Here in the northern hemisphere we're knee-deep in autumn. And here in southern Norway, the season is changing fast, as the trees are nearly bare of leaves, and temperatures dip. Time for wool sweaters and socks! And time for warm blankets and quilts. Speaking of quilts, somehow, and I'm not sure how, but I seem to have forgotten to share with you my finished Sugar & Spice Lap Quilt which I showed in progress way back in January and February of this year! This was such a big project for me, but somehow I ended up finishing it quietly all the while working on other things and items for my Etsy shop through the past winter and spring, so that when warm weather came, I put it away and forgot to take photos to show you! Oh, my... LOL! These days of wanting to keep warm and cozy, and pulling out sweaters and blankets, had me reaching for my lap quilt and remembering... So here is the finished quilt!
There was no real pattern I followed. I just selected a square size and cut lots of fabric squares, some squares came from a charm square set I received as a gift, the bulk I supplemented with cuts from my fabric stash. My "design board" was the floor of my craft room! I just laid it out and played with placement of the all the squares and sewed them up in rows, then sewed the rows into one rather large pieced rectangle. I love the border fabric, with the muted turquoise and cream pattern. The backing is a dark cream and beige large dot print. The binding is the same shade of muted turquoise and cream in a small check pattern, and I made it a French or double binding, hand finishing it on the back of the work. This was my first time making and preparing so much binding. With all the squares and very geometric look to the quilt's finished top I was very undecided for a while on what to do for quilting. In the end, and as a time-saver, I opted to button-tuft the quilt, and used a bunch of vintage smoky-pearly buttons and cream embroidery thread. Sewing on all those buttons took much longer than I imagined it would and was not my most favorite work on the quilt--LOL! But I love the button look, and appreciate the overall simplicity of the quilt and the nostalgic feel that comes from the colors and prints of the squares.
This was my largest quilting project to date. This lap quilt turned out to be a very good size: 44 inches wide x 64 inches long (112cm x 162cm). And it is very cozy! I like to use it while sitting reading or knitting, or over my half of the bed to warm up fast at night. Charlie loves it too! Photos with Charlie loving the quilt to follow... ;o)
I enjoy quilting, but realize I don't do enough of this art. Perhaps something to remedy in the New Year? Along with finally knitting socks?!
This weekend we are having the family over for a little pre-Halloween fun! Some warming autumn food, some sweet treats...Including making and decorating Halloween cookies with our young nieces and nephew... Very spooktacular! So I will be offline a bit to enjoy the weekend... Wishing all you good friends a happy weekend too! See you next week! :o)
