I had a slightly more productive week in the studio than I had anticipated!
Assembly Progress – Rows
I spent Monday and Tuesday sewing the blocks together into three rows.
Rainbow Improv Exposed Seams Quilt Top
Moving slowly and with care, it took me a day to sew the top row to the middle and then another day to sew the bottom row to the top. I was really pleased to have the quilt top complete on Thursday afternoon!
Rainbow Improv – Basted
Friday through Saturday early afternoon were spent handling the garden variety of life things that need attending (meal planning and grocery purchase for the week, changing oil in vehicles, yard work, etc.), and I told myself that I would go slow and take my time on Saturday afternoon and just see how far I could get this weekend toward a basted quilt. Well, by 4 in the afternoon, the quilt was basted and I am eager to start quilting (hopefully on Monday afternoon).
Rainbow Improv – Basted
To prepare the quilt top for basting, I went around the edge of the quilt and sewed reinforcing seams across all the seams that run to the edge of the quilt. I cut about a 62″ square piece of fabric from the 2 yards of 108″ widebacking I purchased for the back of the quilt and took my time pressing it out nicely. As usual, I used my roll of Quilter’s Dream Dream Green batting.
Rainbow Improv Exposed Seams Piecing GIF
I thought it would be fun to put together a GIF, a bit like a timelapse, to show the evolution of the Rainbow Improv quilt top. What’s missing from the GIF is all the time and consideration I put into different layout options and the side tangents I needed to take in order to make sure I was able to piece the center the way I envisioned.
I have a pretty good idea of how I want to quilt the various sections of the quilt, but I have no idea how long it might take me to work through the process. I’m eager to dive in this week and get a feel for how long the quilting process might take. What are you working on?
Want to read more about this quilt’s evolution? Previous blog posts (in chronological order):
I cannot wait to see this entered into a show! I am sure it will be a ribbon winner.
So interesting to watch the progress. Glad you got it all assembled – the time it took to sew rows together is unbelievable. Looking forward to seeing your quilting decision.
What a treat to have more time in the quilt room than expected, and then to get the basting complete! I have to say, that center circle’s seam is pretty amazing – so flat and perfect!
That lovely center medallion helps to provide unity for your design. Where did you find it?
I enjoyed seeing the progress images for your quilt, and look forward to the quilting. It is gorgeous so far!
oh what happy progress! I’m excited you are at the quilt stage and anxious to see how that goes for you. Enjoy the process, as you have been already.
I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the evolution of this quilt, Yvonne! It’s such an amazing process and the finished quilt lays so flat – it’s just beautiful. I’m looking forward to seeing how you quilt it.
The time lapse is a really fun look at this quilt. I love seeing it all together and appreciate all those decisions you make along the way – making this such a successful top!
Your beautiful exposed seams give precision sewing a whole new meaning! It’s such a beautiful quilt. Looking forward to seeing how you quilt it.
What a fun little “video” of the progress. xo
Just incredible. It’s been so sew interesting seeing you explore this technique and try things with your physicist brain and your love of color.
I really appreciate the way you spell out exactly what you’re doing; I’ve heard some people (I think Bonnie Hunter?) call that last stay-stitch around the edge, a “victory lap”, and when I think of it that way I’m much more likely to do it and less likely to be annoyed than when I think of it as stay-stitching. But, all binaries are false, call it something else and make it even more fun!