Polar Bears Everywhere!

The last time I mentioned my polar bear cushion (I think), I was having a bit of a dither about what to use to fill the spaces where I didn't have enough polar bears and snowflakes and had decided to start piecing and leave gaps where I thought something might go.  It turns out that piecing gaps is harder than you might think (I kept thinking I'd leave a gap and then finding I'd filled it!) so I decided to scrap all my ideas of using grey or turquoise fabric for the gaps and instead sacrificed part of the remaining polar bear fabric I was (still) hoarding, and cut more polar bears and hexagons.

Once the hexagons were pieced, I checked that my plan for the trapezia and triangles round the edge would work (I'd deliberately kept the red snowflakes away from the edges so I wouldn't end up with two prints together):

 And hand pieced those in place before choosing a border, which was attached using the machine:

I pressed the seams and marvelled at the polar bears' neat backside(s):

And then admired their front(s), with Eddie standing guard in case one of them wandered off:

I then marked vertical quilting lines (using a hera marker) and layered up the front and back pieces.  I machine quilted in Gutermann white thread (which is lovely to use) and then added the binding.  I didn't have enough to bind the whole cushion in the stripe, so added a couple of strips of red snowflake to make up the shortfall:

The back is quilted with wavy lines (no marking, just set off at a clip and wave from side to side like a boy racer until you get to the far side) and has a covered zip:

This is a finish from my Q4 FAL list (item seven) and I must admit that I'm rather chuffed with it!

Archie grabbed the opportunity for some sunbathing the other day:

I do love the feel of the sun on my back, even when the ground beneath my tummy is damp.

Thanks for popping in!  I hope you're all getting on well with your Finish-Along lists?  Do shout if you need Archie to come round with his big stick...