This year I participated in the Stash Bee, an online bee made up quilters all over the world. I was in Hive 12, and my month was May. I asked the members of my hive to make me blocks from my Square Dance quilt block tutorial using the paper piecing pattern that I created for this project (now available on Craftsy).
Here she is – in all her glory! The members of my hive did such an amazing job with their blocks. The variety that they added to this quilt is what really makes it shine! I will really enjoy sitting on the couch cozying up with this quilt this winter knowing that so many people helped make this quilt happen.
A huge thank you to Heather, Cheryl, Jennifer, Michele, Kristel, Laura, Toni, Genevieve, Francis and Willa!
Above are some pictures of the quilting in progress. To see more pictures, please see my Quilts Actually blog post about the quilting of this Square Dance quilt.
This quilt was a little rushed because I was working to complete it before the fair. The binding and I spent some late nights, a lot of time in front of the TV, and an all day guild meeting together in order for it to get done.
It was worth all the work though… I finished it in time to enter it in the North Carolina State Fair, where we earned 2nd place in the Group quilt category! I’m going to say we were robbed… just kidding… I didn’t actually see the 1st place quilt, so the possibility does exist that it was better.
Once I was able to pick up the quilt after the fair, it seemed like everyday was sunny or rainy so it I had to wait quite awhile for a nice overcast day to take proper photos. Luckily, our fall colors were at their peak, making a nice backdrop.
The back of the quilt really shows the quilting in detail. I also added a few extra blocks in a strip along the bottom. I love that little pop at the bottom! I was also quite proud of myself for adding the hanging sleeve right away (granted…it was forced because I wanted to enter it in the fair), but usually I wait forever and don’t have any backing fabric leftover to use. The sleeve looks so much nicer in matching fabric!
Note to self: make the hanging sleeve when you first finish the quilt from now on.
This is my Stash Bee Square Dance with my miniature quilt Square Dance. These two quilts have earned a few second place finishes – North Carolina State Fair, Quilting in the Pines Quilt Show, and Floral Fantasy Quilt Show.
Finally, a photoshoot out-take… My daughter was “helping” to arrange the quilts just like mom. Maybe I have a future quilter on my hands! Or a photographer…
Thanks for stopping by!
-Heather
Linking up to whoever has the link up post this week of the following:
Anything Goes Monday, Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story, Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts, Let’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuilts, Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation, Finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts, Whoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt Addict, TGIFF, Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric, Show off Saturday at Sew Can She, Sewing Saturday at Simple Simon & Co, Stash Bee Link Up