Blogger's Quilt Festival!

I'm linking up to the Blogger's Quilt Festival today. I had so much fun last year (when I was just starting to quilt and blog), and I decided to join up again.

For those of you visiting for the first time, let me say I'm pleased to make your acquaintance :) I'm Jess, I've been sewing and quilting for a year and a half, and I am a college student who is always thinking about her next craft rather than her homework (though, if I may say so myself, I'm still doing very well in school and will graduate with honors in May ;)). I also just started an etsy shop called Purple Strawberry Handmade - check it out for fabric lanyards (and key fobs soon), which make awesome stocking stuffers!

My "Lucky Charms" quilt is near and dear to my heart. I started the quilt to challenge myself. Over at In Color Order, there was a Warm/Cool (color) Quilt Along, following a half-square triangle (HST) pattern. I had never really thought about color theory before when making quilts, and I had never made a HST - perfect.

I was bogged down by other sewing commitments until after the QAL was over, but I did it anyway (sometimes I feel it's nice to see the tips of others afterwards and then try my own, too!). I had a blast going through what scraps I had, and deciding what would make the cut.

I chose mostly bright colors - from every color of the rainbow - hence the eventual name "Lucky Charms," like the cereal (a name that luckily [excuse the repeat of words] just came to me). I also tried to pick out cute prints that a child would like.

(I messed up sewing one of the rows, so I took it out - if you look closely, it's the 5th from the bottom. The final layout ended up being completely different!)

Plus, I was super excited to finish the quilt top, because let me tell you, it took a long time. I really admire those quilters who made lap size or full size quilts - this was only a baby quilt.

I learned that I can handle a quilt with HSTs. I learned that, if I trust my color sense but still go with the scrappy look, everything will turn out okay. I also folded over the binding from the backing for an easy binding - which I then sewed down by machine. This was my first time trying that technique.

Somewhere along in this process, I heard about the quilt drive 100 Quilts for Kids. I decided that I loved this quilt so much that I was going to give it away. I donated to Quilts for Kids - I like to think that a little girl or boy has received my quilt and hopefully has found comfort in it.

Go over to the Blogger's Quilt Festival to see all the other beautiful quilts! Thanks for stopping by and if you like what you see, I hope you'll stick around! :)