Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Ben's Quilt is Done

Just in time for the end of winter, here is Ben's quilt!


I have been happily adding a bit of handquilting with white perle cotton for the last couple of weeks, almost overdosing on girly movies after the children are in bed and my husband is studying for an exam, but enjoying myself nonetheless.

This is the first quilt where I combined handquilting and machine quilting. It was a lovely balance, as I didn't get tired of either method. I think the perle cotton quilting really adds a nice spark to the texture created by the machine quilting.


 
 
I'm quite proud of the machine quilted border and how the corners are 90 degrees and match up to the bound corners!  The binding is also exquisitely done.




Other things that could have been improved on:  the backing did get folded and quilted such in a few places.  My careful pinning and walking foot still did not prevent that.  A few of the quilting lines are not straight, but that isn't obvious unless you turn over the quilt. 

I do really regret not matching the gingham where I had to piece the strip at the bottom of the patchwork, but oh well.  I'm not a perfectionist, and my boy is deliriously happy to have this quilt. 

When I presented it to him, he was speechless, and then he laid it on the floor and rolled on it in love.  Well, melt my heart.


And, oh, lovely, I get to consider the next quilt.  I'm pretty sure I want to work on an unfinished quilt top my Aunt Nancy gave me.  She started it in college from her childhood dress fabrics. 

16 comments:

Dianna said...

It is beautiful. You have one lucky little boy!

Lisa said...

I love it! Excellent job.

beth said...

It's beautiful. The hand stitching adds LOTS of love to this one. You got a GREAT thank you from your son! What could be better?

Tracy said...

Well done, Margo!

Jennifer Jo said...

I love that old fabric!

Sew Blessed Maw [Judy] said...

Gorgeous.. and Ben says it All.. Nothing more exciting than our children to 'SHOW" thier love for our work..
Your quilting is beautifully done too.. Congradulations on getting it finished..Now , the fun of starting a new one.. Happy quilting.

Polly said...

It is DARLING!!!! Some of that fabric looks familiar.....you really made the whole so much more than the sum of its parts. I love it. I would roll around on the floor in it too!!

jenny_o said...

What a lovely and honest reaction from Ben! It's beautiful. What a lot of work!

I don't know very much about machine quilting. I assume you don't need to use a quilting frame? Or do you still need it to put the backing on?

Anonymous said...

What a great quilt for a boy! Just think how he will treasure it - forever! Shauna

Margo said...

jenny_o, no quilting frame needed. You make a quilt sandwich (top, batting, backing) and then stitch it (quilt it) on a sewing machine using a walking foot.

Marcia said...

Lovely, just lovely...

Leila said...

Just wonderful! It's got so many cute little details, and is just warm and bright. I've made a bunch of quilts, and I am here to tell you that it's way more lovable to have a quilt with a little unmatchy-ness and some little folds. It's just more homey and hand-made!
Well done!

jodi inkenbrandt said...

That is perfect!! I love it so much and that last photo of your little man, laying on his quilt...priceless. Way to go!

Beth said...

It looks so good! Love the Dick and Jane fabric and is that Candyland fabric? Fun fun fun. I can just see him passing it down to his own children. Love me a good quilt.

Congrats!

And what girly movies did you watch?? :-)

Margo said...

thank you, Beth!

I watched Pride and Prejudice (BBC), The Importance of Being Earnest, and Middlemarch (BBC again). There were others earlier in the winter, too :) but I can't recall all of those - I watched Downton Abbey on PBS.org each week until I reached the end of the season.

Christy said...

Margo, you've inspired me to continue with the jean comforter. Thanks.