Wow - that was unexpected. Back when I wrote up my Quarter 1 Finish Along List, this quilt was definitely in the "totally unrealistic" category, yet I'm very chuffed to share it as a finish here today!
I'm not 100% sure why this made it to the top of the pile, but I got some lovely feedback both here on my blog and on Instagram when I posted my goals, but most specifically about this quilt. Maybe that was the push I needed - so thank you!
The story of this quilt starts back in June 2015: Although the pattern is straight forward, Katy Jones (@imagingermonkey) headed north to take a class at a local quilt shop, and I decided to go. A nice, child-free day. The pattern calls for 8 different fabrics from which you cut lots of squares. By cutting from just a limited number of fabrics, you can fold the fabric up and cut 4 or 8 squares at once - it could be cut in an hour or so. Easy. But I had nothing in my stash that would work: I buy fat quarters and some of the fabrics needed more than that. And the only background fabric I had enough of didn't work with any of the tentative fabric pulls I made. But I did have a mad idea... how about eight colours rather than eight fabrics. I could do a rainbow. And what about a scrappy background?
I talked it over with a friend who was going to the same class. She thought I was mad: working close to full time, small daughter.... when was I going to get all that fabric cut? But I couldn't get it out of my head. Nor could I shake the idea that the original pattern finished as a small lap quilt, and really I wanted to make it bigger... so an extra three rows of squares all round would make it bed-sized!
I did it. I started cutting. Whilst I had hundreds of low volumes out I cut for the My Small World quilt as well. I had a safety net: I don't work on Fridays and if I hadn't got it cut by then, I would go back to the quilt shop, buy eight fabrics and cut it all out Friday evening. I am so pleased I didn't need to do that!
The class was a brilliant day. Lots of laughs and lots of sewing. Heaven. I pieced two-thirds of the quilt at the class, and when I posted it on Instagram I got my highest ever number of likes - proof indeed that this was the way forward. But When I got home, I never got it out again. I thought about it. Changed my mind on the border a few times. Thought I would need to cut more fabric. Played with other projects....
When I got it out again a few weeks ago, I quickly pieced the remaining third, settled on a border design that needed no additional cutting, and just got on with it!
The finished quilt is 81"x81" (before washing). It was pieced entirely with Aurifil and quilted with wibbly lines in a silver-grey Aurifil thread. I quilted it in just 4 hours! The backing is the top of duvet cover, which matches the duvet we often have on our bed. The fabrics on the front are some of my favourites. As such Carolyn Friedlander fabrics feature heavily, as do Art Gallery fabrics, Pearl Bracelets and leftover fabrics from previous quilts. It makes me happy every time I see it!
Come the end of the quarter I'll be linking this finish up with the lovely Finish Along ladies!
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| We took the photos at Matfen Country House Hotel where I was treated to a birthday afternoon tea today. Turns out that neither Michael nor I feel comfortable photographing quilts in public, which is why this is all I have! It was also blowing a gale and starting to snow.... |
The story of this quilt starts back in June 2015: Although the pattern is straight forward, Katy Jones (@imagingermonkey) headed north to take a class at a local quilt shop, and I decided to go. A nice, child-free day. The pattern calls for 8 different fabrics from which you cut lots of squares. By cutting from just a limited number of fabrics, you can fold the fabric up and cut 4 or 8 squares at once - it could be cut in an hour or so. Easy. But I had nothing in my stash that would work: I buy fat quarters and some of the fabrics needed more than that. And the only background fabric I had enough of didn't work with any of the tentative fabric pulls I made. But I did have a mad idea... how about eight colours rather than eight fabrics. I could do a rainbow. And what about a scrappy background?
I talked it over with a friend who was going to the same class. She thought I was mad: working close to full time, small daughter.... when was I going to get all that fabric cut? But I couldn't get it out of my head. Nor could I shake the idea that the original pattern finished as a small lap quilt, and really I wanted to make it bigger... so an extra three rows of squares all round would make it bed-sized!
I did it. I started cutting. Whilst I had hundreds of low volumes out I cut for the My Small World quilt as well. I had a safety net: I don't work on Fridays and if I hadn't got it cut by then, I would go back to the quilt shop, buy eight fabrics and cut it all out Friday evening. I am so pleased I didn't need to do that!
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| I got this far in the class and then left it for months... |
When I got it out again a few weeks ago, I quickly pieced the remaining third, settled on a border design that needed no additional cutting, and just got on with it!
The finished quilt is 81"x81" (before washing). It was pieced entirely with Aurifil and quilted with wibbly lines in a silver-grey Aurifil thread. I quilted it in just 4 hours! The backing is the top of duvet cover, which matches the duvet we often have on our bed. The fabrics on the front are some of my favourites. As such Carolyn Friedlander fabrics feature heavily, as do Art Gallery fabrics, Pearl Bracelets and leftover fabrics from previous quilts. It makes me happy every time I see it!
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| Not the best photo of the quilt but it does show up the quilting well! |
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