Baby Got Back! (quilt back, that is!)

Finally, the virus festival being hosted in my house is just about over (knock on wood!) Armed with hand sanitizer and a militant hand washing schedule for the kids, I am hoping this was the worst of it for this winter......I am on my third sore throat for the last two weeks but am gargling like crazy. I'm literally sick of being sick!

Took two quilts (Lady's Choice and November Nova) to the longarm quilter this afternoon--such a nice feeling to wrap up projects! The back I put together for "Lady's Choice" is the largest quilt back I have ever made--104" x 104"! I did A LOT of piecing on it--some of it just to use up scraps, but mostly because my illness-addled, sleep-deprived brain bungled the math on calculating yardage requirements. I had a big piece of black fabric (about 6 1/2 yards give or take)--and thought I'd worked out a layout for it......no such luck! Found myself digging around for more leftovers to make up yardage. It turned out fine, but it was frustrating. Probably one of the most "piecey" backs I've ever made. The pieced strips you see go the full 104" width of the back!!

I bought a package of the 50% bamboo fiber/50% organic cotton batting by Fairfield. Have never used anything other than Warm and Natural, so this was me stepping out of my comfort zone again! I chose the "Generous Queen" size--according to the package this batt is 100" x 116" (mine was actually 103" x 116"). They indicate the estimated shrinkage is 2-3%. The package said to consult the Web site for presoaking instructions. WELL, you can't simply soak it in the washing machine and spin it out--they expressly tell you this is a very bad idea. You are supposed to soak it in the tub and then lay it flat somewhere on a sheet to dry. Ha! more than 11,000 square inches of soggy batting to dry flat in December in Illinois! Double HA! So, all I did was toss it in the dryer to tumble wrinkles out of it--another adventure for me as I have always preshrunk my batting. On the plus side, it is WONDERFULLY soft! I just love the way it feels--I imagine it is going to drape very very nicely. So, we will see how it goes.

Next I plan to whip out the top for the wedding quilt. I think DH is getting a little tired of that huge portable design wall up in the dining room.

I have not done any holiday shopping yet. :( I am not fond of shopping to start with, so Christmas shopping is not high on my list of things I want to do. Between everyone being sick and now the lousy weather forecast, I have been finding all kinds of excuses to not start. Sigh. Time to make my list, check it twice, and get moving!!