quilt test update

ok this is going to be a bit of a long one but here it goes. i made the mini half scale square test quilt with the grey linen and the larger to scale back black square test quilt.

then i quilted them. i used an old mattress protector as the wadding, and quilted the large and small squares separately so i cold stick to the quilt pattern of an X in each solid colour square.

  

the front of the black large squares

the back showing the quilt pattern more clearly

this is the front of the small grey linen squares quilted. 

 

 and the back, just so you can see the pattern. 

side by side -  i need to choose the best one. borris and i both like the grey linen and unfortunately we both agree that the mini squares size also looks great, but seeing as i already have all the pattern squares cut out to the larger size, we are going with that. 

maybe i will do a mini squares quilt later.

i still needed to wash and dry the linen to see how it went, and make sure it didn't wrinkle up or do anything funny. 

so in order to do that i put the 2 halves together with one more layer of the wadding, making it three layers of wadding and a patchwork front and back. i bound it with some left over fabric from a jelly roll. 

now it is ready for washing.

  

and this is the back after washing and drying, looks good. 

 

and the front linen after a wash and a dry. also looks good. 

  

a close up of the black squares quilted, washed and dried.

i like it but i think it is a bit harsh.

and a close up of the mini grey linen squares quilted, washed and dried. 

i think this is the winner. i am still a bit afraid of choosing a linen, but i think it is the right colour and the change in texture will add another detail to the quilt.

what do you think?

 i will buy the fabric in the next week or so and get started on the real thing. in the meantime otto gets this mini quilt to be used as a lining for his bike basket, 

but more on that project later.