United Scraps of America - Grand Finale

The United Scraps of America quilt is FINALLY finished.

 If you are keeping track, I started the process of creating this quilt back in February, when I picked through my scraps of fabric {thank goodness, I am a fabric hoarder} and deliberated over which piece would go with which state.

Then, over the next month, I hand whip stitched EACH state into place.  And, in the process, I may or may not have developed carpal tunnel syndrome :)

For months after, I held onto my quilt.  I had put so much work into it, it was hard to hand it over for quilting.

Last month, I did just that. I finally put it in the capable hands of The Queen of Quilts, my mom.

And, in her very capable hands and her professional long arm quilting machine, she stipple quilted...

a tight and detailed free motion design...

around the entire United States...

into each detailed groove of each detailed state.

Then there was a matter of quilting the states themselves.

So, she outlined each state, changing the color of her thread to match the color of fabric for each state, just as I had done when I whip stitched them.

The precision of which she outlined each state is barely visible from the front of the quilt

but, when you turn the quilt over, you can appreciate the detail she was able to achieve.

Even though, I am fully aware of what the Queen of Quilts is capable of, there are still projects, like this one, when I look at it in complete awe of her talent. 

Since I have already started on a second United Scraps of America quilt, I have this one listed in my Etsy shop for sale along with some other homemade gifts like these.

I am very fortunate to have many special and meaningful quilts from the Queen of Quilts.  So parting with the United Scraps of America will be easier curled under this beautiful quilt.