In 2018 The Fat Quarter Shop had a quilt along with the Summer Moon pattern. I purchased the pattern and the fabric bundle all ready to join in. Then I said to myself, I said "Self, I don't want to make blocks that small." So I packaged it all up and put it on the shelf.
Fast forward to 2024. Now I'm the president of our local quilt guild and I suggest this pattern for our quilt along, and let’s just say there were more than a few moments I questioned my choices.
My First Finish of the month: The Quilt from Hell – AKA Summer Moon 🌙
Well, I did it... I survived it, and it’s FINALLY finished! Meet The Quilt from Hell (officially known as Summer Moon). 😂
The pattern itself is stunning, and the fabric suggestions were gorgeous, but let’s be real... there were so many blocks, and some of those seams really tried to break me.
But I made it through, and now I’m holding my “Summer Moon” in all its glory! It’s funny how a project that nearly made me lose my sanity can turn into something so beautiful once it’s finished. There’s definitely a lesson in there, though—stick with it, even when it feels like you’re about to throw the whole thing in the trash. 😅
So here it is, in all its "I'm done and I survived" glory.
Second Quilt of the Month: College and Travel T-shirt Quilt 💚💜
This month, I finished another quilt that's so close to my heart— a college t-shirt quilt for a friend who’s not only been through high school and college with my daughter but was also her college roommate they're first year. These shirts are more than just fabric; they represent years of memories, sisterhood, and unforgettable moments.
From sorority events to travel opportunities, each shirt tells a story of a special time in her life. It was such a joy to take all those cherished shirts and, in her words, move them forward into something useful.
It was definitely a bit of a puzzle piecing everything together (those letters and logos can be tricky!), but the final product was absolutely worth it. I hope this quilt becomes a keepsake that holds the spirit of her college years for years to come.
This quilt wasn't finished without its oops challenges. I keep a tape measure stretched across the front of my longarm for two reasons, to mark the edges of the quilt so when it's advanced I can keep it square and to mark the quilting limit, so I don't bump into the belly bar and end up with an ugly line stitched.
Since UAB is the home of the Blazers, I found a pantograph called Blaze. I was quilting away, did the ghost row and one complete pass. Then when I went to advance the quilt, there was the oops. I had stitched the tape measure to the quilt. I didn't get a picture of it stitched in but here's what the end results look like.
I trimmed it away as best I could and left the little sliver to tell the story.
Then came the binding. UGH!! I had to buy an additional quarter yard (LQS minimum) of fabric because I was one 2.5 inch strip short of enough binding. It actually turned out to be ONLY 2.5 inches.
My final finish for the month was quilting Mary's Stack and Whack quilt. She used Kaffe fabric, and it is quilted with a continuous loop curve.
So, that was my month in a nutshell. Not too shabby.
Until next time....
Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.
Rose
Linking with: Finished or Not Friday
