a quilt as a learning curve

alphabet soup is a learning quilt for me. it was my first real sized machine free pieced quilt... a method i learned from tonya. and now that i am hand quilting it i am learning a few more things. when machine piecing lots of small pieces the seams become a bit of a problem in adding thickness. i used lots of different kind of fabrics so i aggravated the situation a bit. i think i will switch to ironing seams out flat from now on. just to reduce the thick spots (i tried that on some smaller pieces and it seems to help).  even though i started using 3 ...i have switched to 2 strands of floss  because combined with the larger kantha style stitch it makes a more drapey cloth and a softer surface (it is a baby quilt) ...AND i can squeeze the double strand into a small eye needle which is easier to get through the seams. i have also started to quilt the surface completely before applying an applique so i only need to quilt the applique to the top surface and not all the way through.
.....an alphabet quilt should be a learning quilt so i am adding all kinds of conversation pieces.  what a great opportunity for story telling at bedtime. the S itself became the Snake it stands for and the it sits near a Sunflower and under a Shibori Sky. the Snails have not arrived yet because they move so Slowly.