An Ant Farm Quilt : :

Last week, on our way out to have dinner at my parents house, we took a drive to take these photos of my finished Ant Farm Quilt, a request & gift for my Nephew Owen. Since we couldn't think of a "hill" to take these photos in front of, we decided to take them at the very top of the prettiest hill around, Dutch Hill. It was windy and the sun was just starting to set, but it was so pretty! You may have already seen the video I shared here on my Instagram, it was a beautiful evening in Potter County!

This quilt came together super quickly, once I finally decided on a pattern! It's made up of scrappy, improv log cabin blocks on both sides, separating the colorful fabrics from the lighter, white, & grays that I used. For the center of the quilt I made four courthouse step blocks, keeping that same color separation. I really love the combination of these two quilt blocks, and have a second quilt all planned out using them once again!



It's quilted using my quilt as you go method, with a gray Aurifil 50wt and straight line quilt stitches spaced about an inch or so apart. In this photo below, with the sun facing the finished quilt, you can really see all those pretty quilt stitches!



One of my favorite things about finished qayg quilts is having that contrast of a heavier, more densely quilted quilt for the front, with the softer, square grid pattern for the quilt back.



Since I made my blocks for this quilt rather large, at an 18" square, I added a simple tie with a pale gray cotton floss to the center of each block, as well.



For the binding I chose a Lizzy House striped fabric from her Hello Pilgrim collection. I love using a small scale striped fabric for binding! The colors in this one worked perfectly with the Backyard Baby fabrics!



Here's that extension table binding trick once again! 




Along with the Backyard Baby prints I used lots of Riley Blake Basics -- their Cotton Dots, Solids, & Ombre Dots. I really put my overflowing scrap drawer to good use on this quilt, as well. That always feels so good!!




I'm tucking this quilt away with the others I've made and are making for my children, nieces, and nephews. I'm hoping to see that pile grow by seven more between now and Christmas! I've already made lots of progress on my Butterfly Quilt -- more on that one soon!!

Happy Monday, friends!  ♥   Maureen