Alberta Marie: Square Over Square

Last year around May a man named Michael requested that I make a quilt large enough for his queen bed. Sure! I'd love to! He had no color preferences, and was very vague in general as to what he wanted. (Luckily this is very liberating. I still feared of course, what if he hates it?)

It took me about two months to decide on the color scheme and pattern. If it wasn't for a weekend away with my quilting buddy Megan, I would have never found the right inspiration. Thank goodness she had her own quilt of this pattern; and thank goodness for Moda Bakeshop tutorials!
(A note on my creative process: I originally chose green and brown fabrics and a pinwheel pattern but found that the tones that I was drawn to were altogether too pukey. Oops! So I went out and bought new fabric and chose a totally different pattern. And making all these choices takes time!)

Laying it out to measure in the dining room, furniture removed

This quilt is made up of 9 large blocks. I actually had them all finished right before the wedding.
But then it took all of November for me to cut sashing strips, to plan the layout, and make all the pieces one single piece. Then it was easy. I used a single fabric for the back, sent it out to be quilted and then sewed the binding on after Christmas. I even added a quilt label-- my first.

This is the biggest quilt I've ever sewn. Not sure if I'll ever make another quilt of this grandeur again. I hope to... and I hope to eventually make time to create quilts that I keep.