First Light

This quilt is special – in more ways than one. My husband is 100% my biggest fan, supporter, encourager, critic (not in a you don’t know what you’re doing way – in the I’m going to point out this little thing, because its fun to pick on you), and this is his quilt.

He had a hand in picking out the panel, some of the design features, and giving me “directions” to make HIS quilt (okay, maybe not all, but I let him think he was helping), including these really simple requirements: must be fluffy, must be big and must have flannel back. He’s lucky I love him! He even helped name it.

I got to work with my trusty pencil and graph paper and drafted out this design – it took me a while and I struggled with just how I wanted it – and because it was a gift for the man that I love more than quilting (he’s got those dang dimples when he smiles that just melt my heart).

The elk tracks that line the top and bottom were all appliqued on and machine-stitched into place – a challenge in itself. What better way to try out a technique that you’ve never really done than on a big project, with tiny pieces that you had to draw out yourself?!

And those mountain borders – I think I have at least 15 test blocks in a box somewhere from trying to get the perfect size to fit exactly where I wanted them.