kalahari quilt...done

 

After toting my sewing machine into Manhattan last week (carrying that thing up and down subway steps was not fun, I can tell you), the last few days have been a whirl of crafting - catching up with all the things on my list.

First off was the construction of some goodies for my lovely Back to School swap partner Kelli, who is being very patient about receiving her parcel! But everything is in the mail now, so hopefully she won't have to wait too much longer.

Then I was onto the completion of the Kalahari Quilt, that I started a few weeks ago. I had done the quilt top back then, and I was left with the quilting and binding to do. I was definitely intimidated about the whole thing (especially with a tight deadline looming - the wedding is next weekend in Canada). So I was quite surprised that I actually enjoyed it as much as I did!

The quilting went like a dream, although my walking foot seems to be a very noisy piece of kit. It was making me smile that, what with me bashing away with the walking foot, and my boyfriend playing a stupid shoot-em-up video game (eugh!), it must have sounded like World War Three in our apartment. I never thought that machine quilting would remind me of machine guns... Does anyone else have this issue, or is it just me and my cheapo Brother?

By far the hardest part of the quilt was doing the binding. It was definitely a matter of trial and error, and not worrying too much about slightly inconsistent binding width. I'm not the only one who has had issues with this, but there are some useful tutorials out there (here and here). Of course I didn't see them 'till after the fact. Once I got onto hand stitching the binding on the back, it was downhill. I really enjoyed this part. And although it probably took about four hours, it was really relaxing and satisfying to do.

I added this special label with the names of the happy couple. It is embroidered on the shot cotton I used for the binding, which I stabilized with some double-sided fusible interfacing. I realised this was a bit of a mistake, because it meant sewing it onto the quilt was tough - two layers of fabric and interfacing is hard work to hand-stitch. I used a variegated 2- and 4-ply embroidery thread which had yellows, oranges and pinks in it and lettering templates from Sublime Stitching. 

So my first quilt is all wrapped up and ready to go. I'm sure I'll be making another one before too long...

Comments

[Nicole]

I saw your quilt on the Bend The Rules Flickr group...very pretty, I love the strips. I just have to jump in and add that I too have a Brother machine. I finally got around to buying a walking foot this weekend and it is crazy loud. I was afraid it was going to snap off and bean me in the head, but apparently they're just really loud, no excuses.

[africankelli]

Good lord. That is your first quilt? I think you've taken to this crafting thing naturally. That is absolutely beautiful! Congrats.
And thank you again for the amazing parcel.

[sarah]

I'm just visiting from Kelli's blog, to say I love the book cover you made. And the embroidery you've done for the quilt is beautiful.

[Heidi]

love the quilt! especially the solid colors, it's fun and bright but not to busy. The newlyweds are quite lucky! glad to hear your machine is fixed...cheers!