my pretty little GIANT star surround is finished...

Hey everyone! Look! It's all finished! I really enjoyed this QAL and having the weekly assignments. It sure made it go super fast. I started this quilt last month while Mr. Relish was traveling for work, so to keep myself company I started watching Pretty Little Liars on Netflix. I seem to always pick a new series to get hooked on while he's gone 1-2 weeks at a time and then he is forced to watch them with me when he returns...ha! Sorry, Mr. Relish! So all summer while I was working on the quilt here an there, I had PLL going in the background and hence the title of this post.

Pretty Little GIANT Star Surround

Melissa at Happy Quilting hosted this QAL and also designed the quilt. She designed it so you could pick from multiple block and quilt sizes and then gave us all the fabric and cut requirements needed and lined up several fabric stores to provide quilt bundles for the QAL. Can we say, awesome! Well, I was totally lame and went rouge by making not just one big block, which Melissa provides the measurements for, but one GIANT block! I went up two sizes, so to speak, and made a 64 inch square block. I absolutely loved the look with the multiple blocks, but was in the middle of the Swoon 2013 QAL and knew I would get tired of making all those star blocks. Since I had also pinned some of those giant swoon blocks floating around the blogosphere and then saw a recent finish by Amy Smart at Diary of a Quilter, I knew what had to be done...

Pretty Little GIANT Star Surround

I pulled 10 FQ from my awesome Hand Drawn Garden with matching solids bundle that I ordered from Westwood Acres and then went to my LQS to get the charcoal background fabric. I don't recall the name of the background fabric because I suck at writing things down but I think it's a Robert Kaufman print. I only picked it because it was the closest shade of charcoal that I was looking for in the store. I had some perfect charcoals in my stash but not enough and was too impatient to order online. Y'all know the drill!

Pretty Little GIANT Star Surround

I didn't realize the large cuts were for the no waste flying geese (genius by the way!), otherwise I would've used a print along with the solids. Oh well, it turned out to be a happy mistake anyway. If you would like to see exactly how I cut mine, check out my check-in post that gives all those details and also see how the quilt came together.

Pretty Little GIANT Star Surround

The backing is Kona Willow and very similar, but not quite, to the darker greens found in the prints. Because it wasn't exactly what I wanted, I had a hard time committing to it. Then, in usual Mr. Relish fashion, he makes a smart comment about refinishing the pool table (we don't own a pool table) because the shade of green was pool table-esque I suppose. Anyway, since I bought the fabric specifically for this quilt I needed to use it. I took some of the scraps and made a patchy strip down the side and called it a finish...sort of.

Pretty Little GIANT Star Surround

I went with a spiral quilting about 1 1/2-2 inches apart (perfection not necessary). I FMQed the first 10 circles then moved to my walking foot. It took about 2-3 hrs to do and that includes turning my head a bit to watch PLL. Thread of choice was Gutermann in a light gray at 4.0 stitch length.

Pretty Little GIANT Star Surround

As you can see I went with the yellow binding and so happy I did! I suck again and don't remember the details of this fabric because it came from my Pink Castle Stash of the Month. I only remember the names of fabrics if they arrive in a collection. Since my stash prints are pretty generic looking, it's hard to keep up with names and sometimes the name doesn't make the selvage cut. Oh, and I'm lame and never write anything down.

Well, I think that's all I got, but here is a funny story for y'all...

Because I had a specific place in the yard that I wanted to take the pictures for the quilt, I had to wait two days for my timing and lighting to sync. So when it was nap time yesterday and realized there was overcast outside, I grabbed the quilt and camera and hightailed it to the front/side of the house. We live on a corner lot of a busy road and expected to have some awkward, self-conscious moments as cars drove by. Well, while I was hanging up the quilt, I felt like I was being watched, but no one was walking on the sidewalks. I quickly scanned the area and immediately noticed the neighbors across the busy street standing in their doorway just staring, pointing, and talking...Awkward! So, naturally I just waved and yelled "hello" and they quickly retreated back inside and shut the door. They must have thought they were being discrete since they weren't all the way out the door. Ummm, NO! I carried on about my business knowing I'm not longer the weird neighbor because I'm hanging quilts on trees.

Linking up with Melissa at Happy Quilting and Crazy Mom Quilts and all the lovely links to the right!

Comments

  1. Love this! The spiral quilting was a perfect choice. I would've totally waved and greeted the neighbors also. Isn't it fun!? However I'm at the end of a dead end and I have acreage so I never get to do those fun kinds of things! (I think I'm going to have to build a small section of fence though, just for quilt photos!)

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    1. Thank you, Paula! I'm glad I went spiral especially since it was quick and painless. ;) Fences are the best for hanging up quilts so I hope you make one. Or you could borrow a neighbors so you can get the crazy quilter title as well! Haha

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  2. It turned out so good!!! I really love the fabrics you picked out for it. Are you going to keep this one or is it a gift for someone?

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    1. Thanks girl! It's all mine! I slept with it last night. Haha!!

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  3. This is beautiful, I love the large version!

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm really happy with the turn out! It looks so happy in my house. :)

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  4. Looks fantastic! Good on you for finishing it up so quickly!

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    1. Thank you! It definitely makes it easier to finish up projects now that both girls are in preschool...whoop whoop! Thanks for visiting me, as always!!

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  5. This is fabulous! I love stars and this is such an inspirational piece. Nice job!

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    1. Aww, thanks for saying that! Inspiration is the ultimate compliment for sure! I must let you know I'm an Aggie. I hope that doesn't change your feelings. Not to worry though, Mr Relish is a longhorn and he pays the fabric bills, so all longhorns are welcomed! Hehe!!

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  6. it looks great finished, and I love the circular quilting! (I am still pondering how to do mine) Funny story too! Yes, we quilters are a quirky bunch LOL

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    1. Thanks very much, Flo! I'm please with the finished! How many blocks are yours? I'm still pondering my swoon too. I think I'm going to rent time on a HQ16 for that one. I was leaning towards a meandering design. I hope inspiration hits you soon!

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  7. Wonderful! And I like the big swirl quilting. i still haven't gotten the last few seams on mine sewn yet. It is on the list for today.

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    1. Thank you, dear! I hope you get lots of quality sewing in today! Can't wait to see yours! And all the other finishes for that matter!

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  8. I have to say that I love this quilt! The scale, the pattern, the quilting, the fabrics - they all work so well together.

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    1. Aww, thank you so much! I'm glad I went a little outside the box and my comfort zone. It's nice sticking out a bit in a good way. Thanks for visiting and commenting...truly makes my day!

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  9. Wow. Very nice work. I aspire to that! Nice pics too!

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    1. Thank you so much! Your words are so thoughtful and I truly thank you for that! I'm glad my work can be aspiring to someone. I hope you visit again.

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  10. I LOVE the colors you've chosen together, great finish :D
    xoxo melzie

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    1. Thanks so very much! I totally went outside my usual color palette on this one and so glad I did. Thanks for the visit and more thanks for the comment!

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  11. Oooh, this is lovely! I love the AMH fabrics with this quilt. Yum! And I always get weird looks when I'm photographing quilts. I mean, really! I could be doing much crazier things! :)

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    1. Right?!? At least I was out of my pjs and had a bra on. Haha!!! Thanks for visiting and commenting!

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  12. Thanks for linking up, love the colours and fabric. Great finish

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  13. What a fabulous quilt! I love that backing color!

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    1. Thank you, Renee! That was the one part I was hesitant with but I think it's growing on me. Thanks for visiting me, as always, and of course commenting! Happy Friday!

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  14. Beautiful quilt! Great colours and love the quilting!

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    1. Thank you, Lucy!! The colors make me smile every time I walk by it. Thanks for visiting and leaving a sweet comment!

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  15. Beautiful quilt! Great story behind the name! Must give PLL a try. Thanks for the laugh regarding photos/awkward/front-yard story. I know when I try that-I am always looking around ready to jump behind a bush if necessary! **Still laughing**

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    1. Thanks Debbie! What we quilters do for pictures or fabric...haha! You must try out PLL especially if you like the suspenseful teenage drama. Ima sucker! Thanks for coming by today!

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  16. The bright colors and design are fantastic!

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    1. Aww, thanks! I have give Melissa at Happy Quilting credit for designing such a fun block! I'm so happy with the colors and the finish. Thanks for coming by for a visit and comment!

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  17. I love giant block quilts and yours is so fun!

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm very happy that its finished and and being loved on by all! Thanks for stopping in for a visit and leaving a comment!

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  18. I really like the use of color and fabrics in your quilt. Nice quilting! ... :) Pat

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    1. Thank you so much! The quilting was so easy but not too easy that I got bored and started counting lines until finished. Thanks for visiting can commenting!

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  19. This is SO pretty! The spiral quilting is just perfect on it, and your fabrics are so bright and fun!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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    1. Thanks, Kelly! It really turned out to be my favorite quilt in a long time...maybe all time! Thanks for visiting me and taking time to comment...means so much! :)

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    2. and thank you so much for sharing this at Needle and Thread Thursday! It really is lovely!

      :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  20. Love it! Congrats on finishing it. I finished my Star Surround top last night and only need to figure out a backing and quilting. :-)

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    1. Yay for finishing! I am excited to see yours and all the others! I love seeing everyone's take on the same quilt. So fun!

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  21. I love love this! The fabric are gorgeous and the spiral quilting was a perfect choice. Too cute! xo
    jan

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  22. Oh and I love that gray background!
    xo jan

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    1. Haha, thank you so much!!! I always leave comments then want to add more. Thanks for that! I'm using this quilt as my extra blanket at night and just loving it!

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  23. This is gorgeous! I pinned it to my "Gray Matters" board :)

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    1. Thanks so much, Lauren! That sounds like a fun board! Thanks for visiting and the pin!

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  24. such great colors and contrast! it's awesome.

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    1. Thank you so very much! The contrast was much more than I expected but so happy with it.

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  25. Love the colors in this quilt. The big, bold star is perfect for showing off these bright prints. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you, Becca!! It's funny how bold these prints turned out just by using the dark background. I'm so very pleased with it. Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to let me know that you liked my quilt! :)

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  26. This quilt is GORGEOUS!!! I love it so much. I also loved your funny story at the end...I have felt like that on TOO many occasions...wondering what people are thinking I am doing, laying quilts this way and that with a camera. It's got to be odd to most people..but oh well! We do what we love and we share it and that's all that matters!!

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  27. Fantastic quilt. A great use of AMH..the colours are just amazing and perfect for the quilt. Thanks for linking up to Blog Refreshed Party over at littlemushroomcap.

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  28. That's a beautiful quilt!
    And the binding fabric is Tiles from the Robert Kaufman Metro Living collection. (I know that because I have it in my stash, too, and because I'm a little fabric nerd...) ;-)

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  29. Fun, youthful, vibrant. My husband travels for long stretches too and quilting has helped to keep me sain while I raise three boys. I got hooked on the Sopranos and Modern Family the same way you watch! Phooey on the neighbors. Stand tall and proud!!!

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  30. I absolutely loved this quilt of yours. So much so, that I Pinned it then incorporated your idea into my newest baby quilt. You can see it here http://www.flickr.com/photos/53441996@N06/10678623714/

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