I REALLY put off this project...

I don't even know how many years ago I began this quilt, inspired by a quilt in Kaffe Fassett's book, Passionate Patchwork. I knew I wanted to make a small quilt, since I'm not that good at it and tackling a bed-size quilt just wouldn't work for me.

I got so far as the quilting, done on my machine with a free-motion darning foot. This is not easy until you've had several hours of practice. This is why I packed the unfinished quilt away and went on to a thousand other things.

I'm not sure what inspired me a few weeks ago to take it out of the storage box containing just a few unfinished sewing projects, but I did. I also removed from the box a brand new package of simple machines, known as "door stops."

Curious?

Some experienced quilter recommended that I place two door stop wedges under the back of my machine, claiming that it is easier to do meandering or stippling on your quilts.

Of course, I purchased the door stops then never tried it. Until now.

And something happened when I began the process of free motion quilting once again. A transformation, if you will.

I turned into a raging maniac. There is a more appropriate term I could use to describe myself, but I'm trying to keep this family-friendly, you know??

I had so much difficulty, because it had been a few years, and I wasn't even good at it back then! It would be like almost learning to ride a bike, putting the bike away for three or four years, then getting the bike out and expecting to ride it perfectly.

Luckily for me, I had to take my oldest son into the doctor for an x-ray of the foot, and that's when I realized the key to my success on this quilt was latex gloves.

(Isn't this post crazy?? I know...)

So we left with no fractures in the foot and a few pair of latex gloves. And despite my complaining, tense shoulders and frustration of continually running out of bobbin thread (I need to shop for more bobbins) I finished the quilting. Sure there are some ugly spots but you really have to look for them, unless you're an experienced quilter, then you might find them easily enough. I don't care, though. It's done, baby.

I've only made a few quilts, and only one large enough for a twin bed. That particular quilt was hand quilted by a lovely group of Mennonite women in South Dakota. One woman finished the quilt with binding made from one of the fabrics. It's beautiful. I could never quilt like they did. Anyway, the other quilts I made were basically wall-hanging quilts. I was able to fudge my way through machine quilting and then making bias binding and attaching it first with the machine, then using an "invisible" hand-sewing stitch to finish it.

This particular quilt I bound with the backing fabric. That is, I made sure the backing fabric was about four inches larger all the way around than the quilt top. After quilting it, I trimmed away the excess batting, then I trimmed the backing fabric, folded it, pressed it, pinned it into place and sewed it by hand with that handy invisible stitch. My fingers sure did hurt. But it's done, baby. Done!

Below are some pics of the process of using the backing fabric to bind your quilt. And here is a tutorial on that invisible hand-stitching method. (Note, the dog's head is not vital to complete the quilt, but my dog is always around. Always.)