TGIFF + MQG Modern Classic

I'm excited to be hosting, for the very first time, TGIFF - Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday, a link party to show off your quilty finish for the week!  

The finish I'm celebrating is my version of Smubble, the MQG's Quilt of the Month for February 2015 by Rebecca Burnett.  

In celebration of the Modern Quilt Guild's 10th anniversary, they are re-releasing some of the Quilt of the Month patterns in a new updated color palette. They are calling the quilts MQG Modern Classics.  You can read more details I wrote in this post 

I remember seeing the Smubble quilt when it was published back in 2015 and thought this would be a great opportunity to give it a try and maybe it would be chosen by the MQG to be juried into the QuiltCon.  Below is what Rebecca's original quilt looked like.

According to the MQG Modern Classic rules, you must make the quilt using Moda Bella Solids from the chosen color palette AND make the quilt the same size as the original which is 36" x 36".  As you can see, instead of one fabric for the back ground, I added a second creating blocks of color but still maintaining the original design.

I cut the second background color, Dusk, and machine basted the pieces in place.  I knew the raw edges would eventually be covered by bias tape.  Then, behind I trimmed away the original Mustard background. 

As this sat on my design wall, I was thinking about my quilting options.  At first, I really wanted to echo the curves but then the quilting would become awkward as I got to the center of the quilt.  So I abandoned the echoing idea and opted for a grid on a 1 1/2" scale and couldn't be more pleased how it turned out.  I used all one thread, Aurifil 50wt in Mustard (5022) across the entire quilt.  

I quilted the entire quilt before applying the bias tape which eliminated the need to quilt around it or bury any quilting threads.  

I used my favorite tube method of making bias and stitched it in place by machine using matching thread.  The bias tape is made from Natural and Nautical Blue.  The binding is also Nautical blue

Finding a suitable backing was a dilemma.  I auditioned many fabrics but wasn't happy with any of my options.  And then, my friend Valorie suggested this Tula Pink large-scale print, Disco Kitty in Blue from Tula's Tabby Road fabric collection.  I think it looks great with the Moda solids.

I was careful not to waste any of the fabric and still leave the kitties intact as much as possible.

In the pattern, Rebecca suggested using a dinner plate as your template for forming the curves.  I found that I could also use the rotary cutter and cut right against the plate to cut the curves and to trim the rounded corners of the quilt before applying the binding.  

I'm pleased with how Smubble turned out hope it makes Rebecca and the MQG proud.  How Rebecca named Smubble is a funny story and you will have to read that for yourself.  Just go to the member Resources tab at the Modern Quilt Guild and look through the Quilts of the Month for Smubble.  

Now it’s your turn to share a quilty finish!  I'm excited to see what you’ve been working on this week. Feel free to link to a blog post or Instagram photo. Don't forget to visit a few blogs -- it's a great way to discover new quilters and to get some quilty inspiration. Please include the TGIFF button (or a link to the TGIFF blog) in your own blog post.And if you want to learn more about TGIFF and host a link party yourself, find all the details here.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Since finishing this MQG Modern Classic was my September goal, I'm linking to Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal link up.  

Here are some other linky parties where you can share your finish:

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting

UFO Busting @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland