Pat Sloan's Blog

My Birthday Quilt is done!

Article continues below these Amazon Goodies

I think the angels sang!

It took a little while to get from the last photo I shared of the top. 

(click photo for larger image)

To my finished quilt!

A few years ago I put a call out to quilters to make a block for me to put into a memory quilt. I called it my birthday quilt as I put the call out on my birthday.

I had very few guidelines

• Mail me a block you made for me that was red, white, aqua with a splash of black
• No size limit  (I'm a dare devil that way!)

I counted the blocks and ended up with 201 blocks.. wheeee! 

A few I made and most were made by others. 

(click photo for larger image)

With that many blocks I had to do a back of blocks.

The Quilt is 100" x 92"

I documented my steps through this process

You can see all my prior posts at blog.patsloan.com/pats-birthday-quilt/ , there are several pages so when you get to the bottom click MORE of Pat's Posts.

So many people ask me how do I figure this out. You have to have a plan, and love to work Asymmetrical 

First I created a basic grid that I'd fill with block to fit that size.

The blocks were sorted and grouped for size and color balance.

I wanted the fabrics to flow across the quilt not have a bunch of tiny ones in a corner or a heavy red section

I selected a set of polka dot and neutral fabrics to be my filler

Then I started to sew units

and more units

then I went to the back

My design wall is not big enough so I did the best I could then would have to fold sections over

I also read all your letters that you sent, what I treasure this quilt is!

Cindy & Dennis Dickinson quilted it with this super large flower, it's just perfect! A garden of Friendship

Article continues below this Ad

Here is a video. Sorry it's vertical! It was freezing cold the day we did the outdoor photos  and I just started to film.   I didn't' notice until today it was vertical.

And finally have a finished quilt!

I have to hand stitch the sleeve, then do a label. I have a grand idea for words for the back.. we'll see if I do that

Thank you everyone that sent me a block, they created the most amazing gift ever!! 

I INVITE YOU

• CLICK to enter your email for my notices
• Join my super fun online quilt community HERE

I am happy to announce my ULTIMATE UFO Finish...

Article continues below this Ad

On November 1  I made a crazy announcement that I'd FINISH my birthday quilt so it could be sent 'to the Spa' to be quilted... guess what today is?

It's my birthday and there are tears of joy that it's DONE!!. 

Top...

Let's take a swirl....

 

And the Back!

But wait there's more!! 

The back needed a border. I used a inner border of cream with gray lattice from my Sunday Drive and the wider red polka dot

EVERYTHING looks fabulous with polka dots!.

Article continues below these Amazon Goodies

For the front I sewed a 1 1/2" wider border on the top. I did this for 2 reasons

• To stabilize the edges so that when it is stretched on the longarm none of those outer seams will pop.
• And to give me some wiggle room for squaring up the top. I'll use black for the binding

I am SO excited to have it done, and it's been shipped to the  'spa'..

next time you see it, it will be done done!

LAST DAY for the 40%off irons with my special code of friday40 at OLISO

This is for ALL the products they have, which includes the 'Smarthub' and 'vacuum sealers' for your kitchen.. woohoo!

BUY YOUR IRON

Article continues below these Amazon Goodies

How can it be....

Article continues below this Ad

How can it be November 1, do we all say this? November is my favorite month of the year. With the change of seasons, crisp air, Thanksgiving and my Birthday towards the end, I love it! 

I had an encore radio show week as I was at the trade show, new talk show next week!

I like to have Goals.. big ones, small ones. 

Work goals and personal goals.

*************************************

1 Goal is to Finish My Birthday Quilt. 

*************************************

I have gorgeous blocks and so many there is a full top

and a back almost full of blocks 

It's so large as I worked on it I took sections outside to the fence to see how they looked.

Article continues below these Amazon Goodies

My design wall is too small for the whole thing.. so this is how i'm getting the back figured out

folded to leave myself some space.

I got stuck on finishing the back.

With the number of blocks, it still needs a border all around.

Then I thought should I put words too? or not?

This month I decide then send it the the 'The Spa' for quilting!

What is your #1 goal for this month?