O Christmas Tree

I was able to get this Christmas Wall Hanging finished this week.  It is a quilt for my home, and is actually my own Christmas present.  My mom gives us money each year, and this kit and pattern is what I spent my money on.  It was low on the priority list, and I am so glad that it is finished and I can enjoy it until I take down the Christmas decorations. 

As I mentioned in this post, I was originally going to use a more detailed pattern.  But I decided to simplify it.  I love the finished result. 

I kept working on this quilt little by little amidst the rest of my Christmas stuff.  One day I made the binding.  Another day I basted it.  A couple days later I quilted it. 

I thought I would do a more detailed quilting, but ended up keeping it simple.  Once I sat down at the machine, I traced around the snowflakes on the tree with my finger.  I couldn't get it to flow well.  So I decided to stipple on the red panel.  If I can keep a flowing pattern with my FMQ, then my stitches look so much better. 

I did something different on this quilt too.  I used a red thread in the needle...

And a green thread in the bobbin.  I was a little nervous, but you can only see a tiny bit on red thread on the back if you look VERY close.  My tension was really good, and I was a happy girl. 

I stippled in the green borders, and quilted in the ditch around the stars.  I just love how these stars float in the border.  It made binding so much easier. 

I was able to get the binding sewn down by machine right after I finished quilting it.  It was so nice having the binding already made, so I didn't have to get out the iron.

Then I did the handwork on the binding another day. 

A few thoughts on binding by hand... 

What do you do while you do the handwork on bindings (if you do it by hand)?  I used to watch TV or movies while doing handwork, and I calculated how long I spent by how many movies I would watch doing it. 

I have since found that I bind much faster if I am not watching something.  So now I listen to music, a talk on tape, a book on tape, or I enjoy the silence.  Most of the time now I just enjoy the silence and spend my time pondering my next quilting project.  I bind much faster, but enjoy the peace and quiet.  With three active boys, I look forward to quiet in the house.  ;)

I love the way the green binding turned out, and the green snowflake print on the back. 

But I especially love it hanging in my kitchen.  (Most of my decorations are in the basement family room, temporarily dubbed the Christmas Room.) 

I know it would look so much better with a centerpiece on the table runner, but have I mentioned that I have three ACTIVE boys?  ;) 

Quilt Stats #77

Name:  O Christmas Tree

Pattern:  My own design

     inspired by All That Glitters

Fabric:  Starry Night by Northcott

Size:  about 41 x 52 inches

Batting:  Warm and Natural

Date Finished:  December 2013

What I learned:

• I can use different colors of thread in the needle and bobbin if they are the same value.
• I like stiffer batting (100% cotton) in wall hangings.
• I LOVE Christmas quilts... but that is not really new ;)

I now have plans for using up the rest of my Starry Night fabric.   I have a lot left, because I didn't follow the pattern I purchased.  I am thinking about a large disappearing 9 patch starting with 8" squares.  What do you think? 

XX,

Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with Whoop Whoop Fridays at Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.