Finish #9 for 2017 - Back to 2012....

I dug deep into my UFO pile for this quilt.  I purchased it as a kit w/o a pattern from Keepsake quilting in 2011.  I cut out all the pieces for the Fab Shop Hop "Close to My Heart Sampler" pattern in 2012, and there it sat......

I pulled it out as the April UFO for the American Patchwork & Quilting UFO Challenge.  This quilt went together really quickly since everything was already cut and organized.  I did get confused with the cornerstones and ended up making different ones that the original ones I cut.  I also cut new background fabric as the bright white I had cut was too stark against the off-white of the rest of the fabric.  I ended up using Kona snow.  Little Lucifer 2 loves this quilt a lot.  She comes running whenever I lay it down.  I think its her favorite quilt that I've made.

I have been trying out a new method of basting.  I start at the top and secure the backing with blue painter's tape, then I work my way down the sides and along the bottom.  I then spray baste the batting and then the top.  I've done a couple this way so far and they seem to come out great.

Lucifer 2 approves of my basting job.

I decided to custom-quilt this.  I stitched in the diagonal ditches and along the borders with my regular machine and walking foot.  I then custom quilted the rest of it on the Sweet 16.  I used a combination of Magnifico, So Fine, and Bottom Line threads.  I used feathers, ribbon candy and swirls.  I used a simple egg and dart on the flowered borders.  Lucifer 2 LOVES the finished product! I'm really happy with how this came out and with my new bobbin case, I didn't have any tension issues quilting it.