Done! Kaleidoscope Path

Just in time for Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday and Free Motion Mavericks, both of which I am linking up to, along with Binding Blitz!  It is also on my list of quilts to finish for the 2015 Finish Along, so I feel like I am doing pretty well.

I introduced this quilt in one of my first blog postings.  The large open space turned into a great place to try out a variety of free motion motifs, and though I am not completely happy with the hodgepodge of threads I used, I love how each space has its own character. I tried not to put any matching threads next to one another, but in the end my thread collection was inadequate. I plan to remedy that!

I used facing instead of traditional binding, because I am on a quest to find a binding method I love.  There are two tutorials for facing on my (newish) Tutorial Page.  I used an odd combination of the two, mainly because I was reading a variety of tutorials, had them all open on the page, and accidentally cut the strips the length specified in one after following other techniques from another.  Oops.  Still, it worked, so no harm done.

Facing is an easy way to get a clean finish on a quilt, and I will definitely use it again. I love the crisp edge.  There’s no need for extremely precise measuring, but you will become close friends with your iron.  I also learned the value of stay stitching.  The only drawback to this method is the need to hand sew the facing on the back of the quilt.  I know there are people who find that process relaxing.  I am not one of them.  When the quilt gets this close to being done, I am impatient to see how it looks finished.  Luckily, this was not too big a quilt, so it only took me a couple of hours over two days.  Plus I did watch many episodes of Hercule Poirot that I had not seen, so perhaps it can be considered a win. I might just come to love binding if I have enough British tv shows to watch.  Linking up to my 1st quarter Finish Along goals.

My furry assistant approves of this quilt.

Now that I have this quilt finished, I plan to spend the weekend basting not just one, but two quilts.  Basting is another less-than-favorite stage in making a quilt.  Tomorrow I have someone I can bribe into helping me, so I will try to get both done before my minion friend abandons me.

Post Script:  This is an older post, but as I am away from my sewing machine for a few weeks, I am sharing it on the Creative Goddess Linky Party.  Hope you check out all the creativity going on there.