I finished a Quilt!!!

 I'm super excited! After only about 3 nights working on it, I finished my quilt! But before the reveal, Here are some "work in progress" photos...

 I decided to rotate the directions of the striped fabric to make it a bit more interesting. I worked in rows based on my sketch so that the blocks ended up where I wanted them. I was able to put the quilt top together in one night and I used a temporary adhesive spray to keep the pieces sandwiched together without pins so that I could quilt it. This worked wonderfully compared to using straight pins on my last quilts. I used a high loft polyester batting to make the quilt puffy almost like a comforter and a black flannel backing. I quilted the the quilt in a "stitch in the ditch" method, or, well, I tried to anyways :) Quilting on the machine is the hardest part for me. It's difficult for me to hold onto the bulk of the quilt and fit it all bunched up on the machine when quilting the center. Anyone have any tips for this part of the process?

I made my own binding using the extra flannel from the backing. Since this quilt is for my son, I wanted the back to be softer so I used flannel, even though the quilt top is just regular cotton.

So here it is! Redding really liked it. He was very excited to have a "Thonas comet" (Thomas blanket). I have no idea why he calls blankets "comets". But he sometimes likes to pick his own words for things, but changes eventually to what it's actually called. 

 I really enjoyed making this quilt and am thinking about what patterns I want to use to make Wyatt's quilt in.Oh, the finished size is about 40" x 40". It's a great size for Redding's toddler bed.

Redding's Quilt

I like to browse the clearance craft section at Walmart and occasionally run across some delicious, too good to pass up deals. This is what I found the other day...

 

I couldn't have been more thrilled! Redding is absolutely crazy about Thomas the Tank Engine. He can name all the trains and recognize them and tell the different between them even in black and white coloring pages. It's truly crazy. Anyway, this steal was a pack of 7 fat quarters for $5.00-- 3 of the Red print, 2 Blue, and 2 stripes. Now, I'm not in love with the stripes as it reminds me of the kind of fabric used in Jamaican headdresses, but I'm willing to work with it as Redding will really like the bright colors and I think I can still make it look cool. I've settled on doing a basic block quilt, in 7"x7" blocks of fabric, 6 blocks x 6 blocks large. That should give me a finished size of about 40" x 40" with enough fabric left over to crank out a pillow case too hopefully. The prints are large, so I didn't want to take away from them by cutting the blocks too small (I'm also all for finishing this quilt within the next week or so, instead of, well, never). So here's a simple sketch I drew up after playing around a little bit.

I plan on rotating the stripe pieces to make it a bit more interesting, but the prints aren't directional, so there's no need to worry about those. I was able to get everything cut out tonight and will begin piecing tomorrow. I'm not 100% on the backing just yet, but I'm thinking a cozy flannel in black maybe. I think I have enough of this in my stash, so that's part of the appeal :) But it would also offset the bright colors on the front nicely. I'm probably going to go with a "stitch in the ditch" method for quilting in black thread with some accents of free handing around some of the characters within the blocks just to give it a more quilty look. But we'll see. And black 1" binding around the edges probably. I'll keep you posted :)

~ Erin

Why Adventurous Homemaking?

Adventurous:
[ad-ven-cher-uhs]

–adjective

1. inclined or willing to engage in adventures; enjoying adventures.

2. full of risk; requiring courage; hazardous: an adventurous undertaking.
3. characterized by unknown dangers and risks
4. disposed to seek adventure or to cope with the new and unknown

I can think of no better way to describe the requirements of homemaking. It requires everything of me. I must be courageous, able, willing to give everything for my family, unafraid of the exciting journey ahead.

I am so blessed to be a wife, homemaker, teacher, cook, maid (ha!), gardener, crafter, and all the other things that describe my life of adventure. I will endeavor to always follow Jesus in this adventurous life He's given me.