3 years in the making
The reason it took so long, my husband and I have one picky daughter! -lol The one you always say it the other spouses child when something like this happens, although she really is both of ours. Tell me you have one so I don’t feel alone in this.
When I started really making quilts in 2019, I told my kids and grands I will make what I like and want to make. If they like it and claim it, it’s theirs. My youngest daughter Ashley would claim them all bc she loves them all. However my middle child and oldest girl is rather picky.
I first had to wait for her to finally choose a fabric line. Bought 2 layer cakes at MSQC, daily deal. She ordered one, me another. Then I waited for her decision on a pattern worrying the whole time if I could even use layer cakes when the pattern was finally chosen. She chose Goodnight Irene from Jenny Doan at MSQC. Then I finally was able to get started bc I had the white on white.
However, Marsha didn’t want a seamed backing and the fabric line didn’t have 108 in. I ordered swatches what I thought may look good but no deal. I finally convinced her to use a white on white backing in 108, so IF she used the reverse side she could tone the bright white down with a dark foot runner and throw pillows.
Last year right before Christmas I told her the size it was and I was ready to quilt. Then she tells me she is getting a huge king bed, not the queen size I had pieced!
So… I ordered another layer cake, full price and did not want to touch it for 6 months. I had to rip off one side and foot if I remember before I could start again for my corners to come out right. I made the extra rows to make a 104x117 finish. I don’t know how she will ever wash this heavy quilt!
My sewing group has heard me lament about this off and on through the process. Lynn one of our longarm drs with a frame offered to quilt it for me. She knows I have back issues and said the way I have to pin and quilt on my longarm without a frame would kill me. I told her I appreciated her offer but let me think about it.
My intentions were for the family to have a quilt I made from beginning to end. However, the more I thought about it I knew I was so sick of it, it seemed simple just to have Lynn quilt it. My husband agreed though Lynn would be paid. So this is the finish that we came up with. This is the biggest I have ever pieced and the biggest Lynn has ever quilted. Lynn couldn’t resist spreading on her king bed and showing her husband Dan the finish as he had helped her load it. Dan said to tell me if my picky daughter was not happy with it he (and Lynn agreed) and Lynn would take it!
I also made King shams to go with it and they also can be flipped over to the other side. You know what I had left of the 3 layer cakes? One 2.5 inch square!
Needless to say, it’s finished, wrapped and under the tree and will be out of my sight in 2 days-lol
My Ashley cautioned her 10 year old daughter Nora do NOT comment when Aunt Marsha opens her quilt. Nora has overheard me telling Ashley how I did not enjoy making this at all. so Christmas Day will be the big reveal and I do hope she is pleased bc this was the most expensive quilt I have made.
The pictures show how we are really having a hard time at Show & Tell during our sewing group meeting, holding it for all to see.