Modern Plus Top Finished

Started this quilt top on Saturday, finished the flimsy today. Not bad huh? We won't talk about the fact that the backing will be heavily pieced to use up those 40 squares I had left over plus whatever fabric I can find in my magic fabric chest :)

I first posted about this quilt on Monday.  Carol Friedlander fans will know that this is her Botanics line. All of it :)

Here are the pics and then I'll share a few things I learned/confirmed while sewing this top together.

I need a taller back wall :) I am posting this picture because I think it is pretty amazing the color difference between the lower portion of the quilt that is in the BLAZING sun and the upper quilt that is not in direct sunlight. Amazing the difference it makes isn't it??

I hung it horizontally so I could get the entire quilt in the picture :)

One more just cuz :)

And now here are a few close ups so you can see all of that absolutely LOVELY fabric :) I have to admit, there were a few times during this project that I thought I had made the wrong choice in terms of patterns. Now that the flimsy is finished I just love it!

So I thought this would be a really straightforward top to put together. . . That was pretty much the case with piecing portion. What took me the longest was getting the Plus signs all situated so the fabrics didn't blend into one another, lights, darks, if I move that one, then I have to move those three. . . oy vey! I spent all day Sunday putting blocks on my design wall. I'd put some up. Walk away and do the dishes. Put some up. Walk away and take a shower. Put some up. Walk away and make food. Well, you get the idea. What I found was walking away, made the process go a little faster than deciding on layouts have gone in the past. We hear all the time, getting frustrated, making mistakes, doesn't seem to be looking right, just walk away - and I do when I find I am making mistakes. But I had never actually done it while I was in the design phase. I usually get so excited about seeing something come together that I stand at the wall arranging, rearranging on an on and on.  Walking away works very well!

I learned that even with a 'simple' quilt made out of just sewing squares together (no block construction), precision in cutting and piecing make life MUCH easier! :) You might be thinking, DUH, no kidding! haha Have I mentioned in this post how much I love Rosanne's 1/4 inch piecing setting and the piecing foot that came with her?? LOVE!

One more thing, press those seams open or to the side? Most of you know I am a press those seams open kind of girl. I like the way my blocks lay and it just seems to me that I am more accurate pressing open. BUT there is a time and place for everything - even which way to press seams! LOL I pressed the seams to the side on this one. I'm not crazy about pinning but I do pin when sewing rows together when the seams are pressed open. It's the only way I have found to be accurate. With a quilt like this, nest those seams baby! No pins for me! :) I guess what I am saying, no need to be militant about the seam pressing issue. From here on out, I'll let the project dictate!

Oh, last item I promise - I managed to get all of those squares sewn together and I only had to rip out and resew ONE 5" seam due to messing up the layout! Now that is amazing!

On to making the back. My batting should be here tomorrow so I can start quilting Off Course - YAY :)

Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday, Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social, My Quilt Infatuation for NTT and Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it Up Friday.

Until next time, keep on quilting!