{A little background: I have known her + 3 other wonderful ladies for almost 18 years now (omg). I love them all dearly and I'm hoping to create a little tradition of gifting their children quilts at their births. This is the second baby to be born among our group, and a third is expected in August, which means I should probably get back to quilting soon!!}
The front:
The background is Birch Fabrics: Whale Watching in Shroom (found here), and the appliqued map is a Moda Bella Solids (sorry, not sure what color- this was from yardage I had in my stash, but here is a similar version).
The back:
Fabrics (from L to R): Patty Sloniger-Bella Butterfly/Sweet Spots in Green; Moda Bella Solid (similar), Anette Tatum- Boho Chevron, Moda Bella Solid (similar), Khristian Howell- The Woodlands/Dream, Patty Sloniger- Bella Butterfly/Sweet Spots in Aqua, Moda Bella Solid (similar), Joel Dewberry- Modern Meadow/Herringbone in Pond, Robert Kaufmann Kona Solids (similar), Patty Sloniger- Backyard Baby/ Birch Forest in Aqua
I started out by printing a map (google searched until I found one I liked) on several pieces of paper, which I then taped together. This would have been much simpler if it were printed on a large scale plotter (which, ironically ??, I have access to, but didn't use). Then I outlined everything in dark ink.
I created a light table, which I rigged out of a glass topped side table and a scentsy lamp, and traced the (backwards) map pattern onto applique paper. (I simply followed the instructions per the package).
I ironed the (uncut) applique sheets on to the wrong side of the applique/blue fabric, and cut out the pattern using this pair of awesome scissors (and yes, they are laying on my new coffee table):
Seriously, if you are going to applique anything, invest in these scissors asap! They are magical. I found mine at Joann's.
I decided to machine applique everything to the whale print fabric (instead of hand stitching). Needless to say, it took a few rounds of practice and lots of frustration. Tension is *key* in machine applique.
The islands at the top of America are my favorite. I almost decided to do away with all islands on the map, but I decided that I wouldn't be okay with it being geographically incorrect :)
The quilting was done in straight lines- I love how it almost looks like an atlas.
My quilting quality is honestly a work in process. I quilt (and sew) on a 1970's Singer, which I LOVE, but it doesn't have any speed control other than how hard I push on the presser foot. It takes a while each time I sit down to quilt to get a rythm going, so there are several areas with uneven stitches. There were also many, many un-stitches made with my seam ripper. I'm hoping practice makes perfect, so that maybe I'll produce a product with mostly even stitch lengths.
The binding was pre-made, purchased at Joann's. I tried machine stitching it and that was an utter fail. So, I resorted to hand stitching the binding. So. Much. Better.
The finished product:
I love it so much, I might be crazy enough to recreate another one of these sometime soon.
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