Neutral String Quilt–finished

After working steadily on my cot sized string quilt over the weekend, I’m pleased that I finished stitching the binding down last evening (Sunday).  A couple of days ago I took it outside and pinned the layers together ready for machine quilting.  The winter weather was pleasant enough to sit outside under cover and use the patio table for this job.

Getting the safety pins in place

Over the weekend we had atrocious weather, thunder and lightning, strong wind and heavy rain.  At the first clap on thunder Gemma took off, she really doesn’t like loud noises.  After searching for her in her favourite hidey-holes to no avail, we eventually found her tucked away in the wardrobe in my sewing room.  Here she is inside a plastic crate which houses a couple of  UFOs and a  variety of nine patch blocks I’d made ages ago – must do something with those one day soon.  I’d obviously left the lid of the crate last time I rummaged around inside it.

Hiding from the thunder

She was happy to snooze in the wardrobe and keep an eye on me while I sat at the sewing machine.  Finishing off the machine quilting and then attached the  scrappy bright pink  binding.  I had some strips of this colour left over from my Soul Searching quilt, so just had to cut a few more to give me enough length.

Attaching the binding

Then I sat and hand stitched the binding down in front of the TV later that evening.  Gemma insisted on laying stretched out on my lap so I had to work around her.  She really is quite a loving cat and likes to keep close to both of us.

The last step, hand sewing the binding

This morning the weather had cleared so I went outside for a couple of photos.  This quilt will be donated to Foster Hope Charity, for children in foster care.  With even more neutral string blocks tucked away, enough for another child’s quilt or two, I’ve been checking the internet for ideas of how else to use up these blocks.   Has anyone got a great idea I might use?  These blocks have a lot of girly prints like flowers and hearts so they are more suitable for a girl.   Even though this project is finished, I’ll be leaving the string blocks on my list of six to use some more up when dice number one is rolled again.

Ready for a new home

But there will be no rolling the dice this week - I’ll be out of action for a couple of days with a hospital procedure.  I’ll use the rest of the week to hopefully complete my wooly winter cardigan, and work on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.  And whatever else takes my fancy, I’m sure I’ll find plenty to keep me occupied.