Finished: Up North Quilt

I'm so excited to write that I have completed my Up North Quilt!!!

When I first started making this quilt I thought it might end up being a gift. While I think I have changed my mind about this for a few different reasons, the great thing about starting it without thinking I would keep it for myself was that I included elements I normally wouldn't if making something for me. The trees are made of prints and colors I love, and the strawberry backing is definitely all me. But the camper and gingham binding is probably not something I would have normally picked for myself. I am still really happy with they way it turned out!

I love straight line quilting. Mostly because it is easiest for me with my modest machine and puppy in the house that makes it difficult to mark lines, but I love the way it looks and am happy quilting this way for everything I make at this point in my quilting journey. I'm sure that will change someday but for now I love it.

Here are the details!

Pattern: Up North by Pen + Paper Patterns
Started: January 6, 2018
Finished: March 16, 2018
Camper: Kona Cotton White, Black, Greys, Riley Blake polka dots, Vintage Picnic Gingham
Trees: Random Greens (Cotton + Steel Basics, Kona Grass Green, Heather Bailey True Colors,
Tree Stumps: Kona Cotton Mushroom
Background: Kona Cotton Iron
Backing: Cotton + Steel Yours Truly Strawberries in Navy
Binding: Vintage Picnic Gingham
2018 Finish #1

Linking up with:
March One Monthly Goal
2018 Finish-A-Long - Quarter 1 Finishes Link Up (SEE ORIGINAL Finish-A-Long Post HERE)

Helpful Tools: Aurifil Thread Card

I live in a rural area with limited resources for fabric and supplies. Thankfully there are two quilt shops for immediate needs, but for the most part they do not sell fabric that interests me and only carry a few thread color options. When I do make it to the city I'm usually busy with other things so I can't count on being able to shop for sewing stuff.

One specific item that has been a challenge for me is Aurifil Thread. The local shops sell a limited number of colors, which I am grateful for, but if I want a perfect match sometimes the local sources won't cut it. I did find a few online shops that would color match for me, but honestly when I did this there were a few matches that didn't seem ideal so I wasn't sure I wanted to rely on this option.

Enter the Aurifil Thread Card!!! Until I saw a post about this from Quiting Jetgirl I had no idea this existed! I ordered one from Hawthorne Threads and I know it is going to be well worth the investment.

What are your favorite helpful tools? I would love to hear about them in the comments!

Quilter's Planner 2018 Block of the Month Sampler Sew-Along

Confession: I have never really been interested in the color blue. It just never grabs me. But I have accumulated quite a few blue fabrics in bundles and stash builder clubs that rarely get used. So when I discovered my girls' teacher was having a baby boy I though this would be a great opportunity to use some blue fabric!

I debated for a long time about what to make. I wanted to make an original design but my ideas were nothing I felt comfortable giving to someone I don't know well.

Enter the Quilter's Planner 2018 Block of the Month Sampler Sew-Along. I loved sewing some of the blocks last year, so I decided to try a few blocks with a few of the blues I had pulled for the baby quilt. I ended up loving the first block so I kept going.

I'm debated about sashing. Should I go with a solid Navy or Navy Sprinkle? I'm almost always going to pick Sprinkle because it is my fave, but since I'm using it in a few blocks I wondered if solid Navy might be the better choice. After discussing it with one of my daughters we both agreed to go with Sprinkle!

One more confession: of course I still ended up ordering more fabric to match my theme. I may not love blue but I do love everything celestial -- especially moons and stars -- so I don't feel too bad adding fabric that fits this theme to my stash. Even if it is blue.

If I'm going to get this sewn and quilted by mid-May I need to start hustling. This will be my April focus for sure.

One Monthly Goal - March 2018

It's time for March's One Monthly Goal! 

If you read my February goal I decided to make it a stretch goal. The bad news: I did not meet my goal. The good news: I did way more than I thought I would, and probably would have hit my goal if the new pup hadn't joined our family in the middle of the month. The pup was not planned at the beginning of March when I set my goal. So, I'm making my monthly goal the same as last month (I hope this is allowed). But this month I know it is not a stretch and I will be able to do it!!!

March Goal: Finish Up North Quilt.

I'm actually pretty close to being done. I made a lot of progress in February on the quilting and I am in the final stretch! I just need to finish a little bit on the right side and then the last section on the left side and then bind. Fingers crossed for lots of puppy naps!
 

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal March Linkup