My First-Ever I-spy quilt.

As I was photographing my Hexagon I-spy Quilt so I could add it to the Bloggers Quilt Festival, I realized that I never took a picture of the first I-spy quilt I ever made.

My first-ever I-spy quilt!

When I made this one, I was a fairly new quilter.  I did some swaps and got a bunch of fabric of questionable quality (that was before I found the ISpyQuilts group on yahoo--they only swap quilt shop quality fabrics).  Since I was a new-ish quilter, I wasn't super experienced at weeding out cheap fabric by feel...so I'm hoping all the fabric I included will stand the test of time. But if not, oh well....I'll enjoy it while it lasts!

In planning this quilt, I looked at a bunch of pictures of I-spy quilts online, found a style I liked, and set to work.  It went together pretty easily.  My cute sister quilted it for me on her long-arm machine.

Honestly, the backing/binding is what makes this quilt for me.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this fabric (and if anybody knows what it's called and where I can buy more of it, please let me know).

Hope you're all enjoying the festival!

Hexagon I-spy!

Happy Bloggers' Quilt Festival!  When I first started this blog, it was so I could show off my quilts for BQF.  I haven't posted anything for a couple of years (the more kids I have, the less I quilt) but I was SO EXCITED for the return of the old format (and the randomized prizes instead of popularity-contest prizes) that I decided to go take a few pictures.

My Hexagon I-spy quilt!!!

This little baby was a serious labor of love--It was also my nesting project.  I pieced the top last summer when I was pregnant with my now-1-year-old.  When some people are nesting, they clean and organize things....when I'm nesting, I quilt. :)  I got the majority of the I-spy pieces from an awesome swap group I'm a part of (a yahoo group called ISpyQuilts, if you're curious).

The pieces for that swap were 4" squares, which I cut down with a hexagon template I talked my husband in to machining for me on his mill.  Then, when I started laying all the hexis out, I got the brilliant idea to add hexagonal sashing....so I did some more talking and wrangled a non-regular hexagon from the machinist husband.

And then I sewed.....and sewed.....and sewed.  As you can see, this quilt has about a billion Y-seams. Thank heavens for my new sewing machine that does neat tricks like raising and lowering the presser foot when I tap the foot pedal and cutting the thread with the push of a button.

I try to make the backs of my I-spy quilts fun and somewhat related to the tops....I couldn't find any hexagon fabric I loved...but I found this stuff that was supposedly ice cubes that looked hexagonal enough for me.

When I got done piecing the top, I was SO DONE with looking at and working with this quilt.  My amazing and very talented sister was kind enough to take pity on me and quilted it on her long-arm to help me get it finished up.

I love I-spy quilts.  I have two of them on my bed (I know! Originally, I thought I'd let the kids put them on their beds but I love them too much to let them go!)  I just love how colorful and interesting and fun they are.  I have another one in progress....I'm hoping to have it done for the next Bloggers Quilt Festival!