My Autumn Plus Quilt - a stash attack

About 6 weeks ago, Sheri of Sunshine in the Attic invited me to join her for a fall inspired Blog Hop: Quilts in the Pumpkin Patch.

I must say I was very flattered by her invitation so I jumped at the idea at the time not quite knowing what I would do! I knew I would find some fall fabric in my stash anyway, I only needing one project! I thought about several ideas over the last few weeks but there were all only ideas... If you read me regularly, you might have noticed that I have been in a bee-blocks-catch-up mode recently and I was really hoping to get caught up with all my blocks before starting on my fall project, well that didn't happen!
But while raiding through my stash to find some fabric for my bee blocks, I re-discovered a few FQs that I had bought years ago at the Festival of Quilt in Birmingham to make some fall cushions, that I had never even started. So the fabrics had been stashed away waiting for that perfect project. I decided now was the time to use them.

So that was a start: 5 FQs and an idea as well: a plus quilt that I planned in Excel last week-end.

5 FQs were not quite enough so I returned to my stash to add a few other pieces that could go with the theme and got to that collection:

A variety of pieces that I have been hoarding for some time (some as long as 10+ years ago, the bear fabric is one I bought when I first started quilting, because it was cute with no other plans for it). The woodland fabric is a Riley Blake one that I only bought last year and the spots is a Makower that I bought a few years back because of the spots! Do you buy fabric because it's pretty, because you like it or because you might need it in the future too or is it just me? And do you sometimes find it hard to use that same fabric, in case you might need it for something else in the future? Just checking ;-)

With that in mind, my plan was to cut my fabric during the week and start piecing my quilt. Well the week has been very busy, with DH away in Norway for 4 days. I was on my own with the kids and had to go into the office every day as well as run the house, run to the kids activities etc. Unfortunately, I didn't find the time or energy for fabric playing in the evenings.
But finally on Thursday night, I cut about 130 charm squares from the fabrics I had selected. I was lucky because quite a few of the FQs had been cut generously and were about 20 x 21' giving me 16 charm squares each.
I had the day off on Friday luckily. I could finally plan my quilt with my fabrics. A task somewhat difficult when you are doing that on the floor and you have a toddler to help! I also cut a few more squares to have - what I thought would be a 13 x 13 charm squares quilt - but turned out to be a 13 x 14 charm squares quilt! I added some Field Study by Anna Maria Horner (this year acquisition!), some paw fabric by Michael Miller from nearly 10 years ago and a few others to get to my final layout.

By 3.30 on Friday afternoon, I was ready to start the piecing. Nothing like last-minute pressure (I think I am better with deadline but that was cutting it fine!). So I started my continuous chain piecing (same method I used for my Super Mario blocks last year) with the kids taking it in turn to bring me the right squares, they love helping and being involved and that sped up the process for me, everyone was happy! I had all my rows pieced and attached together by dinner time...

ready to be shrunk to a square after dinner!

My pieced top was finished on Friday night before I went to bed! On Saturday morning, the kids were so excited to see it that they all sat in the sofa underneath to check whether it was a warm quilt. They agreed it was, even though it was just the top at this stage :-)
So the mission for Saturday was to turn the pieced top into a quilt. After the usual cleaning, cooking etc, I was helped by Mr Cars to baste the quilt on the floor (my least favorite part of the process) and started my quilting marathon at about 5 in the afternoon! With half of the quilting done by dinner time, I knew I would finish before bed time! Such a pain sometimes to have to stop to cook, etc!

And I did finish it before bed time

it is all quilted ready for the final step of binding.

I decided I will use some Field Study for the border and of course I don't have any left in my stash so I ordered some that I am hoping to receive some time next week.

The plan will be to attach the binding before next Sunday night to blind stitch it while watching the second episode of Downton Abbey which returns to our screen in the UK tonight. My favorite series and what better than a lovely Autumn quilt to snuggle under while watching TV?

I am so glad I joined the hop. If I hadn't, all these fabrics would still be folded in my stash and my plus quilt would still have been a line on my wish list, so thank you so much Sheri for inviting me. I had a long, tiring week at work but I have really enjoyed using my free time on Friday and Saturday to make a full quilt, this has been very relaxing and very rewarding. And it just goes to prove that a quilt can be finished fast if the pattern is very simple!
Hop over to Sheri's blog for the full hop schedule.
Linking to Whoop Whoop Friday, Sew Darn Crafty, Sew Cute Tuesday, Fabric Tuesday, WIP Wednesday, WOW, Brit Sewing Thursday Link and of course this one is a project for the me me me Bee, my first finished or almost!
I hope you have enjoyed your visit, and well done if you have read all the way until here! Hope to see you again soon.
Celine