From K - Finished Sew Positive Baby Quilt

Last month I had the privilege of pattern testing a new design by Elizabeth Dackson of Don't Call Me Betsy. Elizabeth sent over a draft of her new pattern, Sew Positive, and this is what I whipped up with it.

Her design is versatile and gives even brand new quilters the opportunity to try something unique but yet still very achievable. The pattern isn't overly challenging, just requires that you maintain a consistent 1/4 seam allowance.

I completed this baby sized quilt top in an afternoon, including pulling fabric from my stash, cutting and piecing it.

When quilting this piece, I chose a combination of machine and hand quilting. I used white Aurifil thread to machine stitch around the outside edge of the cluster of four small plus signs (shown in pink in the photo above).

I used perle cotton in size 8 to hand stitch 3 boxes in each cluster center, as well as dark teal to stitch around each of the large plus signs. I love the effect it gives on the quilt back.

The backing was pieced using the same fabric as the large plus signs on the front, combined with a strip of green dots to edge the top. I used a large aqua polka dot print for the binding that helps tie the front and back together.

It was a fun pattern to play with, and would be great for any skill level. It's the kind of pattern I can see myself making over and over again for a few reasons:

1. I would love to make a scrappy version (scrappy background or scrappy plus signs, you name it and I'm sure it'll look great);

2. It would be neat to make one with a colorful background and white plus signs or something that is two toned; and

3. High volume vs low volume prints anyone?

Hop on over to Elizabeth's blog today to read more about her Sew Positive Pattern and where you can get your hands on it.

This marks my first completed project for the Q3 2013 Finish A-Long - read more about my ambitious finishing goals here.

From K - Pattern Tester

Last weekend I whipped up a quick baby quilt top for a friend using a new pattern by Elizabeth Dackson of Don't Call Me Betsy. I can't share a ton with you yet as she hasn't released the pattern (coming out mid-August) but what I can tell you was that this quilt was a ton of fun to work on!

When I received the pattern, I knew immediately what I wanted to do with it, and who to make this quilt for. I pulled fabric from my stash for this quilt in less than 5 minutes (definitely a record for me!). Most of these prints came from my Stash Stack Club subscription and a few are from my LQSs.

While I wait ever so impatiently to show you my finished top, I will keep stitching away. So far it's machine quilted and half bound. Next up is some yummy hand quilting work to really wrap it up.

It's a good thing I recently ordered 18 mini balls of Presencia perle cotton (size 8) from Mad About Patchwork. They arrived just in time for this project to come on a road trip with me this weekend. Let the vacation stitchery begin!