Pressie Planning

When it dawned on me that my MIL has a special birthday next summer, that she is so positive and encouraging about my sewing and that I haven't really made her anything substantial yet, a little thought occurred to me.

If I could make her a sampler quilt of her own for the special birthday then I could also precede it with a cushion that would match it for her Christmas pressie.  Two gifts decided in one little thought - result!

Hubby and son agreed with the plan. Lovely son helped me choose fabrics he thought Nanny would like

Modern Meadow and a taupe scroll co-ordinate.

and I did a little research for a nice block to make up into her cushion.

FYI - this book is a very handy resource for 501 different blocks.  It's not the most exciting book on the inside but it does come with handy tables for making the blocks in a number of different sizes and little block diagrams of how to assemble them. (Should try to take a pic of that for you next time.)

Grandmother's Choice block

Anyway, my son was very interested in the block designs and the names they had and he chose this one - Grandmother's Choice - because he liked the appropriateness of its name for his Nanny's Christmas pressie cushion.  The block wasn't too difficult to make even if I did have to unpick and rearrange a few pieces as I hadn't paid attention to the direction of the pink print (smart!).

After adding a wee border and basting, I tried (honestly I did) to FMQ in the block.  Three times I tried, but it was AWFUL with capital letters all the way through!  I just don't seem to be able to shift the fabric around smoothly and ended up with teeny weeny tight stitches and then great big jumpy ones.  On the basis that I need a finish this side of Christmas (!) I hung up my FMQ boots and opted for a little outline quilting.  I'm not madly happy with how this works but can't quite put my finger on why.  Possibly because I had the FMQ vision in my head and this is not it.  I don't know.

Anyway, we now have a pressie half way to completion.  If I'm very diligent tomorrow I'll be able to make the quilted envelope backing and check it off my "shopping" list - fingers crossed!