather for me. So, with less than ten days left in June, my June Quilt was rightfully and finally finished during her namesake month.
The machine quilting was an absolute breeze and made me wonder why I waited so long. But it's a good thing I did because I only started machine quilting the Jacqui Gering and Christa Watson method of starting the quilting on the side rather than the center. In the past when I did grid quilting and started in the center, there was always the inevitable puckering and pinches when quilt lines intersected and for some reason when you start the quilting on the side, this doesn't happen.
I chose to use black thread for the quilting which went well with both the top and the perfect backing which I love. Last year when I was on my fabric diet and really didn't want to purchase any new fabric, I did break down to buy more of this fabric since I didn't have enough of it and didn't have any other fabric in my stash which would work as well as this print did.
The binding was done with the happy green polka dot fabric which is the same print Crazy Mom (Amanda Nyberg) used in her June Quilt in her book No Scraps Left Behind and was generously given to me by my good quilt friend Mary Etherington who got me involved in participating in the June QAL. I normally don't machine bind quilts which are for me but I had to so I can show off the black thread some more.
And now for some glamour shots which were taken on Saturday, our first day of sunshine and no rain. The grass was so soggy and there was no way I was going to lay it down so I thought I would use my cute bicycle as a prop to hold the quilt. It's sad to admit that I don't ride this bike which was a birthday gift from my hubby two years ago. Three years ago, he gave me a choice of either a new sewing machine or a bicycle and it should be no surprise my Juki 2010Q came home. The next year, I had no choice and I found this bicycle waiting for me on the front lawn. Her name is Banana and it has some really pretty patchwork details on the frame which still doesn't inspire me to ride it. My old legs need a bicycle with gears since we live in a hilly area and the cruiser is only good for level roads (at least this is what I tell Hubby). I thought my vintage looking quilt would look pretty with my vintage looking bike; they go together, don't you think.
And another photo with my metal farm animals. I've been wanting to use my metal goat, which I purchased when I was in South Carolina in April, for a photo shoot with one of my quilts and I thought my June Quilt which also has a farm vibe would look good with it. I haven't named my goat yet but Mary Etherington suggested Susannah which is the name of her dearly loved and departed goat which when she was alive was how Mary and I became friends since I was such a fan of Susannah. My hubby still talks about the time Susannah butted him and is just glad that this goat won't, so he thinks. Since Mary did give me the happy green polka dot fabric, I should name my goat Susannah. I also think since I have some blocks left over from the June Quilt, I should make a small quilt to place over her back and sides; won't that look cute? I would love to keep my goat out on the front porch, decorated with quilts and all, but hubby is afraid of it disappearing because Susannah is just that cute.
I'm so glad I finally have a UFO quilt to cross off my list; would you believe it's only my second UFO finish for this year. I have ten more on my list but won't be working on anymore for the rest of the month since my dear, sweet granddaughter, Micah, is arriving next week for a six-day visit which means there is no chance of quilting in the forecast.
