I put the final stitches in my 100 day project quilt a couple weeks ago, so it’s high time I shared it, eh? Here’s the finished product in all its rainbow gloriousness!
Quick recap: this quilt was my 100 day project this year. From April to July, I made one 5″ improvised quilt block each day. I started the project using totally random scraps, but shifted direction after about a week to make each block in a single color palette and from then on, I LOVED it. I mocked up an overall layout with rows of color running diagonally, and from there I was off and running.
I finished piecing the top on the final day of the project, and later that week I was able to rent time on a longarm machine to quilt it. This was the second quilt I’ve done, and only the third time I’ve longarmed, so I decided to try an all-over stipple/squiggle motif. The shop owner recommended gold thread and I was initially hesitant, but decided to give it a shot and it turned out beautifully! I’m definitely glad I listened to her suggestion.
I hadn’t really done any improv piecing before this quilt, so it seemed fitting to finish it off with another new-to-me technique. I felt like a binding had the potential to detract from the overall color flow of the top, so I made my first quilt facing instead using a bold black-and-white print that had been lingering in my stash. You can’t see it on the front, of course, but it does add some fun to the back.
This is also one of the few times I’ve made a pieced backing, which was also improv pieced as well from larger swaths of fabric and fat quarters that I had in my stash. I usually prefer to buy wideback fabrics instead just because it’s easier, but I love the patchwork look of this! I know it’s the back, and it won’t be seen very often, but I still like it.
I’m planning to hang it up somewhere in the house — either over my bed, in my sewing room, or over the fireplace in the living room. I think I’ll try the fireplace first and see how it looks!
Overall I’m so, so pleased with my 100 day project and it was one of the most personally satisfying undertakings in the last few years. I am usually satisfied with any project, but this one just felt particularly fun!
It turned out so beautifully, Sarah! I didn’t even notice the thread color until you mentioned it, and I’m so glad the suggestion worked so well. I think your stippling looks fantastic, I don’t know why I struggle with it myself… well, yeah, it’s probably just my linear/angular brain. The facing was a nice choice to finish the quilt. This will be an awesome piece of wall art wherever it is placed.