The Tumbler: A Finish

Today, I finished the Tumbler quilt, which will be going to my nephew Daniel for his college graduation in May.

I used the same Moda Bella solid as I used for the Smoky Mtn Stars quilt and machine sewed it down as well.   I'm liking this fast and easy!

 

The quilt is now in the wash, on it's way to soft and crinkly!

Tumbler Quilting Done!

I was able to finish quilting the tumbler quilt this afternoon and am pleased with how it turned out.

The back looks pretty cool too!

No, I'm not done yet...  currently auditioning fabrics for the binding...

Right now, I'm leaning to either the one bottom center, which is a dusty green...  or the dark blue at the top.  

Opinions?

Quilting Along

I've been quilting the tumbler quilt and have to say that doing the outline (topstitch) quilting along all the seams is very easy... even the zigzag of the vertical seams, which are just long enough ...  when I get to the point to need to move my hands, it's time to turn the quilt to sew along the next seam.

Here are a couple of photos...

I didn't finish quilting last night because I wanted to attend my granddaughters' first dance recital... couldn't miss that, now could I?

I'm about three-fourths finished quilting and hope to finish today...and get the binding sewn on.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I had a request for a better shot of the Bali Pops...

I have no plans for these... just loved the colors and the great price!

Tumbler Quilting

One of the reasons I love tumbler quilts is the outline quilting like this...

 

Tumbler quilt by Martha of Q is for Quilter

...and I wanted to imitate it but using a machine rather than doing it by hand.   After cleaning & oiling my machine, installing a new needle, and winding bobbins, I got started quilting after work yesterday.

I like how the thread blends in with most fabrics and doesn't jump out at you on the darks.  I'd call the thread a taupe or dark beige.

Of course, when I went to find an example of the hand-quilted tumbler, I came across someone who had the same idea I did about machine quilting a tumbler... ~Zany Quilter~

I like how the tumblers are emphasized quilting this way...  and the back is cool too!

It'll take me a while but there's no hurry... I've given myself til the end of June after all!   Plus, it's a nice way to relax after work...

Tumbler Progress (part 3)

I have to say sewing together tumbler blocks to make a quilt top is about as easy as it gets.  Didn't get much else done around the house yesterday (other than a nap) but did finish sewing the top together.... AND it was light enough outside for me to take an artsy photo...   *lol*

I took another photo of the flimsy inside so I could compare. Love my "design wall"....

You can get an idea of the size this way.

The backing is already out on my cutting table and ready to go...

Today is a teacher workday... to make up for a teacher workday that turned into a snow make up day for students earlier this year.    

Woo. Hoo.

 

What is 247?

Two hundred forty-seven is the number of tumbler blocks I was able to sew together yesterday!  Seven rows were sewn together...

...and six rows wait to be sewn together today!

                                                    7 rows 

                                                + 6 rows 

                                                  13 rows

...that means just 6 more rows to go!  I see a quilt sandwich happening next weekend!

A Woman with A PLAN!

After the panic subsided, I came up with a reasonable goal for completing the tumbler quilt... the end of June.  One thing about college graduates... they don't mind getting late gifts! My nephew majored in something like "historic preservation" and I thought a tumbler quilt in 1800s reproduction prints would suit him to a "T"... might even make him interested in pursuing a specialty in historic/antique quilts!

I had this quilt figured out so it's just a matter of setting short term goals and keep moving!  I received several comments about using a GO! cutter... but I don't have one and don't know of anyone who does... including the LQS.  No matter... I have a handy dandy tumbler block template from Missouri Star Quilt Company!  (Link has video tutorial.)

The neon yellow (look at it glow!) acrylic template is made to fit charm squares... so I've cut 5" WOF strips and sub cut into tumbler blocks with very little waste...

And despite my youngest granddaughter's preschool graduation this evening....

...I manged to cut out over 200 blocks!

I'll get her done!

Gratuitous photo of my three little girls... otherwise known as my daughter and her two daughters...

It's hard to take photos of moving targets...