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...
I like the bird border best. A78mandel at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteI like the birds too!
ReplyDeleteIMHO the first choice is too busy and makes the quilt look heavy. I like the birds as they are the same hue of blue as most of the quilt's blues. But if you find it a distraction choice #3 is a very close second in my book. All of them are gorgeous fabrics. Good luck with the decision. ;^)
ReplyDeleteI love the birds! And i love the quilt... pretty with all that blue.
ReplyDeleteI like the birds.... something fun in the border with them surrounding and protecting those flying geese!
ReplyDeleteI like the birds, too! Both of your star quilts are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThe birds are just right.
ReplyDeleteI think #1 is too dark, #3 is too light, and the birds are just right! But having said that, we all know that the camera may distort from actual. My second choice would be #1. Anyway, I hope your traveling is done for the year. This is such a hard time (weather and holidays) to have to travel. I have a bird project planned for RSC2018, so I love that fabric!!
ReplyDeleteI'd use the bird fabric but it is your quilt. Your quilts are both lovely but the blue one calls to me.
ReplyDeleteI love the birds, but I think option three complements the quilt best. It's the least distracting from the beautiful stars!
ReplyDeleteLove your blue and white quilt. I agree, #3 would be my fabric choice for the border, for the same reasons as you stated. Happy Christmas 🎄
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to your Carpenter's Wheel finish!! Best of luck with your border selection for the blue quilt. The birds would make an AWESOME back for that quilt! My initial reaction was affirmative for fabric #1, I just wish there was a little more white space. :o((
ReplyDeleteBirds. The blue make the stars really pop. Love both quilts.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm the solitary weirdo that likes #1. Maybe because of the scale and it has a variety of blues?
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love the bird fabric but would want to feature it in the main part of a quilt and not a border. I was mostly drawn to the bird fabric instead of your lovely stars.
Great planning ahead by sewing your sleeve along with your binding. Having some hand work ready when you get a moment to stitch actually gets a lot completed. I like the blues in fabric #1, but a bit too dense, #2 my eye goes to the birds not the quilt, #3 so I'd vote for this one.
ReplyDeleteThis is my second time trying to leave a comment...not sure what happened yesterday...but anyway, suffice to say here that your quilts are both stunning! Each one is my favourite!! Not sure about the border fabric, I would probably use the one whose colour blue is closest to the majority of the blocks, but those birds are singing to me! And which ever fabric you choose willmake a gorgeous finish!
ReplyDeleteBoth #2 and #3 are great choices. Love the bird fabric especially, but then I never think there's too many birds.:)
ReplyDelete