Butterfly Finish

Remember that squirrel I shared a few weeks ago? It's now a finish. I wish I could have gotten a picture of the squirrel with his little paws on my patio door looking in this afternoon. It would have been perfect. The temps are in the 50s here today, and the squirrels are feeling frisky. Anyway, on to my finish! If you want to know more about how this quilt came to be, please take a second to read the post here. Let's just step back and admire. The sun came out for a few minutes yesterday, so I got some pictures on the garage--the only place safe to do that outside at this time of year because of all the mud and winter grunge. 

This is the second quilt I've made from this pattern. When I made the first quilt, Mariposa (you can take a look at that one here if you'd like), I added little triangles in the corners of the blocks for some additional color, but the background of this quilt seemed to have enough pattern of its own. I don't often make multiple quilts from a pattern, but I love this one, and there's likely to be another in a string version sometime later this year if I follow through on my current scrap piecing. As with Mariposa, I chose to do wavy lines with my walking foot to emphasize the flight of the butterflies. I have to say, though that for some reason this little quilt fought me a lot this time around. I used a batting I haven't used for awhile--perhaps not since before my accident with my shoulder a couple of years ago--and the quilt felt very stiff to me. I had a hard time bunching it up and maneuvering it smoothly under my needle. I also had trouble keeping my rows spaced evenly. There may have been some bad words, or at least some grumbling. In the end, there are some areas that are pretty wobbly. I've decided to blame them on the butterflies. I think they may have had too much nectar. And of course, now that it's done, I am pleased with the overall look. Funny how that happens.

I think in my last post, I mentioned that I might redo the stripes in the upper left corner to add one darker strip. I totally forgot about that until after I basted the quilt. Oh well. I do like how the quilting shows up on the back. 

One other thing that did not turn out as I planned was the placement of the colors in the binding. I had laid everything out to make sure that the colors were evenly distributed and that a color in the binding was not right next to a butterfly of the same color. But when I sewed the binding together, I forgot to trim out a piece of one of the strips to ensure "proper" placement. I was so proud of having the binding ready to go before I even had the quilt basted. After quilting, I jumped right in sewing the binding, and then by the time I reached the last side hand stitching the binding to the back, I suddenly realized that those last sections of binding were right next to three butterflies of the same colors. I don't think I can blame the butterflies on that. Maybe I can blame the squirrel??

And then--there was one other problem. I have a pretty strict rule for myself--one that I follow pretty much without thinking--of never eating or drinking when I'm working on a quilt. I'm just too much of a klutz with food. But. Just before binding the third side of the quilt, I ate a square of dark chocolate. I was nowhere near the quilt. That evening, getting ready for bed, I discovered two weird smudges on my black pants, and then another on the top I had been wearing. It took a minute to figure out what they were, So then I flew downstairs to check the quilt. Yup, there was another smudge by a butterfly as well as a hefty piece of chocolate that must have been on my pants. (I told you I was a klutz with food.) The quilt had kept me warm while I was sewing, but also melted the piece of chocolate on me and the quilt. I still had the fourth side of the binding to stitch down. I calmed myself down, scraped off as much chocolate as I could with a knife, and went to bed. The next day, I covered the area with a paper towel clipped on with two bobby pins so the chocolate wouldn't spread anywhere else. I finished the binding, took my photos (because I like some before washing), 

and then treated the chocolate with my favorite dish detergent (you know, the one for cleaning ducks) and a cotton swab, threw it in the wash, and whew, no more chocolate.

 I'm still mourning that piece of chocolate that melted instead of making it into my stomach. 

Well, problematic quilting or not, I do like the finish, and if all goes according to plan, there will be more spills on it in its lifetime. After all, I expect it to be used. Also, after washing, the quilt is as soft, smooshy and drapey as I like quilts to be. It's a good thing because the batting I used was cut from a king-sized piece of batting so I will be quilting more quilts with it.

Okay a few more photos and then I'll share the stats. 

Do you see the smudge in this one? 

Scrunchy from washing and not pulled straight, I see.

 

It doesn't look straight here, either, but in real life it is. I was in a hurry to take photos before rain.

Do you see my initials and the date by the blue butterfly?

Same corner after washing

Stats:

Pattern: Butterfly Dance Mini by ellis and higgs. I made 12.5 times the number of blocks in the quilt pattern and used the generously sized blocks full size (8 inches finished) rather than trimming them for a 7.5 inch finish.
Fabrics: Stella Tossed Flower by Red Rooster for background, assorted fabric scraps for butterflies--many are Kona, but not all, including some that are actually the reverse side of a print. 
Batting: Warm and Natural 

Thread: Superior-- Masterpiece in Granite for piecing; King Tut in Temple for quilting; Treasure in Old Lace for hand stitching binding.
Binding: 2 1/2 inches cut, double layer, machine sewn to front and hand stitched on back
Size: 56 1/2 inches square, pieced; 56 1/4 inches by 55 7/8 after quilting; 53 1/2 by 53 after machine washing and drying.  

Machines: Singer Featherweight for piecing; Singer Treadle 115 for walking foot quilting.

So what did I learn with this quilt? 

--Squirrels are irresistible.

--That's okay. There's usually a good reason--a timely donation opportunity for this one.

--Wobbles are okay. You can find something to blame--butterflies or squirrels, or whatever, if it makes you feel better.

--Best laid plans don't always work out, but that's okay, too. No one will notice your boo-boos, unless you tell them all about them!

--It's still best for me to not eat while (or even before) quilting.

--Stains do come out if you keep your cool.

This quilt will eventually go to one of the organizations highlighted in the Hands2Help challenge. Check it out at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  I think there are 5 organizations this year, and a variety of sizes of quilts needed. At least one is bound to appeal to you. I have some other quilts to make, and then I'll decide which goes where. My next quilt will be made from a bundle of strips--that's a first for me, but I'm looking forward to a fast make. 

I'm linking up this week with My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop, Busy Hands Quilts for Finished [or Not] Friday, and Wendy's Quilts and More for Peacock Party.

Keep Quilting--and watch out for chocolate!

(I'm not affiliated with any company, so when I mention products, services, or stores I'm just documenting what I used or liked.)