Mustang Quilt

I don't know about you but sometimes I buy a quilt kit just because I like the fabric and it's a great deal.  Most times I just make something I want and don't complete the kit.  In this case I went with it...I fell in love with the fabric and pattern.  Although the pattern was more traditional, the fabrics make the quilt look modern. Note to self:  when fussy cutting, watch the orientation of the block in the finished quilt...my mustangs are running up instead of across the quilt.  Fussy cutting is harder than it appears, but there's always next time.

This was one of my unfinished quilt tops that needed quilting on my 2016 Finish-A-Long list.  (That list has really been motivating!)  I had put this quilt aside because the pattern calls for a half square triangle border, but I just couldn't decide if I liked it or not so I let it sit for almost a year.  I'm learning that I should just trust my instincts.  No border and a finish, yeah!

I quilted this on my Bernina with a walking foot and both one and one and a half inch painters tape.  I outlined the four main square groups and then used the corner and side triangles as a guide.  Then I went back and quilted from the middle out in V's using the triangles made by the seams from the blocks.

I hope everyone is making progress on their 2016 FAL list!  Happy Quilting!

Linking up with Lorna for Let's Bee Social, Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation, and Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts. 

Handmade Style Floor Pouf

After making the Carry-all Pincushion from Anna Graham's amazing book, Handmade Style, I decided to make the Floor Pouf.  I'm really happy with this project.  It is similar in construction to the pincushion, but a lot bigger.  It was definitely an effort to wrangle this thing together, but totally worth it.

The top is 24 inches square.  I quilted the top with (not so) straight line quilting in three different colors, off-white, gold, and dark pink.  For the side panels I used a curved shell stitch on my Bernina which has come in handy on a few projects now.  It's fast and looks really good.

 I used an orphan block I had on hand and made a finished bottom for it as well, just in case the recipient wants to change it up every once in a while.  It has a zipper closure in case you need to wash it.

I recommend Handmade Style, so far both patterns I've worked with have been excellent.

One more gift checked off the list...though it's going to be tough to part with this one.  Can't get enough of the Cotton + Steel fabric either!

Linking up with Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation, Lorna at sewfreshquilts, and Amanda at crazymomquilts.