Yesterday I told you about my trip to the quilt store. What kept me going last week through trying to get my house back into shape, washing stemware and tablecloths, and wilting in the heat was the thought that soon I would be quilting again!
So exciting! And so necessary, as I have four married children and only one finished wedding quilt, not to mention the baby-quilt needs piling up. I am trying to get faster in my crafting so that I don't end up buried under good intentions.
Anyway, Nick and Natasha's quilt is next, and I fully intend to rip through this project. You can see my inspiration on my Pinterest board if you look at the triangle quilts. Natasha and I agreed that scrappy and triangly is the way to go, so, with that in mind, I had a great time at the sale!
After all, you were with me from the start, and you helped me figure out a crucial step — what the background color should be!
My inspiration: An antique quilt pictured in Country Living. |
Anyway, I introduced my own form of complexity when I was making the pattern. There are a very few patterns for this quilt out there, but none of them seemed to actually work in the swirly parts; you can see that the pieces would have to be drafted just right for the swirls to actually make a circle.
Whatever, they probably did work, given my capacity for making things more difficult than they need to be!
But I went ahead, compass, ruler, tracing paper, and pencil in hand, and made my own pattern. And for some reason I was convinced, despite the evidence before my eyes, that those points — you know, the points that go around the swirls — were in fact also curved, in curves that continued the curves of the swirls.
They are not.
But that is how I made them.
When you look at my photos you can see that they are not the same (not as pointy and elongated and straight-sided), but, in fact, much more (needlessly) difficult.
Another difference? My quilting is way closer than in that inspiration photo.
Sigh.
Didn't mean to do it. It just happened that way, and by the time I got to the border I wised up, but by then it was water under the bridge.
On the plus side, I love this quilt and I think it goes well in Rosie's home. It goes, in the sense that it doesn't clash, with her duvet cover, which was a wedding gift from Philip. That was lucky! (Although I have said many times that a wedding quilt from me does not mean that it must go on the master bed, at all.)
I'm proud of it. I hope I will never do something as recklessly involved as that again… but… I probably will.
Diane says
I *adore* that quilt. Did you applique the finished center on the background, or piece it in? I had to laugh at your problems with the triangle ring; it is a bit of an optical illusion that they, too, look curved. You hand quilted the entire thing? It's been forever since I've sat and hand quilted – my first fifteen years as a quilter, all I did was hand quilt. One of these days, I'm going to design one specifically for lots of hand quilting (in other words, few piecing seams to cross!).
Of course, that means that after nine months, I finally need to finish unpacking the quilting room…
_Leila says
Diane, the circles are appliqued onto the squares. I hand-pieced all the patches (sewing them together on the machine for the straight lines) and hand quilted it all! It was actually fun to quilt and definitely supported my theory that “you can do a lot in a day.”
Margo says
It's absolutely, stunningly beautiful. I'm pinning it to MY pinterest quilt board! (http://pinterest.com/thriftathome/)” target=”_blank”> http://pinterest.com/thriftathome/)” target=”_blank”>(http://pinterest.com/thriftathome/)
I think many people would have given up and gotten lost, but I love that you finished such a complicated thing. I love too, how the quilting (Baptist fans, right?) goes off the points and ties together the circles. Lovely. I'm trying to figure out a quilting pattern for my son's quilt right now – but I'm machine quilting because I hate to hand-quilt under pressure and it takes me a LONG time.
I've gotten inspiration for several quilts from you – love your style!
_Leila says
Thanks, Margo! Yes, the quilt in the mag is quilted with baptist fans, and that's what I intended to do, but wasn't really feeling it when the time came. So I quilted circles around the patches and lines in the sashing and little stylized flowers in the white squares.
Margo says
oh whoops, I see I was commenting on the quilting pattern from the magazine.
Patty says
I need to find a quilter who will show me what to but to get started! I'd love to hand quilt (I think I have an unreasonable sewing-machine-phobia).
Anne says
If you can find a cute little quilt store like the one leila mentioned they can help you get started!
Briana says
I like yours better than the inspiration quilt! Can you explain to this quilt newbie what you did wrong? I understand it involves scissors and that you cut something you shouldn't have-but what?
And I agree with your Country Living assessment. I've read (on attic24) that the UK Country Living is far, far better than our own, but it's a goadzooks a lot of money for a US subscription. I'm saving that request up for Christmas or something. 😀
_Leila says
Briana, I just goofed in the planning stages. I thought that those points are curved, and designed them so. So instead of just being curved around the inner circle, but straight on their sides, they also curve around each other. It is just harder to sew curved lines!
And then, being not as elongated, they made the whole patch smaller in relation to the larger square patch. And once I had patched them all and noticed that, I second-guessed myself and felt dumb. Complicated, but dumb.
But it's okay, I like it! 🙂
Briana says
Ahhh, now I understand! Thank you!
Susan DE says
It is REALLY beautiful. I am so happy you shared, because I was wondering if it was finished and how it had gone!
Sarah K says
I like your quilt better than the inspiration- it reminds me of red and white swirly peppermint candies!
Elizabeth says
Gorgeous! I love how it looks on the bed with the duvet cover. I am hoping to make a quilt this summer. It will probably be a simple scrappy one (like Anna's squares quilted on the diagonal: http://pleasantviewschoolhouse.blogspot.com/2009/…. I also really love the look of cathedral window quilts, but that would be quite a bit more complicated!
freckled hen says
Wow! That is a beautiful quilt! Like a fine work of art! You are a special mother! I have been away from your blog and come back only to find some of your prettiest posts ever. Congratulations to your daughters on their weddings…I can't imagine the whirlwind times two! And hugs to Rosie with her long summer apart…I have an achey heart from the same circumstances. You made me do a little gasp like smile when I clicked the link to your favorite quilt shop, I love that little shop as well. It seems to be a small world when I think of reading your blog through several years from my home in TX only find we are close enough to shop at the same tiny quilt store!
coleen says
Beautiful! I think I like your quilt better then the one in Country Living. I also agree with you about the newer version of Country Living Mag, like the older versions much better. Can't wait to see the next quilt! Thanks for sharing.
Mary Ellen Barrett says
It is absolutely beautiful. I'm in awe. It's way better than the CL one, mostly because of all the love that went into it.
Helene says
So impressive! I think yours is better than the magazine quilt. Closer quilting looks finer and feels really neat. So so beautiful! Makes me want to get a sewing machine again….
Anne says
Just amazing. I am blown away by this quilt every time I see it (or a picture of it). And then I think about making it (not ME making it, just what it would be like to make) and get blown away all over again! It is really something to be proud of!
Whitney says
I'm happy for the more frequent posts — missed them and missed you! 🙂
Lori @ IMK,IML says
I just spent part of yesterday afternoon looking at Amish women's quilts. Yours would fit right in — classic and lovely!
Mary says
You have an incredible gift Leila! WOW! What a beautiful family heirloom for Rosie and Philip. Can't wait to see what you come up with for Natasha and Nick let alone your two newest brides. Stunning work!
nt12many says
Well, it's absolutely cheerfully beautiful and (I hope this doesn't sound offensive) but it looks like a quilt full of happy peppermint candies! Love it.
Jill Farris ” target=”_blank”>http://www.generationalwomanhood.wordpress.com ” target=”_blank”>http://www.jillcampbellfarris.com
Mary says
This quilt is soooo beautiful. My mother passed away last year at age 91. She loved to quilt. She made each of her five grandsons a quilt as well as her three children. My mom “signed” each quilt so we know the year she created it.
I love the color combination you used in this quilt. You have created a loving heirloom.
Mary
Elizabeth says
Oh, that quilt is so gorgeous! I'm sure it will be treasured for many years to come. I am relatively new to your blog but just had to share my admiration 🙂 I'm also a relatively new quilter–I've overcome my sewing machine phobia, but I still find it easier to find time to hand piece and hand quilt than set my machine up (especially with a 20 month old who loves anything with a motor, or a button, or a light, or…) 😉 Although lately I haven't been making the time to do any handwork either–something I will have to fix! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂 I'm also enjoying and working on implementing your older posts re: establishing a (reasonably) clean and happy home–another source of much appreciated inspiration and encouragement
natalie says
i've often adored Rosie's duvet! do you know where it was purchased?
_Rosie says
Thanks, Natalie – I love it, too! My husband surprised me with it as a wedding gift after tracking it down when he saw a little picture of the pattern that I had clipped out of a magazine. I don't know where he got it, exactly, but it's made by John Robshaw (www.johnrobshaw.com)” target=”_blank”> ” target=”_blank”>(www.johnrobshaw.com). I don't think that particular pattern is available anymore, but he has all sorts of other linens that are pricey but beeeautiful!