improv quilts

Autumn Drive Finish

Well, almost finished. Autumn Drive came cruising in to my brain and had to be made. Remember that little scenario I wrote about in my last post? This is that squirrel!

But First, A Tip

I grabbed my dual feed foot to put on my machine for quilting Autumn Drive. I happened to look at the bottom of the foot and was stunned to see a wad of sticky fuzz and fabric.

Autumn Drive Finish - Check your dual feed foot now and then. All that gunk came out of that little spot! - piecefulthoughts.com

All that linty mess was stuck on the part of my dual feed foot where the red arrow is pointing. It was packed in there. I had to gently nudge it out with my stiletto. The foot didn’t seem to be gripping as well as usual, but I hadn’t thought to check the bottom of the foot. Tip for the Day: Check your foot 🙂

Back to Autumn Drive.  While driving home on Monday in the rain, I was noticing how the colors of the trees just pop, even on a gray, rainy day. I had to make that idea into a quilt.

Autumn Drive Finish - Top is quilted, now to do a facing! - piecefulthoughts.com

The quilt top is 27″ square. I want to try a faced binding on this quilt, which I haven’t done before. Autumn Drive will go with us on the road next week for some fun shots while up north. If they work out, I’ll post a few.

The background fabric is a gray Moda Grunge. The colors are all solids from my stash. Most are Kona. I even had matching thread!

Autumn Drive Finish - Aurifil threads, ready and waiting - piecefulthoughts.com

I stitched some organic straight lines, using matching thread, stitching from end to end.

Autumn Drive - Quilting detail, organic straight lines - piecefulthoughts.com

Here’s another view.

Autumn Drive Finish - Quilting Detail - piecefulthoughts.com

Even the back is interesting, with all the colors.

Autumn Drive - Quilt back detail - piecefulthoughts.com

One more squirrel, done and (almost) dusted. I’m sure there are a few of his relatives hiding under some fabric for another time!

What about you? Are you chasing any squirrels lately?

Linking up today with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Sherry at Powered by Quilting, and Myra at Busy Hands Quilts.

Wendy

37 Comments

  • Vicki in MN

    OMG-I love it. I think you peeked in my solids as these are the colors I look at so longingly and wish I could come up with an idea to use them! Hmmm maybe someday:) You did a fantastic job!!!!!!!!!! OK did you plan this out on paper or just wing it as you went?

  • Diann Bottrell

    That looks like a very fun squirrel! I love how the different thread colors show up so nicely on the dark backing. I was just talking to a friend about a faced binding – but I haven’t tried it yet. Looking forward to seeing yours!

  • Jayne

    It’s so beautiful! It absolutely has an autumn vibe! I love organic straight line quilting so this made me very happy…especially seeing the back! Beautiful job!

  • catpatches

    That’s a good reminder to check the bottoms of our sewing feet. I haven’t looked at mine…ever…and so they’re probably bad. I totally love your quilt. Just gorgeous. Makes me want one too.

  • Kate

    Oh very nice indeed, a stunning array of colours enhanced by the straight line quilting. If it was smaller it would make the most wonderful posh cushion cover. I have taken on board yourtip about the foot, I’m off to check mine now.

  • Laura

    Love the fall feel. Really fun that you used coordinating aurifil colours to quilt. I have mixed feelings about grunge fabrics because of the sometimes “odd” background colours in them that cannot be easily seen (online at least). We don’t have much selection locally to actually look at. The grunge grey you chose looks fabulous with those warm fall colours. Do you know which grey it is (moda’s name or colour number)?. I have been trying to decide what to do with the “ends” of my hot fabrics that I have left from my #100days100blocks2018 project and making blocks with grey and bright might be just the thing (and so relaxing because it’s easy sewing!) Have a wonderful weekend.

  • Preeti Harris

    Oh Wendy, you are the most delightful and caring quilter I know. I just wanted a mug rug and you made me the most beautiful, colorful, charming place setting. And since I am a messy eater you made sure it is large enough to catch all the crumbs. It has bright orange to hide the curry stains and green to disguise the avocado salad dressing. You really are a doll. I love this labor of love. You are the best!!! Have an amazing weekend 🙂

  • rl2b2017

    Hi Wendy! I am SHOCKED to see that on the bottom of your foot. If I was home, I would run right now and look at my foot. This is a great squirrely finish for today. It looks so very modern and perfect for the season. ~smile~ Roseanne

  • Kathleen McCormick

    I can’t believe the junk on your foot. I have never seen that, and usually check mine, I think, because of the way they go on. You will like the facing. Definitely take a look at the one I referred to a few weeks ago. I left the triangles open and added a sleeve in the center to hold the hanger – worked like a charm. I put the sleeve on the same way as the triangles under the facing – worked like a charm!!! Then only hand sewing the facing and the hanging sleeve.

    • piecefulwendy

      Oh, good tips! I looked at the tutorial you used along with another one that doesn’t use the triangles, but now I see the value of them. Hmm.

  • thedarlingdogwood

    Those colors look fantastic together, Wendy! It really does feel like driving through a tree-lined road on a dreary day, all those colors popping out at you. Lovely!

  • Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts

    I love the way you worked in all the colors of fall and they look fabulous with the gray grunge. This sure is one pretty squirrel! I’ll be interested to hear what you think about the faced binding – I’ve never tried that before.

  • Sandra Walker

    I need to try this faced binding too; saw Kathleen’s post on hers and thought hmm, that sounds perfect for a mini. This is a wonderful pop of the colours that we too will get (just starting down here) and that I always want to put into a quilt. I love love the threads you chose and how they look on the back. That Moda Grunge is just so wonderful isn’t it! Thanks for linking up with Tish’s UFO Busting party!

  • Danice G

    Thank you for the tip to check our machine feet regularly. Lint and fuzz can build up. The little grey and autumn-colors quilt is gorgeous. I have done a faced binding on several quilts, and like the look a lot. It works well, especially with modern style quilts that have a lot of negative space.

  • laura bruno lilly

    I clicked on today’s post (Jan 6, 2021) and got to your two other circle runner quilts and then this post popped up on a related link on one of those posts…and so here I am! Firstly: kind of fun to know someone clicks links around your blog, eh?
    Secondly: I love this quilt…and the fact that you just invented it as you went along…and use of scraps and the color grey and the multi-colored thread used in walking foot quilting…This is a keeper and I’ll be ‘squirreling’ it away for a future project of my own.
    Personal note: bet you (we) didn’t ever think 2021 would be like this when this was written (2018).
    sigh

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