I'm still trying to wrap up some Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects before the end of the year. Between work-related travel and other holiday-related activities this week, not much sewing took place. Still, little bits of stitching here and there help get the projects completed and provide soothing fabric therapy when life gets stressful!
I did manage to stitch the binding to the front of the Carpenter's Wheel quilt. Before attaching the binding, I decided to add a hanging sleeve (the lighter strip of white fabric in the middle of the picture). I'd like to enter this quilt in a local quilt show this spring, so having a sleeve already attached will make life easier. The quilt sleeve can be made of the same fabric as the quilt backing, or something that coordinates with the quilt - or whatever fabric you fancy.
My method for making a quilt-hanging sleeve is to cut a strip 10 inches wide and 4-5 inches shorter than the length of the top of the quilt. On the short edges of the fabric strip, fold a quarter of an inch of fabric to the wrong side and stitch in place to create a hem. Next, press the strip, right sides together, so the long raw edges are together. Baste the long, raw edges of the strip to the top of the quilt with a scant quarter inch seam. When you stitch the binding to the quilt, the regular seam will hold the sleeve in place - be careful not to catch any other part of the sleeve in the binding seam. Now you only need to hand stitch the bottom edge of the sleeve to the quilt backing!
Another project waiting for end-of-year wrap up is the blue and white sawtooth star quilt. I've been waiting for some fabric samples to audition for a final outer border. The fabrics arrived this week, so I taped them up next to the quilt to try to make a decision.
Here's fabric choice #1. Maybe a little too dark?
Choice #2. I love the birds, but maybe they are a distraction?
Choice #3. In person, I thought this fabric might be too light in color, but the photograph makes it look pretty good. What do you think about the 3 choices?
I've been out running the roads all day, wrapping up various Christmas preparations. I'm looking forward to a cup of hot tea and checking out more Rainbow Scrap project wrap-ups. Maybe I'll even do some stitching on the Carpenter's Wheel binding...
