Born on the Fourth of July Quilt

Proof positive that I'm quilting Jackson and Brianna's wedding quilt

I took the leap and loaded Jackson's quilt onto the studio frame and began quilting it with the HQ¹⁸ Avanté. Now I know that I'm showing that I'm a beginning machine quilter by quilting it with loops and stars, but it is an Americana quilt after all.

I'm using rulers to quilt piano keys in the striped borders. That actually takes longer than the free-motion loops and stars in the center. 

Hmmm, I wonder which of my many quilt tops  will have the honor of becoming the second quilt I machine quilt myself?

Latest Quilt Top Finish

Yes, very simple. Even somewhat modern. Not my typical quilt style. But it was fun to make.

The image above is from Electric Quilt, but the finished top looks just like this. I imported jpgs of the Zen Chic fabrics (from Comma line) into Electric Quilt. The blocks were simple to make -- but it was a pain to match up the points between the rows.

I think it will be a great boy's baby quilt.


 

Time for another wedding quilt

One of my nephews got engaged a few weeks ago, and he and his fiancee have set the date: May 24. So that leaves just under three months to finish a quilt for them.

Luckily I have had a quilt top intended for him for several years, so it just needs to be quilted. Since he was born on the fourth of July, their quilt has an Americana feel. I believe it was a design by either Liz Porter or Marianne Fons. (It's been so long that I don't remember.)

The backing is a cream and blue toile that has an Americana theme as well.

So now the question is: will I quilt it or hire out the quilting? After all, I have a Handi Quilter HQ18 Avante that was "loaned" to me as a result of my employment with HQ. After 2-1/2 more years of employment, it will be mine-all-mine!

But I've  been shy to actually do a real quilt on it -- although I've practiced on orphan blocks. I think I'm just too exposed to fabulous quilting and I know my skills aren't anywhere near what I see on a daily basis.

I'll  be a student in next week's intermediate retreat being offered by the HQ studio educators, so I'm hoping I'll gain the confidence to quilt this myself. Fingers are crossed!