APQ 2016 January UFO

My New Year Resolutions included working on my UFOs, of which I have several many!  I have joined the APQ (All People Quilt) 2016 UFO challenge to complete at least 12 of them.  In my previous post, I listed the 12 I am hoping to do in order by month.  On the first of each month APQ will choose a number of a month and that is the project to be completed for the current month.  So in January, the number drawn was 2 which is the batik log cabin quilt I started as part of a Pat Sloan challenge.  The fabrics for the logs came from a jelly roll of her fabric line and the center rectangles, borders and backing fabrics came from my stash.  The binding was made from the leftover strips from the jelly roll.  

At the start, the quilt top was complete except for the borders.  I needed to add those, piece the backing and the binding strips.  Then (gulp), quilt it.  

The starting point as of January 1, 2016.

The finished quilt as of January 31, 2016.  Actually finished 6 hours before the deadline - talk about pressure! 

Here is what I learned from this UFO:

1. Batiks are very different from cotton fabrics.

2. A new needle and a new rotary cutting blade make all the difference.

3. For the first time, I used a basting spray instead of spending time on my knees inserting hundreds of pins into the fabric sandwich.  It was so much easier than I thought!  I did the spray basting in the garage but it really had no odor.  I used 505 spray.  It also did not gum up my sewing needle!  

4.  Although I bought a new Bernina 350PE several months ago, I did not use it very much.  I guess I was so used to using my Pfaff that I didn't take the time to learn to use my Bernina, despite taking the course to do so.  I bit the bullet and used the Bernina to finish this project.  It took referring to the manual and watching a few You Tube videos (what did we ever do before You Tube!) to accomplish a few tasks but I am glad I took this step.  

5.  I am not very confident about machine quilting but I decided to try "stitch in the ditch" on this quilt. This quilt is staying with me so I felt ok if it had a few "practice" stitches on it.  The stitching went ok on the vertical seams, but I started to get some puckers when I began the horizontal stitching.  The stitching on the back was looking good, attributed to the spray basting.  The puckers occurred at the intersections of the stitching.  Of course, I have some wonderful quilting groups online that I queried.  I found out that the solution to puckers was to use my walking foot.  Hey, one came with my Bernina!  After some angst with attaching that foot, I started stitching again.  Not a pucker in the bunch!  A light bulb moment!  

6.  And finally, I learned the joys of machine binding!  I had always avoided doing the binding by machine because I didn't like the look of the stitching on the back, at least not my stitching.  I have started using the flange method of machine binding but I did not see a way of using this method on this particular quilt.  But, time was of the essence and I had a deadline to meet.  It went better than I expected.  I did pin the binding down first which I think helped a good deal!  

I am happy with the result.  The quilt is not perfect, but I like the 20 feet from a galloping horse rule!  And the quilt is done, done, done!  And done is always better than perfect, or so "they" say!  

I waited with baited breath for February 1st to see what my next UFO adventure would be!  It turned out to be #5 on my list - my Christmas Lasagna quilt!  A good one - lots of straight stitching!  

Here's how it looks now. Partially done top, lots of strips already cut and the fabric for the backing.  I have red and white striped fabric that I may cut on the bias for the binding.  A new technique for me!  I think I will need all 29 days this month!