2022 Bonnies Mary Elizabeth Brightly Quilt - 1st Quilt Top of the Year

 

Start Date: January 3, 2022                                            

Finish Date: January 29, 2022

Starting this year off participating in a quilt along with my favorite ladies at JK Quilts. I purchased this lovely pattern last fall and had it on my list so now is the perfect time to make it and have some fun with others along the way. The #brightlychallenge is to have the quilt top finished by the end of January 2022 and share the progress on facebook & instagram.

I gathered my supplies and was able to use fabrics I already have in my stash with the exception of the thread. 

Oh darn, a trip to the quilt store LOL Twist my arm! NOT

The supplies I am using are:

• Brightly Quilt Pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew
• A fat quarter bundle called Mary Elizabeth by Christopher Thompson @ Riley Blake Designs
• The background fabric is Kona #412 Nautical
• The thread is Glide #30001 Rocky Navy

No special rulers or notions are required for this quilt. 

I used my Accuquilt Go! 8" Block Qube for all the piecing cuts.

Side Notes: 

• I used Mary Ellens Best Press heavily, let it really sink into the fabric and ironed before cutting out my fabric. Lesson learned from several past quilts.
• I started out with a Kona solid white background but was really not thrilled with the fact that you could see right through it. Hence all the pressed seams were visible from the front. Because I had the nautical in my stash I changed things up. After the visit to the quilt shop and discussing the issue I was having with this upon recommendation I will be using Essex Linens for my backgrounds going forward. They are just beautiful and thicker.
• I found that by adding an outer border that it helped frame things in nicely and made more sense to my brain. It will also make it easier to put on the long arm when it comes time to quilt it.

Brightly Quilt update...so, I started making the 2nd set of 15 blocks for this quilt and eeee it was not speaking my language. All the patterns coming together so closely was just too busy for my liking. So, that collection is in time out. I may come back to it or do something completely different, I haven't decided. Did I mention, I am OCD about my projects lol

JANUARY 27, 2022 

Thanks to all of my quilting friends and some tips from the ladies at my favorite quilt shop. JK Quilts.

I decided to pull this out of time out and give it a second chance.  Most important tip: Use the design wall AND Before sewing together the "busy" blocks lay all the pieces out so you can move them around until they feel more natural. Then sew the busy blocks together. 

This was seriously an A HA! moment for me. It never occurred to me to put the pieces on the design wall BEFORE stitching them together. Game Changer going forward.

 

Project Finished

January 29, 2022

I recommend Always Shopping Local First.  Since I started shopping local all of my creations have come to mean so much more to me personally. The people I have met and all I have learned, that would never have happened solely online. Even if you are an introvert, like I am, I never feel out of place or like an outsider at my local shops. When you find the right shop, you know it, because, you are treated like family. Plus, once they know your creative style they are so helpful when it comes to ideas, help, learning, special orders and more. Don't miss out on all those happy smiles and hellos from shop owners, employees and fellow creators like yourself.