Skull quilting progress

I've taken out the skull quilt again. Jason's departure date for 7 level school is approaching fast, and if I want the quilt done for him to take along, I have to haul bum.

I was afraid to do it by machine, but I realized this was the only way I'd finish it on time. I don't have a walking foot, and it's a pretty cheap machine, so I was worried. I made a couple of practice quilt sandwiches and the results weren't too bad so I gave it a go.

The samples showed me that now is not the time to try to learn free motion quilting. :) I need a better foot for that anyhow. So, I decided to just to evenly spaced straight lines. They aren't all across the top in long lines or a grid. I treated the shapes as their own sections. I'm terrible at explaining, but it'll be easier when the whole thing is finished.

I only have one itty-bitty section of straight line quilting left, then I'm going to echo quilt around the outside of the large design. My back, shoulders and left hand are throbbing. It's just your average sewing machine, so I'm having to shove the bulk of the quilt through the miniscule throat space. Also, not having a walking foot, I'm having to use my hands to keep it feeding evenly. I think the only reason it's working at all is it's a thin cotton batting I'm using. Were if high loft batt, I'd be toast. I'd love for the qulting fairy to drop a longarm machine and table on my doorstep, but I don't see that happening anytime soon ( I can see her saying "Ooops, sorry, we don't ship outside the contiguous 48 States").I'm seriously considering getting one of the Flynn multi-system frames.

Anyhoo, here are pictures.

Here is the back.









And here is the front. I must say, I'm really happy with the way it's turning out and I don't often say that since I'm such a perfectionist. Sure, it won't win any shows, but no one will be looking that close at the stitching anyhow. I think reactions will be "Whoa! Skulls! Freakin' awesome!" Or at least hopefully "Whoa! Skulls!
They're ok. "