Putting Quilt Center Together

It's been so long since I put a quilt top together, I forgot how quickly it goes, once the blocks are all done.  But all the blocks are done (unless I discover I need more), and today I cut the sashing and put the first blocks together. 

This will be the center of the quilt.  In my pattern book, this is the entire quilt.  I have enough blocks to make four just like this, plus several more.  Hopefully, it will be enough for a king-sized quilt.  The extra blocks will be for the decorative pillows.

Garden Steps Blocks III-X

 

The last blocks are done, the last blocks are done!

Unless I need more, of course.  ;-)

And the next step will be to start sewing all these blocks together.

I'm getting anxious...

The first picture shows the blocks I sewed today.  In the second photo are also the first two blocks I made on May 26.  Picture #3 is in black and white, and there you can better see how the colors go from dark to light, or light to dark, from one corner diagonally to the other.  Each set of two blocks is in reverse from its mate.

Rose Blocks IV & V

I just finished embroidering the last Rose block!  This means... <drum roll> ...all the appliquéing and embroidering are done.  Done!  There are only 6 pieced blocks left to do.

Rose appliqué block IV

Rose appliqué block V

Rose Blocks II & III

I have completed the embroidery on two Rose appliqué blocks.  The appliqués are finished on two more blocks, and I have on the embroidery to do.  Here are blocks 2 and 3.

Tulip Blocks III-V

Here are the last three of the five Tulip blocks (the second one is on the front of a pillow):

Several people have asked about it, so I've included close-up shots of the very narrow, very short, hem stitch that I use to sew the appliqué onto the background.  The stitches that catch the edges of the appliqué are about 1mm apart.

Yes, I could have sewn the appliqués invisibly by hand, but then I'd still be sewing this quilt in the year 2085 AD.  Besides, I like the appearance of the narrow hem stitch just fine.  Hopefully, if I decide to enter it in a quilt show somewhere, the judges will like it just fine, too.

All four Tulip blocks together: