And finally, only a few days after the intended recipient of this quilt was born (a beautiful baby girl), the skull quilt is done!
I was hoping to finish it in February, but last week the screw attaching my walking foot decided to stop working. Thank goodness it was only the screw- until we solved the problem, I was worried I might have stripped the shank rather than the screw, and that sounded potentially expensive. Husband to the rescue, and all was right with the world. I spent large chunks of Saturday and Sunday at the machine, shoving this 60″x72″ quilt through my trusty Viking. My shoulders are FINALLY feeling better…
I got the bright purple binding 1/2way on in time to hand stitch it in front of the Oscars… and if the show had just been a little bit longer, I would have finished Sunday night… but I went to bed at the end of the show, and finished it after work on Monday…
I am SO happy with how it came out! I echo-quilted inside the skull, fairly close together. I love the texture it created. The eyes have squarish spirals and the nostrils are just outlined. I did one row of echo-quilting in the green, around the skull. Finally, using painters tape as a guide ( I got the idea from this Pin), I did simple, straight lines radiating out from the skull. (Thank you, Oneblockwonderwoman for the idea!) They could be a lot straighter, my stitch length could be a lot more even, but hey, it’s done!
Here’s a closeup.
What do you think? You can kind of see the purple binding in tis next shot.
(FYI, a closed down restaurant near your home where they’re ripping up the parking lot makes a great backdrop for an “edgy” quilt photo shoot.)
I can’t wait to get this quilt to the new baby! She’s already worn a onesie covered in skulls and crossbones, and a Dead Kennedys shirt- and her dad currently has hair that is nearly the same shade of green as the quilt! I think I got it right!
Here’s hoping you had some good finishes this time!
(linking up all over the place… TGIFF, Can I get a whoop whoop?, Fabric Frenzy Friday, Show Off Saturday, and Fabric Tuesday.)
Diary of a Madfabriholic 
Looks wonderful! Congrats on getting it done so quickly! And I think you were incredibly clever in your forethought in making a quilt that this gorgeous little girl can use for the rest of her life. I liked the idea on that pin you shared. I know Boo Davis gave some suggestions for painters tape in the book, but I think the sewing between the lines is safer than sewing next to them. I had a few spots where I accidentally sewed through the tape and it took for ever to remove! Congrats again!
Let’s totally keep on pretending I meant this to be giant and last her whole life long 😉
(I might have sewed over the tape in a few spots, and it was HELL to get out after that. Lesson learned!)
-Sam
On Thu, Mar 6, 2014 at 8:24 PM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
This is one of those moments in which I wish I’d studied chemistry. Someone should invent a tape that sticks to fabric, is flexible, and is water soluble. I think that would be ideal. Maybe I’ll hit up my friends and see if anything like this already exists. I’ll let you know if I find it. – Jane
Yes, please do!!! -Sam
Well, I’ve put the question out there. Now to wait…
what an amazing finish! i love the personality and how personalized this quilt it! love it!
Thanks, Ashley! I’m really happy with this finish! Can’t wait to give it away!
-Sam
On Thu, Mar 6, 2014 at 8:34 PM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
Also, when you lay your quilt on the ground for the pictures, do you put anything underneath it? I have a left over moving blanket that generally follows the quilts around, but I’m not sure whether I’m sort of wasting time with that. Thanks!
So, I totally didn’t. And my 10 year old son gave me grief! (And if you could see that state of his room, you’d be in hysterics that HE was the one worried about dirt!) Although that chopped up asphalt looks filthy, it actually wasn’t any worse than anywhere else. And, I used some bargain batting (NEVER AGAIN) that pilled and fluffed horribly, and I’m planning to wash this once more before it goes to the baby anyway…
-Sam
On Thu, Mar 6, 2014 at 9:23 PM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
The first quilts I sent out I didn’t wash, but now I plan on doing that anyway. It seems the polite thing to do after all the handling. I have most of my quilts quilted elsewhere, so I don’t know what conditions are like in those studios anyway. I’m hoping to be able to long arm my own quilts soon, but I’ll keep practicing. I’d still want to wash them though. And now that I’ve learned my lesson about using white, I don’t think a bit of dirt will be a problem. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. – Jane
A very cool quilt.. I want to make one for my nephew!
The pattern is from Dare to be Square Quilting by Boo Davis ( http://www.amazon.com/Dare-Square-Quilting-Block—Block/dp/0307462366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394205815&sr=8-1&keywords=dare+to+be+square+quilting ) I absolutely love this book! She uses simple techniques to amazing effects! Thanks for visiting 🙂 -Sam
On Thu, Mar 6, 2014 at 10:55 PM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
Very cool!
Thanks, ruth 🙂
-Sam
On Thu, Mar 6, 2014 at 11:20 PM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
My shoulders will hurt also if I machine quilt too long. Great colors in the quilt.
I wish I had done the quilt a bit more slowly- probably wouldn’t have ended up as sore- but, it’s DONE and that feels so good!
-Sam
On Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 12:30 AM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
Congrats on the finish! The quilting looks great and the family will love it. I am so happy to hear your machine was an easy fix, and only a little bit of a panic attack 😉 It sure is nice to have a handy man right there at your house. Seriously, awesome place for your photo shoot too!
The awesome, machine-fixing husband was the one who suggested the photo location! He’s earned loads of points this week!
-Sam
On Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 6:00 AM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
The quilting was perfect for it. And I love the site for the photo shoot!!!
I told my husband we were going to drive around to find an “urban or gritty” looking spot- and he suggested this one! Major points to him!
-Sam
Great quilt! I love the ripped up pavement for the backdrop too. Just shows that we quilters need to keep an open mind when looking for good places for our pictures!
I’m always trying to come up with unique but accessible photo locations… Living in the boring burbs makes that more challenging 😉 I’ll have to keep looking outside the box. Thanks for visiting.
-Sam
Glad you survived the walking foot incident to produce such a great quilt – I love that green!
The greens really make me smile, too! Thanks for visiting 🙂
-Sam
I think it came out wonderfully. Way to go! I like the textured quilting inside. The beauty of being a quilter is to be able to say that stitching that may be a bit wobbly is part of your artistic design!
I am really pleased with the way the skull looks all quilted up. I wasn’t planning on doing it that close together, but after I started, it just seemed right. Thanks again for your suggestion!
-Sam
Such a great finish! Love it.
Thank you! -Sam
On Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 7:12 PM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
this quilt is fabulous … love the colours! 🙂
Thank you! And thank you for coming to visit! -Samantha
On Sat, Mar 8, 2014 at 11:42 PM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
Lovely and extraordinary at the same time!
Thank you, and thank you for visiting as well 🙂 -Samantha
On Sun, Mar 9, 2014 at 3:25 PM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
Playful and fun! Love the colors and the quilting. Great job!
Thank you- and thank you for visiting! -Sam
On Mon, Mar 10, 2014 at 4:38 PM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
Incredible finish, Sam! I love the quilting! And the purple binding was a brilliant choice. So awesome that this quilt will fit right in like part of the family!
I’m so anxious to get it to them… hoping they love it! -Sam
On Mon, Mar 10, 2014 at 6:13 PM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
At first I was perplexed that it was intended for a newborn girl. But after reading through your post and your explanation of her dad’s haircolour and her skull-onesie, I fully get your point ;o) Plus it is a quilt she will still treasure as a teenager. A great finish and a unique baby gift! Whoop whoop!
This is definitely a non-traditional baby quilt, but I think the baby is going to be non-traditional 😉 Unless her form of rebellion is embracing pretty pastel pinks?
thank you for visiting!
-Sam
On Wed, Mar 12, 2014 at 3:01 PM, Diary of a Madfabriholic wrote:
>
I love the fact that you made a skull quilt for a baby!! I am sure it will be well-loved for years to come and I personally think it is amazing! You did a great job on it!
Thank you for linking up to Fabric Frenzy Friday!
-Lindsey
Fabric Frenzy Friday
Thank you, Lindsey 🙂 I finally delivered it last week, and it was described as “badass”- a very high compliment from its source 😉
-Sam
Pingback: The Baby Quilt Marathon Continues | Diary of a Madfabriholic