I started this quilt in 2006. Rows were put together back then.
This was August 27, 2006
This was August 27, 2006
Sounds awful, doesn't it? or does it sound familiar?
I collected 2000 different fabrics for this 1" thimble quilt by going through my stash, going through my friends' stashes and even picking garbage at quilt retreats. For some reason, I got it in my head that a "charm quilt" had to have 2000 pieces. That was back in 2006. I no longer believe that and know better now.
But, let's come back to 2015. I decided now was the time to get this quilt done.
It was all hand pieced ( my own personal challenge), so back in February 2015 I pieced the rows together.
Then I went shopping for a border. The border is, also, hand pieced with straight lines at the top and bottom and the sides were actually appliqued to the border as they still had the thimble shape. I didn't want to cut them straight for fear that I would cut my knots.
You can see some closeups here where I was appliquing the sides to the border.
I decided I wanted this quilted using the Baptist Fan. I just knew if I waited until I had the time or the energy to "hand quilt" this quilt, it would be another umpteen years before it got done.
So, since I wanted perfection (another one of my downfalls I suppose), I didn't want to try it on my longarm with just a stencil or a panto and didn't want to purchase the several hundred dollar mechanism called Circle Lord that would give me the effect that I wanted, I sent it off to my friend Ruthie who owns the Circle Lord.
I was searching my stash for a good "burnt red" for the binding. I found the perfect fabric, but no way did I think I had enough for the binding (I usually only buy a 1/4 yard or else yardage), but just for the heck of it I figured out how many strips I needed and did the math and lo and behold, I did have enough. I didn't have to go on the search for the perfect color and fabric for my binding at the local quilt stores.
I sewed it down that same night and took it to my mom's to hand stitch down while sitting with her.
I sewed it down that same night and took it to my mom's to hand stitch down while sitting with her.
Here is the finished project, front and back.
So, I say, I should have hand quilted this one only because it deserved it what with the whole quilt being hand pieced. I could have done it, but then "would I" in the next decade? Obviously, I didn't; but I can say I have another UFO done and I am happy with that.