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Just popping back in for the tiniest of brags.
You guys!
This picture doesn’t nearly do this quilt top justice. (I have a feeling I’ll struggle with finished-quilt photos this time.) I wrestled my Penny Sampler blocks into a top, and boy howdy! What a thing of gorgeousness.
This almost languished forever in a WIP pile, btw. Rachel’s deadline for our class is 12/15. (Of course, she is really kindly making the pattern available for those who are behind to purchase, but I really wanted this to be done-zo.) I got stuck on the paper-piecing.
Really, truly, I hate paper-piecing. I just don’t do it. I don’t get in that good “we’re working, we’re working” zone that you get into when you’re sewing and really getting things done. There’s so much start-stop, so much frustration, so much agony. The cuteness of the finished block *almost* makes up for these moments, but for me, never quite. I’m a piecer, friends. I’d do a million Ribbon Stars and be in my element. I really respect those of you who do such beautiful paper-piecing, because I know what a struggle I find it to be!
It goes *almost* without saying, but I’m going to handquilt this. I’ve tried to think of a way around the slowness of handquilting (can I straight-line quilt it? Mark Baptist fans on it? do different FMQ designs?) but a quilt like this just really needs to be handquilted.
It’s Christmas time so I’ve only disappeared because I’ve caught my annual birthday crud (this year, in the form of a nasty cold that Lucy had for a day and I had for a week, and am still working to shake off). I’ll be back this week with some Elf-ing I’m doing, and some enlightenment about Christmas gifting I’d like to share. I can’t wait to visit my blog feed and see what you’ve all been up to!
little and lots 
Wow – this is going to look amazing when it is all finished, at least by hand quilting it you get to snuggle under it on those horrible cold winter days. Love the colours you have used. How big is it?
I love it! And I totally agree with you that hand quilting is the way to go.
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to see you start to quilt it!
It’s gorgeous. I just love the little village of houses. I like paper piecing but I have to agree that it is a struggle to get in a groove and it never fails that I sew a piece on backwards at least once (usually twice).
Hope you are feeling much better! What a sweet quilt. I have to say… reluctantly… I am not big on the paper piecing either. Only have ever done one block, but just wasn’t ‘feeling’ it. I figure three strikes before you’re out though!
Omg! I can’t wait to see this handquilted!! Gorgeous. Feel better!
I love it! And you are so right it has to be hand quilted. Also I hate paper-piecing 🙂
It is amazing I know how much work went into this so congrats on the finish!!! It should be a BIG brag!! I was watching Daisy (@ants to sugar) do hers and I think she would say she did not like the paper piecing either.
I agree, I can’t wait to see the finish quilted look 🙂 Hope you feel better and happy birthday.
I’m doing the Penny Sampler quilt also and am stuck at the paper piecing! I think if I could just get started, it might not be as bad as I think it is! But to get started….
Beautifully done Laura! It will be even more fabulous after all those hours of hand quilting 🙂
Beautiful! I just adore the way this turned out!
AHHHH!!!! Gorgeous!! Probably more so because you haven’t over-shared a million WIP pics. 😉 You’re right to hand quilt it. I’m sure I’ll always regret that I didn’t.
your palette, with the pops of strong red, is great! you must be so very proud of this top every time you look at it. I bet it holds many, many memories of moments with each block’s construction.
good luck on the handquilting. it’s something I’ve done on two small, special baby quilts and wish I had the time to do more often. you’ll be so happy you did!
looking forward to your elf-ing!
Well if that isn’t the purdiest thang!!! I looove the horse – so dang cute. Hand quilting will be an amazing finish!!!
I’m looking forward to seeing it all hand quilted. I think that will be the perfect finish for this kind of quilt.
P.S. Happy birthday, and I hope you feel better soon.
Really beautiful. It deserves to be hand quilted. I don’t think you’ll regret that decision.
This is gorgeous! Totally worth the paper piecing agony :).
Yeah, so quite jealous of this one!!! All I can say is wow, wow and WOW!! Love that red it’s so eye catching. Go with your gut…hand quilting will be best even if it seems a bit of a slog….just keep reminding yourself of how much you’ve already done 🙂
It’s beautiful!
Your Penny Sampler looks great!! Yay!! Well done you!! Hope you’re feeling better soon and can get stuck into some hand quilting on it…..it will look so good in Baptist Fan.
This is so beautiful, Laura! It will look so fabulous when it’s hand quilted!
🙂 Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
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This is insanely gorgeous! Makes me really consider buying the pattern while it’s available. But I don’t know about the paper piecing. I am SO excited you will be handquilting this. It will be such a treasure!
Just gorgeous! I’m itching to get back to mine!
Can’t wait to see your hand quilting!
Have you picked backing fabric yet?
Oh my goodness – all those different blocks are so festive looking! I can’t wait to see all the details as you share more 🙂 How did you like taking an online sewing class?
Oh, fantastic! I know I am horribly late to see this post, but I’m so glad I finally did! Yes, yes, yes, to handquilting! I agree that it’s really wanted here =). Hope you’re feeling better. And, have a Merry Christmas!
This is just gorgeous! I can’t wait to see the handquilting! It will be perfect! merry Christmas!
xo jan
beautiful finish 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you do with the quilting. And I agree, paper piecing is the devil… not my cup of tea for sure!
This quilt tops is beautiful! Hand quilting it will really add a nice detail to it.