Beary Blue: A Super Sneaky Finish

I am very happy to say that Panda's Christmas quilt is finished!  I have named it "Beary Blue" because it was completely inspired by the quilt Bear receives for Christmas in the book Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson. 

We love the Bear Books, and blue is most often Panda's favorite color.  Here is what Bear's quilt looks like. 

And here was my fabric pull. 

I had to be super sneaky with Panda's quilt.  I worked on it a little at a time: and hour here, and an hour there.  Those little bits sure add up!  After I finished my hubby's quilt, I put his squares up on the design wall and took a picture.  Then I labeled each of the columns, stacked them up, and hid the squares again.  Thank goodness for chain sewing which keeps everything in order. 

I finished the quilt top earlier this week. 

Then I stayed up late one night and got the quilt basted.  I am not normally a late night sewer, but I had to make sure that all three boys were asleep.  That night I draped it over my cutting table and locked the craft room. 

I was hoping to quilt it while he was at school, but he ended up staying home sick.  I knew if I left it on the table he was more likely to see it, so I decided to quilt it while he watched a movie. 

But every time he needed something I had to hide it with another quilt. 

I am grateful that Panda was more interested in his own agenda rather than what I was doing.  :D

Early this morning before he woke up and while he was at school I added the binding.  I added a label and had less than ten minutes to take pictures of it before picking him up at school.  (It was an extra short day today.) So these are not the best pictures and some had to be taken indoors because it was wet outside. 

Here is his quilt all nice and finished:

I just quilted it in the ditch to keep it soft and cuddly. 

I love how it looks on the minky backing. 

I did have to go buy more fabric yesterday for the binding and disguised it by a trip to the post office.  I love how the different blue frames the quilt but still looks good with the almost turquoise backing.  The binding fabric is a Quilter's Linen by Robert Kaufman. 

A friend stopped by and thought it really did look like the quilt in the book.  (This picture is from Bear Feels Sick). 

I look forward to lots of story time reading these amazing books while my Panda Bear is snuggled up in his own "Beary Blue" quilt. 

Quilt Stats #115
Name: Beary Blue
Pattern: 6 inch finished patchwork squares

Inspired by: Quilt in Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson

Quilting Design: Stitch in the ditch

Fabric: Miscellaneous blues and a yellow from my LQS

Amount Used: 7 yards

Batting: Warm and White

Size: About 60 x 72 inches

Date Finished: October 2014

What I Learned:

• I can be very sneaky with my sewing.
• Sometimes it is better to choose a binding after the quilt is put together.

So I now have two sneaky Christmas quilts finished and two more to go!

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  I am linking up with Finish it up Friday and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop.

P.P.S.  I completely recommend the Bear Books by Karma Wilson.  They are so much fun to read aloud with their rhythm and language.  Plus Jane Chapman's illustrations are so cute.

P.P.P.S.  I am also linking up with Jennie of Porch Swing Quilts for her Santa's Sweatshop linky party.