It’s finished! It’s really, really finished! And it only took two years! ha. It started with these plans and got pieced like this and then moved onto this and started growing like this. It was over a year ago that the top was pieced.
And then the quilting totally got derailed. Bunches and puckers all over the back. I had to redo a lot of quilting last Spring. Rip out over 50 feet of stitches, resandwich and restretch, repin, etc. Then it got hot. So hot that the candle in my china cabinet did this: 
No one, and I mean NO ONE, can quilt under those conditions!
Luckily, having to restart the quilting caused me to rethink my pattern. I ended up adding a handquilted floral center, which is my take on one of these cool patterns I found online, with the crosshatching by machine radiating out from there. It made machine quilting much smoother and gave Izzy a little special handquilting in her quilt, just like her big sister has.
As you can see, I still had problems with puckering, but that’s the only trouble on the whole quilt. Close enough! Hopefully some of that will tame down after I wash it.
This Dresden plate on the back is the label for the quilt. I didn’t get to photograph what I wrote, but I put her name, date, etc, on the yellow center.
Doesn’t this scene look so peaceful? It wasn’t. It was BITTER cold the day of the photoshoot and I had two very cold little girlies accompanying me, whining the whole time. The car was parked about a football field away so I couldn’t exactly let them play in the warm car while I worked. Sigh.
Since this quilt’s title elicits visions of travel, I thought it would be fitting to photograph it with an old railcar.
Izzy is excited to have a quilt on her big girl bed!
I’d like to title the above picture, “Made in Grand Rapids,” as I made both those quilts here and the bunk beds were also made locally. To maintain the honesty of this title, please disregard the pink Tommy Hilfiger pillowcase and the owl pillow bought at Target.
It feels sooo good to have this quilt done. I almost can’t believe that I really made this. I’ve always wanted a Trip Around the World quilt! I know: this isn’t really MY quilt. I guess I’d better start collecting fabrics for my own! If I’m lucky, it’ll only take me two years to finish it!
Tags: daughter, handquilting, machine quilting, polkadot binding, quilt, Trip Around the World, twin bed
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It’s stunning! Great job!
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That’s gorgeous! It must feel so good to have it done.
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It looks really wonderful, and no wonder it took a long time! Thanks for the tips along the way about cutting and storing the strips – I’d like to make one, though it will probably take me even longer:-)
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Turned out beautiful! I haven’t seen a pic of Isabel in so long! She is precious!
She in this picture looks like a mix of Austin and aunt Marian. So pretty!
I can’t wait for our kiddos to see each other in June
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I love watching this come together. But I’ve been curious – why is it called “Around the World?” I must also note that your blog is dangerous – it’s making me want to take up quilting. And Scott will tell you that I really don’t need another crafty hobby…
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Awesome April, what a treasure!
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Oh, April, it’s just great! I love it! Way to stick to it! It will be a treasure forever! I love the photos on the rail car. How ingenious! I love it. You should be really proud of yourself. And Izzy is totally adorable!
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I love the quilt!! It was worth the wait and I can see that Izzy agrees. The photos are great, April.
We’re looking forward to seeing you this summer.
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Fabulous. I can’t wait to see the finished product in person (plus your new couch). So bummed that I didn’t make craft night last week.
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A masterpiece!!!
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April, when did Izzy get so big?! I loved these photos. What beautiful work!
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Such a lovely quilt – really beautiful! Well done!
Janet
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