Monday, February 10, 2020

Cross Country Update

After sharing about the recent class I took with Anna Maria Horner, I thought it was only fair to share the finished quilt top before it goes into hiding for a bit. Long story short, I'm having it long-arm quilted, so it'll be sometime next month before it's back and I'm able to finish it.


But meanwhile, I'm super pleased with the finish! By the time I left Anna's class, 'we' had already settled on what fabrics I was going to use for the bars and setting triangles; it was just a matter of doing the sewing. But those center squares (each measuring 8" finished, just for reference) were undecided. And boy did I rearrange them lots, using pretty much every fabric I had as an option. I posted many on Instagram one night, and of course everyone had a favorite! Mulling over all the advice given there, my own likes and dislikes of course, and finally my daughter Rachel's thoughts when she was over for sew day, and I finally came to a decision that I liked well enough and still had a bit of the feel of the original Cross Country pattern. Whew! That was certainly a process!


Then of course it was time for a quilt back, and I had a good amount of fabric left from what I'd pulled for class. See all those squares? Most were what I mixed and matched as options for the center, and didn't make it. No reason not to include them in the backing, right?


So HUGE sigh of relief as I folded the top and backing up to take to the quilter this next week. Of course it's not done yet, but it feels pretty close now.

13 comments:

  1. I can definitely understand taking the time to rearrange and consider the center squares. I'm glad the others in the audition found a good home on the quilt backing!

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  2. It's great to see how this ended up. I loved your posts related to the class, and you always have something special when you're done. I'll be excited to see this one all wrapped up.

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  3. Great flimsy finish!
    Yes, good to be able to use everything up.

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  4. I know this workshop was outside of your normal, and that it was a challenge for you. But goodness! Look how you stretched yourself! The top looks really great - a little Anna Maria, but not overwhelmingly her signature style. Really, I love what you did, and it looks like "Debbie." I always love a use-up-the-leftovers quilt back, but don't do it often because of seam thicknesses and domestic machine quilting. Sending this to a longarm quilter though... that will be perfect. Done and dusted (pretty much) feels good, I'm sure.

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  5. That is an amazing quilt top and back!

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  6. I just love this quilt and those bright pink squares just make it pop! Gorgeous back too.

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  7. Awesome quilt top and backing. I can understand the process of elimination that you went through :)!

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  8. I'll admit, I wasn't sure how this was going to come together or even how far you would take it. But let me tell you this...I love it! You were working outside your comfort zone, but you nailed it. It's gorgeous and I can't wait to see it after it's quilted.

    Dang Debbie...way to inspire us to take a leap of faith and not be afraid to explore something different.

    The back is a perfect with all that scrappyness!

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  9. not a typical Debbie quilt but man is it GORGEOUS! well done

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  10. Stunning quilt top and the backing is beautiful with the mix of fabric.

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  11. Sometimes you just know when it is right. You just have to keep stewing, working, rearranging until our brain says it is right. It looks fabulous!

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  12. This looks absolutely stunning - and I love the back! Can't wait to see it all quilted and done.

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