March is Finishing Month #1

Over the last few months I have become quite adept at starting projects.  Hell - I could start projects for Australia. Finishing - not so much.

Back in February when I started, oh, my millionth project, I decided that March would be all about the finishing. If a quilt was unquilted, I would quilt it. If it was in blocks and just needed to be sewn together before sending to the professional quilter, I would sew it. If there was a skirt cut out and pinned but not sewn together I WOULD FINISH IT.

So here we are, on the 11th of March, and I have just my first finished item to show you. Watch out - it's a doozy.



Last Wednesday night, in a fit of madness, I decided to baste this quilt top (which has been a quilt top for about 2 months).



I pin basted it in about half an hour (WHAT?) so just decided to start quilting it in a concentric circle pattern that night.



And hour and a half later it was done (WHAT?).



By lunchtime the next day (WHAT THE WHAT WHAT?) the binding was hand sewn on (I was quite the sight in the park that day). I showed it at Canberra Quilters that night and I was so damn happy! Even if I felt like I was on quilting meth (which is totes illegal!)



I didn't get it washed until yesterday, though. And I sewed the label on this morning. And we all know a quilt isn't finished until the label is on (I was taught proper). We will ignore the fact I started this quilt in December 2012 and therefore the label is not correct. I doubt in 50 years anyone will care.



I like how in the shade you get to see the piecing and the pattern of the blocks.



But in the sun you get to see the quilting.



This is my favourite block. I think every quilt I make should have this tape measure fabric in it (I surely have enough of it in my stash), and the hexagon fabric by Cam is just extra special to me because she's an extra special lady and I'm lucky to be able to count her as a friend (you should go over to her blog and check out what she's been up to lately).

This quilt is going to hang on the wall in our entry way, but not for a little while. I am in the process of organising the demolition of a wall in there, and hanging this quilt will be the cherry on the cake once the building, plastering and painting is done.

So "March is Finishing Month" has it's first member. Wonder who's next?

Details (edited since the quilting details were a bit confusing)

Pattern: Scrappy Trip Around the World (tutorial by Quiltville)
Size: 48 " x 48 "

Fabric: Scraps, a random Momo jelly roll, and some special pieces in my stash

Quilting: Machine quilted concentric circles with a walking foot, using Aurifil Mako 50/2 thread in off white (2021)

Batting: 100% cotton

Started: 30 January 2012

Finished: 11 March 2013