Second is almost done

First Southwood Squares is done, second is quilted and ready to bind. I may change the name to South Sea Squares, because it looks so tropical in this color scheme.

Can I just say how much I love the binding clips you can buy at the sewing store, the ones that are basically rust-proof hairclips? They reduce the level of accidental accupuncture involved in binding the quilt to almost zero. And they held the binding as well as, or possibly better, than straight pins. Hurray! Now why didn't I spend the $6 on them years ago?

First of the Southwood Squares finished ... sorta

Okay, so the binding isn't on yet, and the photo shows mostly the room with just a squidge of quilt, but here it is:

That's the pieced version, which I may or may not decide to sell as a pattern. It looks great in the room, but the pattern isn't anything that hasn't been done before, and the directions I've written are really tedious. I think I can do a better job with the raw-edge applique version that's currently pinned and ready to sew tonight. It takes a lot less time to finish the actual quilt, the directions are a lot easier to write out, and the pattern is one that, while simple, I haven't seen anywhere else. Sounds like a winner to me!

I'm still planning to make this my first multi-size pattern, with directions for wall hanging, twin, double/queen, and possibly king size quilts. I may also make this pattern available with several different photos on the outside package, to make it appropriate for different times of year. If you're displaying the pattern in the summer, you could use the outer page with the sample quilt in the colors above. If you're selling the pattern in the winter, you could use a different outer page with a wintery or holiday color scheme.

I'm also thinking of making small sample quilts to display with the patterns - maybe two blocks wide by three tall, something that wouldn't take much time for me to throw together and could use up some of my stash so I don't bankrupt myself. I'm not about to spend three hours of quality time with my safety pins making twin quilts for every store that sells the pattern ... much as I'd like to, I don't think my fingers are up for it! As it stands now, my poor abused fingers have only bled on the quilt once, so I'm doing okay :)