February Goal--So Close!

Finishing my granddaughter's "I Spy" quilt was my February goal, and I am so close!

 It is backed, quilted, squared, and mostly bound.

The binding has been machine stitched to the front; 

I am almost halfway through handstitching it to the back.

 I used my walking foot to make a simple quilted grid.  

For me, fabric is the star of an "I Spy," so I am happy to keep the quilting low key.

 I made my own bias binding (it's more durable than straight-of-grain) for the first time.  I mostly followed this tutorial for continuous bias binding.  It doesn't waste fabric like the traditional method does, but in some areas (see below) the seams are very close together.

I am dutiful about labeling my quilts.  I write on a piece of fabric and turn two edges under.  The two raw edges are sewn into a quilt corner by machine as the binding is added to the top.  The turned down edges are hand stitched.

This time instead of using a micron pen I wrote with a Pentel fabric gel roller.  It is awesome!  It writes so much more easily and made a beautiful, dark line.  The package doesn't suggest it, but after being disappointed by other markers, I heat set the ink with a hot, dry iron.  I washed my sample--no smudging!

Check out the link up at Elm Street Quilts to see how well others have accomplished their One Monthly Goals!

February Goal: I Spy Quilt

I gave my granddaughter an "I Spy" quilt for her birthday last month--sort  of.

 I actually presented several large pieces of the top.  

Perhaps you can see the gaps below where seams have not yet been sewn.

I love the "I Spy" concept, and this quilt has 160 unique blocks!

 Border, binding, and backing fabrics have already been selected. 

My goal for February is to complete this quilt--borders, backing, quilting, and binding.

I'm joining Patty and many others at Elm Street Quilts in setting sewing goals for the month.

Follow the link to see what everyone else is up to.

Happy stitching!