Lessons learned

Each quilt that you make teaches you something that you can take to the next quilt. So I've been thinking about what I learned when making Mum's quilts. This is what I thought of:

• take your time choosing all fabrics - including the backing, use your intuition
  
• only choose light neutral colors for the backing (e.g. white, cream or light beige)
• minimize bulky seams - they are a mare to hand quilt through (e.g. stab stitching, not rocking)
  
• any fabrics that look hand dyed - pre-wash to within an inch of its life - use salt and other products to really set the dyes
• when washing - always have products at the ready to deal with the worse case scenario
• batting was thin - nice for an antique look, but I'd prefer a higher loft next time
• sewline mechanical pencil was perfect for marking the top - even the grey/graphite pencil used on the cream fabric came out
  

Constellation Traveler

Well the most positive thing that has come out of breaking my foot, has been completing Mum's quilt.

Yes - it's done. I've even washed it too :)

This is the quilt hanging on the line to dry. The "wiggles" in the border (outside edge) is the wind - not a wonky edge.


Close up of the centre.


Zooming out to have a look at the hand quilting.


The "runway" shot.


The star.


The outside rings.


I've worked out that this quilt has taken over 1,200 hours to make.

I drafted the pattern myself. Hand and machine pieced. Designed the quilting layout/pattern myself, and hand quilted it.

This quilt was a complete labor of love. I hope my Mum likes it. The quilts name is "Constellation Traveler".