27 year WIP :)
 

I finished this yesterday. My mom pieced the top for me when I was about 6, and then due to a variety of reasons it sat unfinished in a closet for 24 years.. 3 years ago she gave it to me when she moved, and I wasn't confident in my ability to finish it until recently. I'm not sure what the finished size is but pre-quilting it was about 60x72... all of the edges are baises and it was crazy difficult to square up the top to baste it, never mind quilt it. Each of the blocks with the pinwheels seemed to try to "grow" the more I tried to flatten them too. After quilting I had to trim the quilt twice before I could put the binding on (and even then there were numerous spots that needed more trimming after) because the light green blocks all bowed outwards like a scalloped edge.. but not in a good way :)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2853/8...a0fc9912_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8399/8...66e41b5c_z.jpg

It is even ladybug approved.. which makes my 7 year old very happy :)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7368/8...310e83cc_z.jpg

The only thing I'd change if I were to do it again would be to use some sort of light green for the top thread.. the white really stands out on the dark green parts and completely disappears in the lighter print, which made those areas very difficult to FMQ. Of course every place I had issues with thread happened where it was VERY visible too.. but I'm trying to be okay with that... because at least it's not sitting unloved in a bag in the closet any more, my 7 year old gets to use/enjoy it :)

Very pretty. I think maybe a border around it might have helped the squaring up. Your Daughter will love it and think it is perfect. Good for you to finish it up.

Congratulations on completing this beautiful quilt despite the difficult moments! I love your quilt! It was worth waiting 27 years for. Thank you for sharing. :)

it looks REAL good to me. You should be proud of yourself. BrendaK

I think so too, but it really didn't start to "grow" at those edges until I was quilting it, when it was already too late to add something. I don't see myseld doing many (any?) bias edged quilts so I doubt it will ever be a problem for me again ;)

I wouldn't worry about it's sides one more minute. It is really, really pretty and it's useable. And it will be loved. Bias edges left laying for 27 years would have a right to stretch. LOL By the way. Your Mother did a good job piecing the quilt too.

It's very pretty. Well done!

Great piecing and finishing up! Made a very pretty quilt and your daughter will love it for a long time!

It is a beautiful quilt and you did a great job finishing it. I love the backing you chose too. I am confident you daughter will love this quilt for another 27 years!

very lovely quilt and a great finish

Very pretty. I know your Daughter will love it.

I love it! It was sooooo worth finishing!!

What a wonderful quilt..with wonderful memories.

Very pretty!! Congratulations on getting it done.

congratulations .

Beautiful quilt! I like the pattern and the colors. Your quilting is well done!!

I think it is lovely!!!

Very pretty. what a great family story and keepsake!

Beautiful quilt.

I love it, you did a great job and you rescued the quilt. It needed a home with you.

I quilt is beautiful. That picture of the lady bug is adorable. I would be tempted to print and frame it and hang it in my daughter's room.

What a treasure...very nice quilting too.

Honey, you did well.!!! For your next quilt, I would recommend taking a quilting class if any are available in your area. If not get a basic beginning quilting book from the library and follow its suggestions. Many have small quilt patterns you can make so you won't get discouraged. You must continue with this hobby, as you will find it relaxing and rewarding. You are too creative to stop now. I love your backing fabric. Very clever to use it there.

Well it looks pretty good and glad it's getting loved.

It's a lovely quilt. (I have a top I made 12 years ago going to the LA on Saturday, and I thought THAT was a long time!)

This quilt definitely deserved to be finished and you did an amazing job.

Oh don't worry, it's not my first.. and it definitely won't be my last... I'm about to start quilting a top for my nephew that I finished piecing a couple of nights ago (still need to finish pressing the seams - that's my very least favorite part of the process and where I tend to drag my feet), I've digitized some very cute applique owls for a quilt for my niece's first birthday, and I am amassing the fabric for not one but two queen sized quilt for "me" since my husband and I don't share well, so we can each have a quilt on the bed to use - I don't have much stash so that finding things I like has been a lengthy process.

Anywyas, part of the reason I didn't do anything with this quilt top sooner is because of the way my mom described just "not being able to deal with it" - it seemed like maybe there was a technical reason she couldn't do it that would prevent me from doing it but she's done some amazing quilts, and I didn't get the FULL backstory to the quilt top until I was actually at her house getting it ready to quilt (she has more open floor space than I do, I didn't have anywhere big enough to lay the whole thing out).

Basically this top was pieced over the year leading up to her divorce from my dad. Once they were divorced, she just couldn't handle seeing it, so it was stuffed away, so while she couldn't finish it, she couldn't get rid of it either (and I don't blame her, with all the work she put in piecing those blocks).. she said she tried to take it out several times to work on it and just cried, and so she put it away again. I don't recall ever seeing it as a child, even though I have very vivid memories of every other quilt she made me and several others she made (starting from the one when I was only 3 on the quilt frame, which I very nearly wore out - I still have it and it's definitely well loved, another she made me when I was 5 also on the frame, and one she made me several years later which was one of her first fully machine quilted quilts). It may be not seeing it set up on the frame yet as to why I don't remember it, but I also can't remember seeing any of the quilts my mom made my sister and some of those are still around and I'm very familiar with them and I know they must have been in plain sight for months... maybe because they were for my sister I just blocked them from my memory ;)

It looks beautiful.

So glad your UFO is finished and it looks great!

It is very pretty. I love the colors, and the backing is gorgeous! I'm so glad you were able to finish it. No matter how many small mistakes it might have (and I can't see any!), it looks so much better done than it could ever look tucked in a drawer!

Best of all, your 7 year old gets "Grandma" love whenever she uses it. Can't beat that!

It's such a pretty quilt, and the backing is great too. So glad you could finish it for your little girl - it really came out beautifully!

very pretty

I think it's great that you got it finished! It looks great!

Great story. Your mom did a wonderful job piecing and you did a great job finishing. Despite all the issues, it turned out to be a beautiful quilt (nice backing too). Enjoy it!

It is beautiful!!!!!!

I agree with BrendaK it looks great to me

Love it! Plus it is very much a part of your families history and a story of life in general. Its very special, great finish.

It's a really lovely quilt. I like the colors and I know what you mean about bowed edges.
That's why I may never do one on the bias ever ever again... Can't see it in your photos anyway.

It is wonderful ~ and DONE!!!! Love your backing fabric too, great job!!!