Spumoni and Hand Quilting

Just because I've not written much about quilting recently doesn't mean that I've been cleaning the house or anything. I've been quilting away! Back in May when we visited Richmond, Anastasia picked out a terrific batik for a baby quilt for friends of hers and Tom's. We found great coordinates and I came home and fairly quickly started piecing.

I think pinwheels are nice for babies and really enjoyed piecing these. When the top was all done, I decided that this little quilt warranted hand quilting. And the commencement of same coincided fairly nicely with the start of the Tour De France. I finished before Alberto did, however, and got a picture of the quilt this morning.

I expect to give this to Tom and Anastasia in a week or so; the baby girl is due sometime at the end of August. Initially I thought of the quilt as Mint Chip but for some reason as I was quilting I started calling it "Spumoni," and Spumoni it has stayed.

Joe picked out the border design and it took a long time to do. I enjoy hand quilting, but don't feel confident with getting the layers secure for anything bigger than a baby quilt. A long-armer I know offers a basting service; I've kind of delayed sending her anything, not sure why. Then I learned that the local long-armer also will baste. I have a couple of nice CW tops that are all done and I think hand-quilting would be what they would like. It would be nice to have them ready to work on when cool weather sets in. So I'm hoping to piece two backs this weekend and connect with the bastress this week.

Meanwhile, having received back no fewer than five quilts from two different long-armers, I'm into a binding marathon! Stay tuned!