My October Bed Quilt

After all the wedding quilts of 2020 I had a lot of black and white scraps.  I had planned on making an improv log cabin with them after I pieced my camping quilt in 2020.  

I started piecing 49 blocks in August 2021.  

Each block started with a 2.5 inch solid black square and has one more "log" in the third round that is solid black.  I made them big enough that I could square them up at 12.5 inches.  

While I was working on these blocks I cut out fabric for two more rectangle quilts.  One for another niece's wedding and one for me.  I used a lot of scraps, but ended up having to cut into yardage to finish all 49 blocks.  I cut out the two other quilts to make sure I had enough fabric for them.  

It didn't take long to finish all 49 blocks and lay them out of my design floor.  

But then I got Covid.  I isolated for the 10 days and wore masks for antoher month.  (My cough didn't want to go away.) Luckily I never got very sick and no one else in my family got it from me.  I also didn't have a lot of energy for things other than recovery and taking care of my family.  So a month and a half later I finally pieced the quilt top together and added the borders.  I remember feeling like my whole body was shaking as I did the sewing.  I think it was probably pretty good physical therapy for me.  

A few days later I got it loaded on the frames and quilted a little bit at a time over a few days.  

It was such a good feeling when I could take it off the frames.  

I had quilted it with a simple stipple because it is good muscle memory and the blocks are so busy.

A few days later I got it trimmed and bound in a solid black.  

The girls helped me celebrate the finish with a stomp of approval.  

Then I took it outside for a couple pictures. 

Then I put it on my bed where it stayed until Christmastime.  

I look forward to using this quilt every year.  I love how elegant it looks and the reminder of perseverance.  I can do hard things.

XX,

Jasmine