The Library Project QAL: February Report

my first Library Project QAL finish: "Cosmic" mini quilt, 17" x 12"

Thank goodness for planning ahead! Not only did signing up for The Library Project QAL hosted by Adrienne at Chezzetcook Modern Quilts mean I had to plan out a few projects in advance, but it also motivated me to jump right in, which means I've kicked off my miniQuilt Color Study in fine form, found the perfect inspiration for my girls' new birthday quilts, and managed to get a jump on all the quilting far enough ahead of this week's link up that the huge wave of illness sweeping through our house hasn't kept me from meeting my deadline. (But really, it wouldn't be school vacation if everyone in the family wasn't knocked down with coughs and fevers and ear infections, am I right?!) So despite not having enough energy to sew, let alone get out of bed most of the week, I have progress to report!

"Cosmic" is my take on the Arches quilt designed by Jessica Berret of Urban Patchwork from Cathy Gaubert's Pretty in Patchwork: Doll Quilts. I chose this project to kick off the QAL, but also as the entry point for my miniQuilt Color Study (a.k.a. the "pretty up my studio" project : ) I'm planning to work my way through the book as I continue to make my minis!





I used fabric from my stash - mostly Constellations by Lizzy House, with a few other scraps thrown in to work all the way from green to violet.






On the floor next to my cutting table, you can see the selection of plates and bowls I pulled in my search for the right arch to trace for my template... I ended up using my kids' snow saucer! Ironically I needed the biggest circle I could find for this mini.




Minor hiccup: my first ever fabric bleed! This Technicolor print by Emily Herrick ran when I starched it on the ironing board. I suppose this was bound to happen to me eventually since I don't prewash. I'm not sure if I'll change my policy going forward; it was a FQ, and I hate how much fabric you lose to unraveling when prewashing small pieces, so it's unlikely I'll start... maybe I should just always buy full yards instead! 


I'm thrilled with how well my very first attempt at curved piecing turned out. And I had so much fun with the quilting. Still not brave enough to FMQ, but these curved and intersecting lines echo the playful improv arches and
were fun to create. 


Quick detail of the back -
I primarily used an off white thread to quilt, but I threw a little yellow in the "moon" and along the edges of the "planet rings" - this quilt reminds me of my daughter who is obsessed with all things outer space!

And in keeping with my miniQuilt goal of decorating my walls, there it is! I did sew corners into the back to hang it, but between the four (4!!) snowstorms we've had this week and all of us sick, I haven't had a chance to go purchase a narrow dowel yet.

For the next Library Project QAL link up, I hope to show some piecing progress on the two Improvised Herringbone quilts I'm tackling from Amy Ellis' Modern Basics II: 14 Easy Patchwork Quilt Patterns. When I chose the pattern as a goal, I had no idea what I'd do with it... and then I saw Wee Wander by Sarah Jane! Now I'm excited to combine them and make twin bed quilts for my daughters' spring birthdays. My fabric has arrived. *Fingers crossed* I'm not still on a Nyquil IV next week so I have some energy to get started!

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Are you currently participating in any type of QAL? If so, please share in the comments so we can all hear about the fun projects going on. Have you found it to be a great motivator (I definitely have!) or do you find deadlines frustrating?

Also linking up with Lily Pad Quilting's Cabin Fever Party - particularly apropos as I've been stuck in the house with everyone sick all week!