Grandpa's Quilt...

I started this back in May with the hope of finishing it within the month.  Fast forward four months and I've finally completed and mailed off this quilt to my Grandpa...

Grandpa's Quilt

I'm calling it appropriately enough 'Grandpa'.  The pattern is called Bali Boxes, but is now out of print.  It's one of my go to patterns, because it's simple, requires one jelly roll and even after making several of them, I still like the look of it!  The finished quilt is 69" x 76".

I added my Grandpa's name to the top of the quilt.  He's 89 and lives in a nursing home, so I'm hoping that it will help the quilt remain with him.

My Grandpa's Name

I also added some information on the back in case the quilt gets lost or misplaced, so they'll know who it belongs to.  I've heard some horror stories from people who have relatives in nursing homes.

Label and 'lost and found' information

I quilted it using the Square Spirals pantograph by Keryn Emerson, which is a quick and fun one I've used before.

Square Spirals Pantograph

This really is a pretty quick quilt to make.  I struggled trying to find the right font to use for his name and had to wait several weeks for my back to heal before I could actually quilt it, otherwise it would have been done much sooner than it was.  However, the timing is probably perfect now that the weather has started to change!

So, the stats for this quilt are:

• Size: 69" x 76"
• Fabrics: Berry Bliss Bali Pop, batiks for the borders and backing
• Batting: Quilter's Dream Green Batting
• Thread: Aurifil (Piecing & Quilting - Top), Superior Threads (Quilting - Bobbin)
• Pattern: Bali Boxes (out of print) - I made small changes to the pattern
• Quilting - Square Spirals Pantograph - 33 passes & 6 bobbins
• Started: May 2012
• Completed: September 24, 2012
• Recipient: Grandpa Ricci

Until later...

For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.

Jeremiah 31:25 (NLT)

Sew-in results...

This past Wednesday, my quilt bee came over for an all day sew in.  Everyone brought their machines and worked on their own projects.  I started sewing the blocks for a quilt for my Grandpa.  I started with this Berry Bliss Bali Pop.

Berry Bliss Bali Pop

This is such an easy quilt to make that in just over 4 hours, I managed to make all 40 blocks for the quilt center.

20 light, 20 dark blocks for the quilt center

After another hour or so today, I laid out the blocks and sewed them together.  There are very few seams to match up, so everything goes together lickety split.

Rows laid out and ready to be sewn together

Hopefully tomorrow I can sew the rows together and have the center completed.  Before adding the borders, I want to applique my Grandpa's name and DOB on them.  He's living in a nursing home right now and I've been warned about problems with theft.  I'm hoping that having his name prominently displayed might dissuade someone from walking off with it, but I know that it's still a possibility.  My Grandpa is also suffering from dementia and could end up just giving it away.  He has a tendency to do that.  But I'm making this quilt for him, knowing all those things could happen and I'm OK with that.  I just want him to know that I love him and was thinking of him when I made it.  And to be honest, it's also why I chose a simpler pattern (although one I still really enjoy making).

Our animals are a mixed bag when it comes to company coming over.  A couple of the cats will hide away until the last guest leaves, while Jack and Sam love to interact with them.  On Wednesday, Sam made herself at home in the middle of Susan's sewing.  Fortunately, Susan has several furbabies of her own (including her own Sam) and didn't mind the intrusion.

Sam lying on Susan's sewing stuff

I think we all had a fun and productive day!

Until later...

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. 

John 13:35 (NLT)