My Hodgepodge Quilt

Way back in February of 2017, I last posted this picture of a quilt top I made out of a hodgepodge of orphan blocks leftover from abandoned projects.  It was one of those, "I wonder if I can..." efforts.  Read more about this quilt's construction HERE.

I had even pieced a backing for it.

And then, like some quilts do, it sat, waiting to be layered, basted, and quilted...

Until this week!  I had been reading up about using pool noodles (or pipe insulation works, too) to help with the layering and basting process.   Evidently, it follows along with how a long-armer puts the layers on the quilting frame.

Each layer is rolled onto its own pool noodle, and then (a little at a time) you pull out the backing onto the table first, next the batting is rolled out over the backing, and finally the quilt top.  You continue to roll out the layers, little by little, smoothing, pulling everything tight, and pinning until the whole quilt is basted.

There are many videos on YouTube showing the process - all you have to do is search for "Basting a quilt with pool noodles."  It was easy to try it with a small quilt like this one which is about 46 x 50.

I quilted a "liberated" curvy grid throughout the center of the quilt -

This is a view from the back.

And followed the outline of the orange peel border around the outside of the quilt top.

In spite of a few blips and bobbles in the quilting process, I finished it up pretty quickly, and am enjoying hand-stitching the binding on while I visit with my mom!

My hodgepodge quilt will be done before too much longer, and I'm planning to donate it to the nursing home where my mother-in-law is currently staying to be used by a resident as a wheelchair quilt.  It feels good to have this older UFO just about finished!

Sharing at Quilting is more fun than Housework for Oh Scrap!

And Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.