White Rabbit...the finale

I don't usually talk about batting...because I really don't know enough about batting to sound educated when I talk about batting...but I figured since I usually share other pieces of the quilt process...today I would add batting to the conversation.  Here is the quilt batting I normally use:

and I say "normally", but with the exception of one quilt...all my others are finished using Hobbs Batting...sometimes the fusible, sometimes not.  I like the fusible...but have become partial to using basting spray instead of fusible batting...basting spray is so much faster, holds better over time (you know...when you start quilting...and then let it sit for a few weeks...then quilt some more...maybe it's just me) and I have fewer problems with wrinkling the back as I sew.  However, basting spray has one major draw back...it stinks!  I have to let the quilt lay out for a good hour to two hours after basting to let the fumes die down...otherwise it's just too much when you have it all around your face while wrestling your quilt through a machine.  Anyways...back to batting...

Hobbs has been great for me...but...hubby went to pick some up for me yesterday...and well...there was no Hobbs to be found!  Massive dilemma...so he picked up a new can of basting spray (was almost out) and a different batting...after I try it out, I'll let you know if I like it or not.

Moving on!  after a few hours of this:

I ended up with this:

funny story....the binding was giving me a massive headache...kept bunching up and sliding all over, and the finished binding was really NOT pretty...and then I realized...I had the wrong foot on my sewing machine!  The foot I normally use when sewing the binding has always worked well for me...and I had my 1/4 inch foot on, and it kept catching the fabric in odd ways...oh well!

and finally the finished white rabbit (modeled by Guy):

and now...what to work on next?  I could finish up MHQ, or finally get back to some FWQAL blocks...or finally make a decision for T's quilt...or...I could just do nothing....

Did I mention I signed up for this:

Because I totally need another WIP!  Looking forward to the class, which is being aught by Rachel Griffith of PS I Quilt.  You can read more about the class here.

anatomy of a quilt back

ok...so before I worry anyone...I did the get the white rabbit to the church on time!  or in this case, to dinner on time!  but before I share with you the final result...have to show you some pics of what I was up to around 11 pm on Thursday night!

So...the quilt back...had to hit a big box fabric store for this due to time constraints...and was so happy to find some Kona Taupe...it was an almost perfect match!  (thankfully I had enough remnants from this quilt to throw in something for the backing of the white rabbit!)...and I had little struggle in figuring this one out...but considering the process figured I'd share it!

So...I got the top finished...then started by laying out the Kona Taupe...then tried to figure out what pieces I was going to add...it's pretty much just a jigsaw puzzle...

once I got the mental picture of the back...started working on the sewing...

and then finished it up!

and then I had two of the three pieces I needed to get this quilt finished!

white rabbit

I'm feeling a little like the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland...I can't be late...must rush...long story short...on last minute notice we have some family who will be in town this weekend for the USC/Kentucky football game...and we'll be having dinner with them Friday night...they are recently married and we were unable to attend the wedding.  Soooo...hubby was very concerned that we didn't get them a wedding gift...well it just so happens I had pretty much all the elements of a quilt top, and the getting the quilt top sewn together won't take long...so I said...well...do you want to give them a quilt??  (their wedding invitation specifically stated no gifts...but hubby...is well...he is what he is).  Hubby's response to my suggestion...GET TO SEWING!  LOL!

So remember this quilt?  Meet it's soon to be fraternal (close but not quite identical) twin:

and I even had enough of the border fabric and binding fabric left over:

now I just have to get the top assembled...and buy fabric for backing...so tonight i'll try and finish up the quilt top...and then tomorrow I'll make a run to the LQS and see what they have in the way of matching/similar/anything for the backing...and get that pieced together tomorrow night...and start quilting!

Did I mention...we are meeting them for dinner Friday night?