My first quilt top is finally done! It was an incredible learning experience all the way around. It’s about the farthest thing from perfect, but I absolutely love it. When I originally envisioned the quilt, I thought I would use the background fabrics to make a pieced border. However, the closer I got to finishing the top, the more I second guessed that plan. I spent about a week debating whether to do the pieced border, and, with the aid of some photos in which I laid out the options, I ultimately decided against it. I am so glad that I went with the borders you see below. I think they give a much sharper finish to the quilt than the pieced background fabrics would have done.
But now, while I love the way it turned out, I am left with a dilemma. Since I had planned from the beginning to do a pieced border with the background pieces, I had cut accordingly. So I now find myself with with 333 extra bricks and 157 extra squares on my hands, all in fairly neutral fabrics. I haven’t been able to think of any other quilt patterns that would use the size of bricks I have as a background, so what on earth is to be done with them? Turn them into a quilt of their own, of course!
When I examined the pictures I took to illustrate my various border options (which I refrain from sharing since they were taken at night and all turned out blurry), I found that I really liked the look of all of the background pieces up against each other. I immediately thought that they would make a fantastic low volume quilt, so I set about to do some math to figure out what size quilt I could make with those leftovers. To my great pleasure, I found that if my piecing were perfect, the top would come out to 62X74 inches, and I would be left with a mere 9 extra squares. Given that that falls within my idea of the ideal size for lap quilts, I was thrilled. I promptly took all of my neat little stacks of bricks and squares and mixed them up into a sort of scrappy soup.
That’s all I’m going to say about the design for now. That and I am super excited to make this quilt top. I love the idea of going low volume, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out. I’m thinking I may even write up a tutorial when I’m done. For now, I leave you with my sewing supervisor. That look clearly means ‘get back to work’. Why? So she can sit on my lap while I make her a quilt to cuddle with, of course.
Linking up with Show and Tell Tuesday.
Amid This Moment 
The borders you have added look perfect to your quilt. It’s going to be even more gorgeous when finished. Love your idea what to do with the leftover fabric and can’t wait to see the quilt top done!
Thanks, Astrid! I’m planning to do the basting at my parents’ house later this week. I can’t wait to get started quilting it.
Beautiful results! And, like a true quilter, one project merges into the next.
Thank you! I’m doing the happy dance that I’m turning into a true quilter. I love this hobby. 🙂
I like your supervisor. She is pur-r-r-r-r-r-r-fect!
Indeed. You should come cuddle her so I can focus on sewing.
I can’t wait to see what you have planned for your low volume quilt! your cat is very pretty, too 🙂
She certainly thinks so! Thanks for stopping by.
Beautiful and can’t wait to see the low volume quilt!
Thank you! Glad you could stop by. 🙂
Very pretty! And i love low volume too!
Your kitty looks ready to sew! 🙂
Thanks! I wasn’t sure about low volume when I first started seeing it, but it’s really grown on me. Now I’m full of ideas for various low volume projects.
What a lovely quilt. I can’t believe it’s your first one. Looks like you have a sewing assistant 🙂
Thank you so much. I definitely bit off a lot when I chose that as my first quilt, but I’m happy with it. It’s been a little over a year in the making, though, so I’m excited to be wrapping it up.
I think my ‘assistant’ hinders more than she helps, but she sure is cute! And she’s good for keeping the lap warm in the winter.
Congrats on finishing your first quilt top, Bobbi!
Congratulations on your first quilt top! Now start making a list of your quilts, so you won’t have to recreate it years and years down the road. It’s really fun to keep track of what you’ve accomplished. Bravo!