Penultimate 2011 quilt

Another baby quilt finish for a little boy born last week.

Pattern from this book.

I did a meandering all over quilting 'pattern', primarily because I was pushed for time and it seemed the easiest thing to do.

When I'm quilting over both dark and light fabrics, I always opt for the 'safe' option of using mono-filament thread in the top so you don't actually see the thread, just the pattern it makes.

And I used a regular cotton in the bobbin for the back.

I ran out of whatever the lighter cream coloured plain fabric was, so added a different colour in, which I am fine with.

The binding is Kona Curry and because I didn't have enough of that either, mixed with Kona Yarrow.

For the first time ever when it came to the quilting, I took Leah Day's advice and I did not drop the feed dogs and it really did make a huge difference...for the better. Previously, when I've been free motion quilting with the feed dogs down, I have felt that I have been in charge of an out-of-control lawnmower with a life of its own as it careened off here, there and everywhere.

With the feed dogs up I felt more in control and got better stitch length regularity. I am thinking up and not down is the way to go from now on.

This is not quite the back of my quilts for 2011 though as another work colleague is due New Year's Eve.
Just need to squeeze one more quilt in.

Oh...almost forgot. The 'penguin' moment.

Linking up to Amanda Jean.