New Quilt, New Year

I finished and started a quilt yesterday, so thought I'd share. The bottom one was free motion quilted with minky on the back. I will only do small quilts with minky as it wants to more. Here is an application where your 505 Spray and Fix will really stabilize the layers. I folded the backing over the front for the binding and the quilt has a snuggly edge for baby to feel. Its a 40x40 size.
The new quilt I've made before~ it will be a twin size using 7" squares in a 10x12 pattern. I label the rows so I can continually pair up the rows until its all sewn up without the guesswork of keeping track of the order. Over the break Christina and I were able to finish 7 tops for either minky blankets or quilts, so stay tuned for the results of those tops. I've got my month laid out for me! :) What are you working on this month??

Quilt Along Step 3

Okay, up next~ spray basting! Still my favorite way to baste. It makes the layers stick together so nicely so you can focus on quilting, not the safety pins. I posted before on spray basting, but since I am not computer saavy, I'm not sure how to provide a link to that exact post. Once you have sprayed each layer~ one half at a time~ like the photo above, you are ready to quilt. The top pic shows the thread I will be using. Its a Sulky thread with a sheen. I like that thread because it allows a sparkle. I have a hard time quilting all over these beautiful fabrics, so I am outlining the patches. I know I've written before about how I feel like I am scribbling all over these amazing fabrics, so I prefer the fabric to shine vs the quilting. I tend to pick a thread color that is the same as the backing. I am using Mary Trellis in aqua for the back, so the thread is the same shade. Off to quilt this!

How To Use Spray Baster

I really love the 505 Spray & Fix and use it for basting my quilts. So much easier to quilt with & less time consuming than pin basting. I'm not looking back on that one! :) Someone asked about the process, so I thought I'd post the process with my newest quilt order using mostly Patty Young fabrics. It will be 50X70 finished size. I had my daughter take pics while I sprayed it. Basically all you do is lay your quilt backing wrong side up on your surface. I tape the ends so that it doesn't move but not as much if I was pin basting. I then layer my quilt~ batting next, then the top. Next I place old towels around half of the quilt. Fold half of the top over & half of the batting over. Spray in a sweeping motion over the exposed quilt back. Lay the half of the batting you folded over onto the sprayed back. Smooth, reposition if necessary. Spray the exposed batting the same as the back. Smooth, reposition if necessary the quilt top. Repeat with the other side. It is a dream to quilt as it stays together nicely keeping the bunching to next to nothing. Its very freeing to quilt with no pins in the way! Also, I would keep it flat until you are ready to quilt otherwise you will need to resmooth before you quilt. If you have any questions, I will answer them here. Thanks for reading! Have fun with your quilting!!