Take 3 Thursday TwentyTen #1

I put so many numbers in the title of my post so you wouldn't count how many things I didn't get done yet this week:)

I have started to quilt the first panel of my Birthday Baskets quilt. I have made a quilting plan and think it will look good. The quilting is the part I always put off. I prefer traditional quilting motifs and geometric designs - I just don't feel like I can pull them off. Something to work on this year!

I have been making steady progress on getting this one done. I want to finish this one so I can start something new - by Monday! I designed it before Christmas and slowed myself down by deciding to hand blanket stitch around the trees. I've quilted the rest of the top and made the binding and sleeve. I"m following the suggestions in Jaybird Quilts binding tutorial. The new to me part in the tutorial is the way she joins the binding at the end.

FYI - Here are links to the two other places I've found useful binding instructions:
Heather Bailey's pdf which is linked from the Irish Quilting magazine
Ami Simms method for binding small quilts as part of the Alzheimer donation quilts information

I used to be an envelope or pillow method finisher of wallhangings - putting the quilt top and backing right sides together and flipping it to have a finished edge. I still use this method for tabletoppers and some wallhangings, but find that I can now successfully bind. Which is good because I'm working on some bedsize quilts and you really can't use the flip method on them!!

My last picture today is of my FIRST request for a birthday party gift this year. The party is Saturday so we picked something quick to make. Fabrics have been picked out for a Friendship bag which will then hold some other goodies. The bag on top of the fabrics is the one I'm almost done making for me. It just needs the little turning gap in the lining sewn shut. Are we seeing a theme here?

Enjoy your first week of finishes for TwentyTen.

With Joy,
Sarah Vee