Yay for progress!! I got my first quilt quilted! I suppose you'd call this loose quilting? It's 10" squares, the outer border is 5", for a total of 50"x70". I figured it should be ok with the 10" spacing because I used fleece for batting...right? It's not too late to add more if I need to...but I kind of like how it is.

It's definitely not without flaws (LOTS!), and I haven't hidden my loose threads yet...so don't look too close, kay? ;) My proudest moment so far has been when I finished quilting and trimming the edges and folded it up to wait for binding...and all four corners matched up perfectly!!!

I haven't decided on my binding yet, though. In the picture you see the fabrics I'm choosing between. I have enough of either of them to do it. Before I bought my backing, I'd planned on using the turquoise, but stupid me, I forgot to bring the barbie blanket (I made for DD with scraps that has all four of my fabrics in it) to match the colour. It's almost a dead ringer for the green in the small flower print, but I was going for the brighter lime green originally. Anyway, now it seems brown binding would look better, as far as the backing goes, but I think it would give the border a nice pop on the front...so I can't choose. For what it's worth, this isn't intended to be reversible... Thoughts?

Ok...here's the picture.

I vote for the turquoise.

Will it be used a lot? That may affect your decision, as lighter fabrics tend to get dirty sooner. But the turquoise would be really pretty. Beautiful job on the piecing.

turquoise would balance it out . nice work

Make that another turquoise vote.

I'd bind it in the brown. I'd probably quilt it more. 10" is a lot. It's at the maximum range. Though I've never used fleece as a batting, I'd probably throw some more quilting in to make sure...

It will be used enough...it's for the couch, so for whoever wants to snuggle up. I think I might go with the turquoise anyway, though.

And thank you! I thought the piecing would be the hard part - lining up all those seams...but the quilting was way harder. I didn't think SID would be hard, but between trying to move it through the machine and paying attention to my needle, I veered off the beaten path a few times...

I like the turquoise but if your not confident in your binding or blind stitching skills, I would go with the brown. Having a matching border and binding will help hide little mistakes. I should know... I am good at mistakes and hiding them ;)

You make a good point...and since I've never done a binding before, it's a very strong point! LOL

Very pretty, Good job matching up the intersections.
Just keep making them and you will get more pleased with you work. We are our worst critics.

Just trying to help, I wouldn't use fleece, batting would be much better.
I also would quilt much closser than 10", at least 3-4".
I also would use brown for the binding.
You could always stitch diagonal across the squares or at least some of the squares. I posted a picture of a crib size quilt I made for my 2nd Great Granddaughter, It is very easy. I just eyeballed it as the squares were only 3".

Binding should be viewed as a frame. Do you want to notice the picture or the frame?

I would do this also!

Count me in the turquoise votes.

I like your quilt. The colours go great together. Your quilting looks good too. I started off with in the ditch and progressed from there. Welll done.
For your Binding - do you have any of the other colours available? it would look good with one of the greens, would bring the colour out to the edge. If you don't I would go with the turquoise.

Def. the turq.

Count another vote for turquoise.

You did a great job on that quilt!! Yippee!!!!!!!
I also vote for turquoise :D

I vote for Turquoise.

Turquoise! Very nice!

Ditto here! :thumbup: Nice work!

Definately the turquoise.

Nice quilt, great for the couch. I vote for the turquoise.

If you have enough fabric, I'd go with the patterned fabric that you used in your quilt top (not the plaid). It coordinates very nicely with the green on back. If not, I vote for turquoise!

hmmm...I may possibly have enough...i never even considered that...

i like the torquoise to

I really think the turquoise one would be better than the brown. You did a good job on the quilt.

Thank You Barbara!! I never considered using the flower pattern until you said this...and the lightbulb went on in my head *PERFECT*. I measured what I had left of it and it's enough! I have it all cut into strips and am working on sewing them all together, it will give me almost 30" extra to play with once it's all sewn, too!

I like the brown.......... help the eyes know where to stop.
frames the quilt in.......... brown is my choice.

You're welcome, Deema! Be sure to post a picture when your lovely quilt is finished.

By fleece are you saying the kind that is used for the tie blankets and sports jackets, etc? If so you have plenty of quilting --I make fake quilts (they only have two layers so family says they are "fake") using this type of fleece and have quilted as far as 12" apart to keep my fabrics together. Twenty years later they are still holding up and have been taken from car to house and back to car several times a week. LOL

Yes...I used the old ugly fleece throw from my couch as batting for my new an much prettier quilted throw for the couch :D . I'm giving it life after death. haha

I would bind it with the turqoise. Also, I suggest more quilting. I would do a diagonal grid on each block.