"Scatter": A Finished Orange Peel Quilt

*I'm linking this finish up to the Finish Along at The Littlest Thistle. You can see my original FAL Quarter 3 list here!*

My orange peel quilt is done! I can't promise it's not my last project for the Orange Peel QAL, but it's definitely the largest one (44" x 55")! And guess what - registration and the details for my Orange Peels and Improv class (Oct. 6 and 20 at Pennington Quilt Works, Pennington, NJ) are available on the Pennington Quilt Works website and my Classes tab! Woohoo! I'm seriously just brimming with excitement!

I started out making orange peels because Ashley's progressive quilt needed some (I don't remember the initial inspiration though) and because Anna Maria Horner's new Pretty Potent fabric was practically screaming from inside my quilting closet to be made into something pretty. Also, one of our CJMQG challenges for August/September is to make something out of our swapped low volume fabrics. The two just meshed together until I couldn't take it and I had to start a quilt. And the QAL was born! I'm a sucker for a new-to-me sewing skill and the ability to share it with others through this blog is just the icing on the cake. :)

I sketched the quilt out in my notebook, and only when I experimented with a rainbow pattern radiating from the inside did I commit to a design. Rainbow all day everyday. When in doubt, go rainbow. So I've learned.

Using the "stitch and flip method" (tutorial by Emily Herrick, and additions and tips here), I became addicted to the process of making orange peel blocks.



 I made the blocks first, laid them out and created six improv "sections" of low volume scraps, which would later be completely pieced together. At first, I was only going to use white and neutral fabrics but I grabbed a scrap of gray, cut it up, and watched how it added another layer of interest to my quilt! If you take the class with me, you'll practice improv piecing large pieces and I'll give a bunch of tips for working in this manner. :)



I top-stitched the orange peels before I started full on quilting (read: I did not quilt over the actual orange peels, just around them, because I really wanted them to stand out!). Ashley recently showed us how cool your machine can make applique and top-stitching - I wish I had read her post at that time! :P Anyway, I like the simplicity of the straight stitch because there's a lot going on already anyway.

There's only one "full" orange peel "blossom" on the quilt - in the bottom right corner:

I don't think I've ever backed and bound a quilt in the same fabric, but man, Anna Maria Horner's Dowry Postage Due fabric just *does it* for this quilt! I couldn't help myself.

The quilting was so.much.fun. I made a list of a bunch of free motion motifs I love (pebbling, swirls, loops, rainbows, flowers) and gradually switched into different designs as I moved across the quilt.

This baby quilt was intended for a baby girl, but I'll have to make a different quilt, because this one will be hanging in Pennington Quilt Works as of today!

 Let's take more pictures WITH our quilts, people! :D They are so important to us!

Pop back on Monday to link up your midway Orange Peel QAL progress! Just about one month to go before the final linky party. Wow!

Linking up to: Free Motion Mavericks, Crazy Mom Quilts, TGIFF, Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilting Infatuation, I Quilt @ Pretty Bobbins

This is also my big monthly finish so I'm linking up to A Lovely Year of Finishes!