A CIVIL WAR CHALLENGE - 2016 - The war has ended!

I finished the label and the binding last night on the most challenging quilt I have ever made!  It was a challenge from beginning to end, but I learned a lot every step along the way.

I've mentioned before that when I saw a picture on a blog a long time ago, I knew I had to make the quilt from my Civil War fabric stash.  I won't show pictures of my quilting again since I showed several in my last post.

Some things I learned from the project:

1.  It is possible to look at a picture and 'see the blocks' necessary to make the quilt.
2.  I was able to determine the size I needed to make all those tiny squares to get the size quilt I wanted.  I determined I needed 2" finished squares, which determined the size of the other background squares and rectangles of course.
3.  I was able to calculate the yardage needed for not only the background tiny squares, but also the 6" squares, and the 18" x 6" squares.  I knew I had more than enough colored Civil War fabrics!
4.  Again, I experienced the problems involved with directional fabrics (tiny stars with streamers on navy background), and learned to be watchful, too late a time or two.  Fortunately the ones turned the wrong way ended up in the side drop and will be just fine with me!
5.  I learned (somewhat) how to chain a quilting motif together to get the shape I needed to fit the open areas.  The four large feather 'circles'  were put together from the Aug/Sept. 2016 issue of McCall's Quick Quilts,, the Chesapeake Feather Motif.  I learned I had to rearrange it a bit for the long open areas on the outside edges of the quilt.
6.  I learned to use Golden Threads quilting paper to transfer the designs and quilt them.  It was actually fun, particularly the feather circles in the 6" squares!
7.  I learned that when a mistake is made, either it can be removed and re-stitched, or I can learn to live with it!  I definitely learned I can live with most of it!
8.  I learned to practice patience and perseverance!

So many things I learned from this quilt!  Many more than I've listed!  Perhaps the most important thing I learned is just to make up my mind that I CAN DO THIS!  If others have mastered free motion quilting so beautifully, surely I can learn to do it satisfactorily enough to suit myself, and if I practice, maybe someday I'll get better.

I know that most of my blogger friends do free motion quilting so beautifully already, but if someone else happens to read this and you think you can't do it like I thought, don't be afraid!  Just jump in and do it!  It really is much easier than tugging that big quilt through your machine!  That's something else I learned!

Now for the finale!  Again my inspiration for my quilt came from here.  No mention is made of the pattern, the maker, or anything except it was hanging in the quilt shop one day.  I wish someone could tell me something more about that quilt.  All I know is that I was fascinated by it and was determined to make it.

I'm not good at taking pictures; my lighting is always wrong, but here is my finished quilt, almost twice the layout of the original picture I saw.  Mine is 90" square.  I couldn't manage to hang it straight, but it really is and it lays nice and flat.

My handwritten label reads:

A Civil War Challenge - 2016

Machine Pieced and Machine Free Motion Quilted 

by (my name and town), Texas

Quite a challenge with no pattern, only a picture.

There were multiple learning experiences,

including quilting my first feathers.

Piecing begun on March 11, 2016;

Quilting begun on June 15, 2016.

The quilt was finished on

August 22, 2016.

I know---------way too much information, but I wanted it there for my family to know someday.  

Now the 2016 Civil War Challenge is truly ended!  I survived!

---"Love"