Finally Finished—IMT Cabana Huts
Only 20 years in a Bin!
Last week was a euphoria-filled week. I quilted every day—and tried a couple of new-to-me techniques. But first, look at this label:
Obs, it was not finished in 2018, but that was the original intent. That’s also the year I went back to college and my quilting took a hiatus. After 3 semesters, my health let me know that maybe I didn’t need to further my primary career and by that time, and my workload had increased due to some staffing issues. Now that I’ve retired I would like to go back to school, but I’m still figuring out what I want to do.
But back to the cabanas quilt—this quilt was another one from the International Mystery Tour we did at the shop. I chose the blue and sand colorway; I do not remember the other colorways. But the thing you have probably figured out was that I never got the tops done in time for the monthly tour meeting. I took this one out of a Bin sometime in 2017 or early 2018 (prior to entering college). I even cobbled together some scraps to make a dilapidated cabana…not my finest idea but it helped me get the last block done. Then I put the borders on it and Katrina said, “Please take them off!” I didn’t.
l didn’t love the quilt top, but recently decided it would be a good gift for our great-granddaughter for her birthday. She can take it to the beach! Her birthday is in September, so chalk one up to another beaten deadline.
I determined that this quilt would be the inaugural edge-to-edge quilting project for Ani, my Brother Luminaire XP3. I purchased a beach edge-to-edge design from Designs by Juju at least 3-4 years ago—it’s one of her earliest “end-to-end” designs. I had also purchased a design from OESD, but decided it was better suited for a smaller project.
The edge-to-edge design came in several sizes. While I obviously wanted to use the largest (10-5/8” x 16”) to reduce the number of hoopings, it didn’t work out mathematically. The top measured 55” x 72”, and the 7” x 12” design seemed the best fit.
While this was not my first attempt at quilting with an embroidery machine, this quilt was the largest one I have attempted. After man-handling the quilt back to the studio and getting it hooped, I plugged in the designs and plodded through getting it ready to stitch. All of my previous quilts with quilting in the hoop were done on my Bernina 790Plus, so I had a clue of what to do, but I was lacking in the “how-to-do” certain optional steps. I watched a video and got started. But, and I think this is something I’ve heard about that is specific to PES embroidery designs, the first stitch of each file of the design starts with one stitch in the center, then advances to the first “real” stitch of the design and, after stitching the design, the machine returns to the center of the design after stitching the last stitch—which complicates the lining up of the actual last stitch to the actual first stitch of the design for the next pass. I found where I could advance the stitch and took off.
But after realizing I was off with my math calculation and because of that, I had half of the design on either side of the quilt, I changed gears. I decided to digitize a design for the border. I had the idea of feet walking around the border. After a quick search for free clip art, I found an image that worked. Digitizing the design in 3 different configurations for the corners and the long straight passes, I tested the designs and was happy with the outcome. It was a fast stitch-out and I will definitely do this again!
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| Test stitch-out of the design for the border--pay no mind to the odd foot stepping into the other foot! |
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| Bare feet walking all around the quilt! |
I had fun with the backing. I had taken the flimsy and backing fabric to Katrina’s the weekend we quilted the Tattoo quilt, but while looking at the backing fabric I chose, I realized that it was a directional print and didn’t want to mess that up with a seam, so I had a thought—instead of using only the original backing fabric, why not make a beach scene? I loved how it turned out, but the beach umbrella fabric was awfully flimsy—I had a hard time with it when spray basting it; it would not cooperate and there is a little tuck in the back.
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| Backing fabrics prior to the backing being pieced |
It took a lot of hoopings to complete the quilting. Three days later, I was done with the quilting. And here’s where we get to the new-to-me techniques with binding! A few years ago I started seeing videos and references to stitching binding to a quilt using a serger—and then I heard about using fusible thread in the lower looper. That piqued my interest. I used Charlotte’s Fusible Web thread made by Superior Threads. I tested on an old practice square from a class I took with Ricky Tims in 2001 (!), and it worked. The binding stitching flew by, mitered corners were a breeze, and ironing down the binding was fabulous because I didn’t have to glue down the binding! It took me less than an hour to load the fusible thread into the serger, apply the binding by serging it to the quilt, ironing the binding to the other side, and doing the final (serpentine) stitch to finish the binding. Another technique I will do again!
I buried a lot of threads and wiped out my markings, and called this quilt done. It will be gifted later this year.
Completed June 29, 2025
So while another International Mystery Tour project is completed, I got to thinking about any remaining ones—we ran the program for two years, I think, and I cannot remember off the top of my head if I have any others hanging out in any of The Bins. I know there was one for a log cabin quilt, but my daughter-in-law used most of the fabrics in the kit to make napkins for their wedding reception. Worthy cause, for sure!
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| Cake made by noon... |
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| By 5:00 p.m.--and more was enjoyed later in the evening after this shot. |
We had family and friends over for a cook-in--it was way too hot to have a cookout. I remember the dessert I made last year was HORRIBLE and joined the "Never Again" category in My Recipe Keeper app. Yesterday I tried this Lemon Blueberry Poke Cake and it was fabulous. I anticipate it will be completely gone by this afternoon. I'll share the recipe in another post.
In other news, the Tattoo quilt is finished! It has been gifted to its honoree, but the quilt still needs some glamour shots. The recipient has some pretty great camera equipment, so she’ll be taking the photos, and I’m hoping to do the reveal later this month. That’s 3 quilts completed in the first half of this year. More to come—in the meantime, go make!
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