A backlog: Backwards

I hadn't touched my sewing machine in a couple of weeks. My sewing table was a complete disaster with stacks of half-finished projects waiting to be dealt with. I took an extra day on Friday to get to the bottom of the mess.

This quilt had been quilted and needed only trimming and binding when I went on my hiatus. At some point i felt the desire to make some scrappy postage stamp blocks. I made 8-inch blocks with 2 inch squares using only scraps. each fabric on the front is unique. i added some white borders and used kona chocolate for the top.

When it was time for me to figure out what to do for the back, I remembered the collection of X and Plus blocks i had made. i decided that i was through with that project for now and i might as well use them up. I stitched them together with some kona white. i used warm and white batting for the first time since the white was so prominent. It occurred to me that the top of the quilt looked more like a back and vice versa. hence, the Backwards Quilt was born.

i stitched straightish lines in white cotton thread on the postage stamps. then i switched to brown and did wider lines on the right and narrower lines on the left. i was going to FMQ but my sewing machine decided not to cooperate with me. ripping out my unsuccessful attempt was what prompted the quilting hiatus in the first place.

i tried a scrappy binding for the first time. i like the effect but not the bulk. next time i'll join the strips at a 45 degree angle. i handstitched the binding to the back.

This quilt will go to Spicy's niece-to-be. it's 40x46. i love how simple yet colorful it is, and kona chocolate is bound to become one of my new staples. i may have already started another quilt using it. This quilt took way too long to finish but i love it anyway. and it's scrappy!