4/17/14

Top of the World Finish

This morning I wasted no time putting the last borders on the We Are the World quilt. I'm so happy with how this has turned out.


I started this quilt on January 15, 2013. It was my first Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt. The pattern, Little Red Dresses, designed by Barbara Weiland Talbert, was originally free on the internet, but it has since been removed. (At least, I can't find it anywhere.) When I made the first blocks...the pink ones, middle block, bottom row...they weren't working out at all. The pattern used templates for the skirts. Enough said, I think. You can read my post about my first attempt with the blocks right here. But leave it to you helpful folks of the blogging community to come to my rescue. Once again, my undying gratitude goes to my sister quilters Denise and Andra who created paper-piecing patterns for me using their EQ programs. I ended up paper-piecing the skirts and traditionally piecing the rest, and this quilt is the end result.

This is the fabric I'm going to use for the back. The dots are about the same diameter as a pencil eraser.


Now I need to decide on a fabric for the binding. If you look at the extreme right of the image below, you can see the three contenders. I can either use the same floral fabric from the outer border, or the navy blue and white polkadot from the inner border, or I can use the same rainbow fabric I used for a different quilt binding. Which one do you like best?


Next up, I'm going to make the quilt top for the long arm class I'm taking later on this month. We're supposed to make a quilt top, thus:


These are the fabrics I pulled this morning.


I'm not trying to make an award-winning quilt from this since it will be a sampler. I'll probably want to keep it for reference. Nevertheless, if I end up with a nice little lap quilt that would be a bonus. I chose the fabrics because they'll show the quilting easily. Just as I posted the instructions again, I noticed I'm supposed to make a backing...and also two "extra fabrics". Guess I'll have to hunt those down too.

Today is a swimming day. Every bone in my body and brain (yes, I've been known to be a bonehead on occasion) tells me to just stay home. Honestly, though, I can't think of a single good reason for not going beyond just not wanting to leave the house. Rainy days seem to generate inertia. On the other hand, this could be the first time since setting my goal of four days of exercise per week that I could actually accomplish it. Not bad...nearly five months into the year, eh? (Scoff.) Anyway...if I go, I could earn my first "A" for a week of exercise. Maybe that alone will be enough to get me moving. My swimsuit was smelling so strongly of chlorine that I couldn't stand myself last time I put it on. I washed it over the weekend, and so it's nice and clean now. I have about 30 minutes to make up my mind. Watch for the exciting conclusion of this dilemma in my next blog post.

26 comments:

Quilting Babcia said...

Oh, I just love that rainbow fabric for the binding. It would look fantastic on both the front and the back with those great polka dots. Looking forward to hearing about your long-arm class(es?). They have really spiffed up the room with all the machines. Happy rainy day!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I like the blue polka dots for the binding. I look forward to your report on the longarm class.

Marei said...

Does she go swimming? Does she stay home? Oooo.....it's a nail biter!! As for binding, I would use them both!!

Ann said...

Your Around the World quilt top turned out very nice. The fabrics for the sashing, cornerstones and borders are great. I think either of the binding fabrics will be perfect. Have fun finishing. Give my best to Ms. Gracie. I enjoyed her post the other day. She is so pretty.

Donna said...

I like the flowers best for the border, but I think the polka dot would go best with both the front and back. I love the quilt top!

carla said...

Hi!!!! I like the blue polka dot but the others would be pretty too!!!! Did you go swimming?!!!! Inquiring minds!!!! Love your quilt!!!! Long arm class sounds fun!!!!

Junebug613 said...

I am of no help on the binding today. They all look good. I hope you went swimming! You know you always feel better if you go.

Cath said...

I don't claim to be any expert but I would stay away from the rainbow for the binding. I like the polka dot but I feel it detracts the eye too much from the beautiful dollies in the centre of the quilt. Because of this I would use the floral which would keep the focus on the main part of the quilt. Hope you have a blast at the Long Arm Quilting class!
Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs

Diann said...

I vote for the blue polka dots for the binding. I'll be waiting to see what you decide!

crazy quilter said...

I vote for the blue polka dot! The long arm class will be fun for you! I took a class last fall and have quilted three quilts and have appointments for 2 more in the coming month. I have many tops that need to be quilted but sending all of them out is cost prohibitive. The last one I sent cost me over 300.00 ! Wow how much fabric could I buy for that!!!! Anyway the place I found rents their Gammil for 25.00 an hour and it usually takes about 2 hours per quilt. I know you will have a great time!

Andra Gayle said...

It is beautiful!

NancyA said...

I love this quilt--it has been so fun watching it grow as you added ladies each month; it has turned out great! I like the polka dots for the binding--it kind of works as a 'stopper' and frames the quilt. The rainbow is pretty, but draws the eye away from the ladies, I feel.

Oooh, a cliffhanger! Waiting to hear the exciting conclusion to the swim wars.

Dasha said...

I quite like the polka dots. Well done on completing that top.

quiltzyx said...

Well, I like the IDEA of the rainbow fabric for the binding, but looking at the pic, it just isn't working for me. I do tend to like to use my binding as a "frame", so of those 3, I think I like the polka dots best.

Have fun on your walk with Sue today!

lroghair/lparks said...

I love how the polka dots look for binding as they seem to pull everything together, but I'm sure the others would look great too. Sitting on pins & needles to hear if you went swimming or not! To swim or not to swim, that is the question!!

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Dots are my fave too. The rainbow overwhelms the rest of the quilt in my humble opinion. The self-framing works well too. I like the way the polka dots pull it all together.

Happy Friday, hope your walk is the best. Give my regards to Sue.

Doris Rice, The Quilting Queen said...

My initial choice was the rainbow but after looking at it a bit I changed my mind and went to with the navy polka dot. It pulls it all together. Nice finish and hope you got your A for the week and went swimming. I however would fail miserably!

Beth said...

My vote is for the florals, based on how great the picture of the finished top looks--I don't think it needs anything else. But the blue polka dots would go well with the polka dot background, so that would be a consideration. Surprise me!

P.S. I'd put money on an A for exercise this week. I look forward to hearing that I'm right. :)

Lea said...

At first I was going to say the blue dots for the binding but then thought twice and love how cheerful the brighter colors look. All 3 choices are pretty.

Motherdragon's Musings said...

Congratulations, such a pretty quilt, love it.

make.share.give said...

rainbow binding, please

Tami C said...

I like the navy blue and white polkadot for the outer border. This one as really turned out nice! Hope you have an enjoyable swim today!

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking a combination of the polka dot and rainbow--not a lot of rainbow--for the binding. The top is looking good.

Dar said...

All those are good choices for the binding. But I'm partial to the polka dot one to carry the inner border theme to the outside. It turned out so cute and the name is very fitting.

Brown Family said...

I like the rainbow best. It gives the eye a stopping place. Love the pretty colors for your class quilt.

Michele said...

The navy dots definitely and I too look forward to seeing your longarm sampler.