sham, shazam

A few days after we gave TJ and Keri their (amazing) quilt,

they decided they'd really like some pillow shams to go with it.

They suggested it would make a really nice anniversary gift.

And it would have,

except that we don't really do anniversary gifts

(with 8 kids, it's best not to start traditions we can't keep...)

so I decided rather than making them wait 'til next Christmas,

it could be T's birthday gift.

So that the crinkling would match the quilt,

(which was quilted as I pieced...)

I ditch stitched all of the vertical seams.

Not surprisingly, the shams took considerably longer to make 

than I'd anticipated, 

so I didn't get them done in time

to get them in the mail to arrive by T's birthday.

It turned out good for him, though;

since they were going to be late, 

I decided to add some hand quilting in the (lovely, mitered ;-) border.

Then

I figured what the hey

and hand stitched the 'hem' on the back, too.

Since Carole told me that a machine sewn hem really is more sturdy,

I decided I should learn to do a machine sewn binding I can be happy with.

I was successful,

but honestly,

it was because the fabric is so well-suited for it.

I'll still do a hand stitched hem most of the time, 

but with a carefully chosen binding,

I suppose

I would be okay with machine sewing it when the quilt demands it.

I hope you like your shams, T (and Keri! ;-)

Love you!!

linking up with AmandaJean