Today started by cutting and piecing the quilt binding. It wasn't long after that the binding was attached to the quilt top and thereafter machine-stitched down at the back of the quilt (see here for a machine stitched binding tutorial).
The binding fabric of choice for this quilt is again a Kei Honeycomb dot in dusty pink. I think it matches the soft pinks in the Dream On fabric collection really well and adds a spot to another wise spot-less fabric range (and I do love polka dots and spots).
Some of the details;
Quilt size: 60.5 inches x 63 inches
Design: Checkerboard layout with 600 squares each measuring 2.5 inches (finished)
Fabric collection: Dream On by Urban Chiks (one layer cake only)
Solid Fabric: Robert Kaufman - Kona Cotton in White
Sewing technique: I was able to strip piece this quilt by cutting the layer cake pieces into three 3 inch strips and then sewing these pieces lengthwise to a 3 inch strip of Kona White fabric (Kona White strips were cut from selvage to selvage). These units were then pressed (seams pressed towards the printed fabric) and cross-cut into 3 inch units. These two-piece units were then sewn together into long rows after which the rows were sewn together.
The back of the quilt is pieced from several pieces of Kona Cotton the colors of which all compliment the quilt top. I also managed to use up the very last pieces of my Dream On fabric stash. The quilting grid has added a graphic dimension to the otherwise plain backing fabrics.
It is easier to see from the above picture that I have in fact quilted this quilt with more than just diagonal lines running through the solid white fabrics. I wasn't happy with the large open and un-quilted spaces after the diagonal lines were quilted and have therefore outlined the horizontal seams of the quilt by stitches a very generous 1/4 inch on either side of the quilt seam lines. It was a lot more work (48 lines and 4 hours of stitching), but worth the final result.
I don't feel as if I have yet finished with the Dream On fabric range by Urban Chiks and look forward to yardage being available later this year. As such I don't feel too apprehensive about parting with this quilt.
