Metro Link Quilt 2

Who braved the freezing temps and rushing wind to snap a few photos of her quilt? This girl. The phrase about suffering for the sake art came to mind.

I'm happy with the way the quilt came out, especially the choice of backing and binding. I'd been saving the Habitat print for just the right quilt, and I love it with the bright colors of the scraps on the front.  It was begging for a solid yellow binding.

In typical Kansas City fashion, yesterday was sunny and warm. Can you believe I hand stitched the binding outside on the deck, then this?

This is the Metro Link quilt, pattern by Michelle (@ilikeorangetoo on Instagram). I made another version of the quilt several years ago.

Metrolink Quilt Top

It's a quilt top! We're in the middle of a wet, gloomy stretch of cold weather here, so a couple of quick shots by an open door will have to do. I have to say it is so satisfying to see all those neat 90 degree corners matching, and I'm still loving the bright scraps against the black essex linen.

Now on to basting and quilting. I think I will use straight line quilting to emphasize the geometric piecing.

Metro Link Progress

I've been piecing the blocks of my Metro Link quilt this week, enjoying every minute. Each block is a new chance to make unique fabric pairings since I'm working with scraps. It's been like eating candy - I want to savor each one and not rush through, because then they will be finished.

The columns came together fairly quickly, so I'm ready to assemble the top next.

A New Link

I decided to get back in the scrappy saddle with the start of a new Metro Link quilt. Boy, I had forgotten how many tiny pieces (617!) are in this pattern by Michelle. The smallest ones finish at 1 x 2 inches. Cutting the background pieces from Essex linen yardage was quick, but cutting each individual piece from scraps took the better part of the past week. Whew!

I usually enjoy sewing from scraps improvisationally because it eliminates the need for precision in the initial phases, but I have to admit that there is something very satisfying about all those neat stacks cut to precisely the right size.

I've got the first step of the pattern all lined up for a night of chain piecing. Belying its precision, this type of sewing is actually quite relaxing. Unlike every step of an improv piece, there are no decisions to be made - just methodical, soothing stitches. Sometimes, it's just what you need.

Midwest Metro Link

I love this quilt and am so glad it is staying at our house.Thank you to Carla for suggesting purple for the binding. I knew that was the only option as soon as I read her comment. I found Kona Berry, and it is my new favorite color!I especially love how it looks with the Word Play fabric I chose for the back of the quilt.I stuck to straight line quilting, and it reminds me of fold lines on a paper map as well as city intersections. The metro link pattern is by Paisley Pear Quilts, and I wrote about the process of making this quilt here, here, and here.

Decisions

I finished quilting my Metro Link, and now I'm trying to find the right fabric for binding. I don't usually have trouble picking a binding fabric, but with the scrappiness of this quilt, the best choice has been less than obvious. Hmm. I auditioned prints, but I think a solid is a better way to go on this one. Coal? Or azure?

Maybe brown, but it doesn't look as good with the back. The backing is the black and white print.

Take Backs

I take it all back. I love the scrappy look of my Metro Link! Getting it all pieced together made a a huge difference.My husband even said he liked it so much he wouldn't mind having it hung on the wall. It's a bit big for that, but that was quite a compliment from my non-quilty guy. It's a keeper. I wish I could quilt it right away, but another quilt is using all my basting pins at the moment, so I'd better get to it first.

Linking Scraps

I'm making some progress on my Metro Link quilt top. I didn't realize when I bought the pattern that many of the pieces finish to just 1" x 2"! Eep.
The scrappiness of this quilt is one of the main things that drew me to the pattern. I've been piecing it randomly, just pulling the next piece from the pile only vetoing if the same fabric is already in the block. I'll admit that at this point I'm not loving the individual blocks and kind of wishing I'd limited my color palette instead going completely scrappy. I'm hoping that will change when I see it all together.