Chookshed Challenge for July

 It's been a bit of a rush, but I'm pleased to say that I've finished my Chookshed Challenge this month.  Number 10 was chosen for July, which was my jungle panel quilt.  This panel was donated to me from my elderly neighbour's stash when she went into a rest home.  I received a lot of children's fabrics, and I'm slowly working my way through them, although there are plenty more tucked away.  There was no piecing involved with using this panel, so it was just a matter of smoothing the layers out and pinning them together.  I took advantage of a glorious sunny but cool winter's day and pinned it up on the patio table outside.  It's hard to believe that the weather would be nice enough for me to enjoy sitting outside at this time of the year.

Pinning the layers together

How to machine quilt this panel I wondered?  I had though of outlining all the animals, trees and flowers but......  In the end I stitched gentle curves across the quilt, then straight lines around the borders.

Easy quilting lines

A scrappy green binding was next, using some left over strips from my secret sewing project, stitching the binding on the front by machine, and hand stitching it down on the back.  I do so enjoy this final part.  I spent another sunny afternoon stitching away on this outside on the patio.

Binding time

This little baby quilt didn't take me too long at all to complete.  And it was practically free.  The panel was donated, and I got a part roll of the apricot backing fabric at no cost when a local company was closing down.  This is the last piece, I had used some previously, and given most of it to my daughter.  There was "frankenbatting" in the middle, when I had several strips that I stitched together.  Quite a  bargain really.

Baby animals jungle quilt

The weather has reverted back to winter, and it's cold, wet and miserable today.  The heat pump is keeping us warm, and Gemma is relaxing on top of the donation quilts, folded on the coffee table.

These look soft and cuddly, Gemma is thinking

The donation quilts were ready and waiting to be shown to the Sew Wot ladies yesterday, but unfortunately I got sick and couldn't host the get together.  Many thanks to Mary for taking over at short notice.  Goodness knows what laid me low, but I feel much better today, thank goodness.