I Spy: A Completed Quilt

Not just any completed quilt. My very first. And an I Spy Swap one. At several points during the process, I decided it would be my only quilt. Ever. But now that I'm done and I've rested a bit, I'm can't stop thinking about it. So that could mean there will be more. Eventually.

I learned quite a bit. Like, my general let's-just-go-for-it-and-see-what-happens approach yields some surprises along the way. I tried to follow one binding tutorial in particular, and realized pretty quickly that what I was expecting was not what was happening, but fortunately, I liked how it came out.  And while I've done a lot of piecing and decorative stitching, I'd never used a walking foot before. Clickety clackety and fun and not nearly as scary and difficult as I imagined.

I've had a few moments of beating my chest triumphantly like Tarzan looking at the finished product. My kids just want to climb all over it, and now that it's done and photographed, that's a-ok. I figure it needs food and beverage stains on it in order to have an authentic feel, no?

In starting this one, I knew my kids would like the I Spy game. K already does, for sure. M will get there eventually. Because the 180 novelty prints I wanted to use were soooo chaotic, I decided to do some arranging by color, and then add sashes that accented the color spectrum. Then framed it up with another print, a wide white border and a bright binding. Even the description is chaotic.

The backing is a solid white from a sheet and when the half drop pattern on the front was quilted diagonally, the back looked all zig zaggy. I can't say I really thought that out in advance, but I was pretty excited when I first turned it over and saw what was happening.  Don't tell anyone I didn't do that entirely on purpose, mmmkay?

The best part, of course, is this. I'm totally glad it's done in time for chubby baby thigh photos. Pay no attention to the sweet potato leftovers she's carrying around on her shirt.

And chubby baby finger dimples.

Okay, yes, I love it. But.... I'm dying to get back to the quick and easy crafterhours stuff. And.... uh... maybe I should finish the quilt I started before this one that's feeling neglected. I hear that's normal in quilter world. It just feels wrong.