I’ve just finished one of the three Block -of -the-Month quilts that I’ve been stitching this year. I’m really pleased with it, love the design! It’s called ‘My Secret Garden‘ quilt, it’s designed by Pat Sloan and she releases the new block each month, it’s free too! This is the second BOM of her’s I’ve done (plus the Splendid Sampler that’s ongoing!) I find I learn so much from these quilts, they push me gently out of my comfort zone! Her instructions are great too, aimed at the beginner, which is fine by me!

I finished all the blocks last week and stitched them together, using all my scraps to make the border, any fabric left was used to patch up the backing fabric after I didn’t buy anywhere near enough to back it. All I had to do was quilt it…

As there were both very light and very dark fabrics in green, cream and purple I decided to go for a variegated grey Gutermann quilting cotton. I hoped it would blend in nicely with all the colours. Typically the lightest bits of thread seem to be on the darkest fabrics and visa versa! Overall though I’m pretty pleased with the effect. My quilting is definitely improving, either that or I have developed a pattern that suits my limitations! Basically I stitch like a meandering wave or leaf – a wiggle or a wave that finishes at a point. This allows me a space to stop and regroup.  I tried to meander on previous quilts but I found it was when I stopped that the stitching became uneven, this way my stops are planned! I still haven’t quite got the tension right underneath, I put a fresh needle in after a few minutes which did help but the top thread is showing through underneath quite a lot. Any suggestions welcome!

I bound the edges with dark green. I always hand stitch my binding down, I know a lot of people hate doing the binding, even put it off for months!! I actually quite like it, I can sit and relax  and let my mind wander! I’ve decide the one job I really don’t like with quilting is cutting all the loose threads off!! I always miss some (as you’ve probably noticed from my photos!!)

I’m going to give the quilt to my mum for Christmas, she has seen it whilst I was making it but she doesn’t know she’s getting it! I embroidered a label in purple and green variegated thread and stitched it on the back.

I’m so pleased to have finished one of the BOM’s, the Anderson Farm one should finish next month I think, then I’ve just got the Splendid Sampler to concentrate on…mind you, I’ve another quilt top that needs quilting and another quilt to make before then…