Lake Association Picnic Quilt 2013 finished!

Finished up the picnic quilt to donate to our Lake Association for their picnic this weekend.  And of course in the process I tried and learned something new.

First the photo of the finished quilt...

The pattern is Via Air Mail by Anita Peluso and published in the July/August 2013 issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine.  Though I used fewer blocks to get the size I needed, and used blue instead of red for the border and back because that's what I had on hand, the quilt is quite like the original, right down to most of the quilting.  Pretty unusual for me to stick that closely to a pattern!

I have had trouble with my free motion quilting whenever I round a tight corner.  The bottom tension pulls too tight and though the front looks great, the back does not!  This time I tried out a suggestion of taping a business card over the feed dogs and leaving them up rather than lowering the feed dogs while free motion quilting.  Solved the problem completely!  I will surely do that again.

The fabrics are all cozy flannels from my stash.  Pulling them out has made me realize that I need to use up some more flannel.  I have two boxes overflowing.  I love this quilt so much I might see if I can make another similar one to keep, or be ahead of the game for next year's picnic.  But I am out of the cream.  Might have to substitute snowflakes!