Rainbow Scrap Challenge Quilting--2021 Project Finished

Block ditch quilted

Goal number one on my December list was to finish the quilting on this Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) that I started in 2021. One day when my oldest granddaughter was visiting, she saw the string blocks on the sewing table. Miss K asked if she could make some blocks with strings. 

She liked piecing the blocks. Then she asked if she could have the blocks. She laid out the blocks and stitched them into a top. She pieced a back. We pin basted it  In July, she started ditch quilting it. Although she hasn't said a negative word about quilting, I could tell it was difficult for her. I could also tell she wasn't confident with quilting in the ditch. Stitching in the ditch is hard!

Circle template from Sue Nickles

Last month, I decided that I would quilt it for her. I spent parts of three weeks completing quilting in the ditch. Originally, I thought that would be enough quilting. 

When I finished the ditch quilting, the quilt asked for more. I pondered the request for a few days. I decided to quilt a few circles on the blocks. I used two rulers from Sue Nickle's circle wedge set. For the inner circle, I used my two inch circle ruler from Westalee's starter sampler set.

Circle motif addition

I chose a yellow 40 weight polyester thread produced by Superior Threads for two reasons. First, yellow is Miss K's favorite color. Second, she likes a little glitz and the
polyester has a bit of a sheen.

I did have some thread shredding. When I switched from a size 80 topstitch needle to a size 90 topstitch needle, the shredding disappeared. There were a lot of starts and stops. In the end, the effort was worth it! The quilting provides texture and a little "specialness." Even though I spent parts of another two weeks on circle quilting, I'm glad the quilt talked to me. I'm also glad that I listened!

Quilting rulers used in the project

In the black area, I quilted straight-ish lines. Once the quilt is washed and the quilt takes on that rumpled look, the straightness or lack of straightness isn't going to show.

When I free motion quilt, I don't see much of the quilt as it is scrunched and mushed so that I can access a particular area. Honestly, it feels like eternity quilting because it doesn't feel like I'm getting anywhere!!! 

Adding some stitching to the sashing areas

To ensure that I give my body good breaks, I set the timer on my phone or watch for 30 minutes. Once it goes off, I get up and walk around for 5-10 minutes. Then, I return to quilting. When my knee is too tired for more, I stop. Sometimes that can be after a couple sessions and sometimes that can be after many sessions. I take a break to stretch and heat my knee and leg. Sometimes, I can return to quilting and sometimes I can't. 

When I finished quilting, I cut, prepared and attached the binding. The last two times that I have machine applied the binding has been successful. I found the best set up for me is to use the number 34D foot; set the needle position at 2, place the foot on the fabric edge so it s scant of the 3/8 inch
marking and carefully stitch the binding to the quilt. When I topstitched the binding to the quilt front, I found this combination worked the best.

Binding front view

Miss K wanted a hanging sleeve so I attached it. She selected an extra block as a label. I will let her fill out the label. I will help her attach it to the back of the quilt. Once the label is in place, the quilt is truly finished!

Binding back view

This quilt measures 77 x 93 inches. Many of the strings came from my friend Martha's stash. The link will take you to the projects that I have made with her strings and bits. We purchased no fabric for this project.

Back

I sure hope that she is okay with my finishing her project and my choice of designs for the quilting. Time will tell! 

My favorite memories of this project are: *When she was curious about the string piecing and making blocks in a specific color. *The expression on her face when saw the blocks in that color way on the design wall.

*The time she took to layout the blocks exactly to her liking, *The way she measured the project to ensure it was going to be large enough for her. (She laid down next to the blocks. If her body was outside of the blocks, the project needed to be bigger!) 

*How she checked every seam I pinned to be sure she was sewing the blocks as per her layout. (I pinned them in the wrong order multiple times until she took over quality control!) 

Front

*The absolute joy she had on her face when she completed piecing the top and the back! Her insistence that her quilt had a "hangy thingy." ("Hangy thingy is otherwise known as a quilt sleeve!) She was so fun to sew with!!! I hope we can do it many more times.

This project used 16.5 yards of fabric from my stash, bringing the total used 24.5 yards this year. While my total is paltry, I am thankful that I have a net loss! Next year, I'm planning to document how much fabric I purchase as well as how much I use. This year, as I purchased, I deducted that amount from what I used.

Previous posts: Yellow Strings; Green Strings; Blue Strings; Red Strings; Purple Strings; Blue or Brown; Aqua; Orange; Lime Green; Granddaughter Time; Quilting w/two Granddaughters; Sleepover; Pinning Strings;

Linking to: Alycia at Finished or Not Friday; Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts; Angela at Scrap Happy; Cynthia at Oh Scrap.