Friday, December 20, 2013

Winner, winner, Christmas dinner!

I felt so lucky (and for a moment, a little guilty) for winning the block lotto at my annual November retreat last month. I've been running this retreat for 8 years and never won, so I guess it was bound to happen. Can I just say how happy I am that it was this year? Happy, happy, happy!  Katy's Christmas scrappy trip inspired me to set the Scrappy Trip Around the World block as this year's lotto - it's a super quick make and everyone's got holiday fabric to use up!


Although I'd been sewing with my pals for 4 days non-stop, I returned home Monday night and put the blocks right up on my design wall. There were 30 blocks, so a 5 x 6 layout made the most sense. The odd number across the quilt meant I couldn't use the 'normal' diamond setting. As much as I love this block, I didn't really feel like making 6 more - I just wanted to get this thing together in time for Christmas! Using the strong diagonal reds, I opted for zigzags.


I busted out the wiggly stitch on my Pfaff for diagonal quilting lines through every second square. The wiggly stitch is excellent for diagnonal lines on a quilt with 2" squares because you don't have to mark the quilting lines!  Just aim for the corners of each square and you're all set. The wiggly line doesn't have to hit the corners dead on like you'd want to do with straight-line stitching.


I considered a flannel backing, but also had yardage of this super soft Kaffe Fasset shot cotton in green that's been lying around for years. Using up stash won over buying new flannel and I framed in this extra block with some Kona red so that there's a sweet little present on the back. The binding is a sweet candy cane stripe that was printed on the bias that I've been saving for just this kind of quilt (JOY by Kate Spain for Moda).


All washed and cuddly and keeping us warm on the couch!

8 comments:

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

Fantastic! You absolutely deserved the win if for no other reason than the great quilt you produced from the spoils. But of course, there are many more reasons, too.
Enjoy some couch time with your new creation.

Leanne said...

Your quilt is great, I love those strong diagonal reds.

Dianne Neale said...

So did they slave over a hot machine all weekend and you got it? Wow, that's some kinda prize! love it.

Katy Cameron said...

Lovely, and I like the red zig zags. Enjoy :o)

Elsa said...

Oh, your Scrappy Trip turned out so great and how lucky you are to have won the blocks!
You inspired me to make 2 of the silly things. Got one quilted and gave it to my son and dil ~ they love it! I hurt my shoulder and can't handle quilting right now, so mine is waiting it's turn to be quilted.
Thanks for the inspiration!

Nessa said...

Love the layout of this - congratulations on the win!

Catherine said...

Oh this looks amazing!

pennydog said...

Oh well done- both for winning and for getting it finished in time! Have a lovely Christmas.