Happy New Year with Grace Quilt

Goodbye 2020! Hello New Year! Can I get an Amen? Although on the outside, I am guessing 2021 is going to look awful familiar, it is a new year and a new start and I am here for that!

I am sharing one of  my last finishes for 2020. A quilt I have named Grace. Gosh, I think everyone could use the benefit of a little grace moving forward in 2021. It is a good thing!

So the backstory on Grace…I started this quilt in 2012. You can read my post here. Grace is actually a pattern called Ric Rac by Carrie Nelson. A Schnibbles pattern meaning it is based off of making a smaller quilt out of 5″ Charm Squares. Well in 2012, I was determined (ahem…obsessed) with making a king sized quilt for my bed. I had made many quilts for others, but I still did not have a quilt on my bed. So  I had the brilliant idea to make Ric Rac out of 10″ layer cake squares. That was one of those great ideas in my head, not so much in reality. Turns out I pieced these long bias triangle strips that I decided were likely going to be a wonky mess after making a row or two. I felt disappointed and like a good quilter, put the project away and started working on something new. lol

I always feel the need to reorganize or purge, in this case take inventory of unfinished projects at the end of the year. I loved the fabric so much. An older line from Moda called Grace by 3 Sisters, a Christmas line but does not scream Christmas. In addition to some Primitive Gatherings muslins of various shades. The cafe colored sashing and border fabric is one of those muslins. So I worked on unsewing some of my rows to make way for a lap quilt vs. a king size quilt.

Carrie’s instructions were wonderful and her tips made the triangles line up beautifully to create the ric rac design.

Moses, I think enjoyed my finished quilt top most. 🙂

I could not have been happier with how the top turned out! I was concerned it may have been wonky with all the bias trianges. I heavily starched my fabric, even the 10” precut layer cake squares prior to cutting. That made a huge difference in making everything come together nice and square.

I quilted it on my Innova using the digital design called Becky’s Feather. I LOVE how it turned out! I loaded the quilt so it ran lengthwise on my machine, so the pattern would follow the ric rac. I love the design so much, it gives the look of being custom quilted. I offer edge to edge quilting at an amazing price. Available here. This design is not yet listed on my site, but you can request it. If you are unsure what design fits best for your quilt, you can also request that I suggest some options once I receive your top. I will be adding many more designs to choose from in the coming weeks.

I think the design added so much to the quilt. A simple quilt elevated to elegance once quilted! Lots of eye candy ahead.

Quilting really makes the quilt! The back is almost as beautiful! I used a some leftovers to piece together the backing.

There is nothing like the feeling of a finished quilt! Especially a project that was started several years ago. My tastes have changed over the years, but I think I love this quilt more now than I did then.

Holiday Sale is wrapping up. If you were thinking about ordering, be sure to do so. Sale goes through Monday, Jan 4 available here.

Did any of you work on unfinished projects or start new ones for the New Year?