Quick quilts...

How long does it take you to make a quilt?  From start to finish?  I'm guessing I usually average a year or more.  I tend to finish the quilt top fairly quickly, but don't get around to quilting it for quite a while. 

Knowing this about myself, I have still decided to make a quilt from start to finish in 18 days.  Seems like a strange goal, but there's a reason.  (Isn't there always?)  My husband's daughter has a birthday coming up on July 22nd.  In all the years I've known her, I've yet to make her a quilt.  And I know she'd appreciate it.  And she's just so sweet.  So this is the year.  Unfortunately I didn't come to this decision until yesterday, July 4th.  Hence, 18 days to make it.

One of the benefits to having a large stash is that I had all of the material on hand.  I quickly picked a pattern - Star Struck by Cozy Quilts.  I made another version of this quilt several years ago and really liked the pattern.  In fact, the quilt top is still hanging in my closet waiting to be quilted!  The throw size only requires a jelly roll, 2 yards of a light background and 1.5 yards of a dark background.

Fabric for the Star Struck Quilt

The jelly roll I'm using is Looking Back by Brannock & Patek.  It's full of rich colors and some very 'natury' type prints.  That describes the recipient so hopefully she'll like it.  It didn't take long to get the initial cutting done...

Initial cuts for the quilt

I've just started piecing my strips together.  This quilt has a fairly neat construction technique that requires sewing your fabrics into tubes before subcutting.  I'll try to take pictures when I get to that point.  My goal is to finish making the quilt top by the end of this weekend.  That would give me another week to quilt and bind it.  If life doesn't get in the way, I just may make it!

David was being his ever helpful self while I was working on it...

David acting as my assistant

What would I ever do without his help?  I hope I never have to find out.

Until later...

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again rejoice! 

Philippians 4:4 (NLT)