This is just another story about how a project that came to be, didn't come out the way it was originally envisioned. This is of course not to say that it's horrible. I think it's rather awesome. Long story short, and this usually happens to be the most often told story in my crafty life, big dreams but little time.
Now of course that doesn't mean that this was a last minute project. B's sister is getting married next month and I had been thinking of making her quilt for quite some time. So her bridal shower proved to be the perfect excuse for some crafty gift giving. Her quilt had been brewing in my mind for a few months already. But somehow, and again, the story most often told in my crafty life, time just sneaks up on you. So idea #1 through 3 that involved applique and freezer paper and all sorts of new techniques (okay maybe just 2 new techniques) got shoved in the closet. And here enters the theme, simple is better.
Mendocino Quilt Sampler
Fabrics: Heather Ross Mendocino and Kona Cotton in bone
Size: 55"x76"
Started: June 2009
Finished: June 2009
Notes:
I arranged 8"x16" (finished size) blocks in a staggered staircase pattern, using half blocks on the ends. For the back I improvised a simple pieced section from some of the scraps and left the rest solid. Simple is better.. so what say you? I say, I think I'm loving the back more than the front.. again!
Most of y'all know that there's nothing I love better than a hand stitched binding. I did the machine stitched binding thing once and never thought I'd go back. But when you've just finished the quilting on Thursday night with the shower happening on Saturday, knowing that it takes you about an hour or so to hand sew 40" of binding, realizing that you still have to bake a cake, make some tasty drinks and pick up the guest of honor from the airport AND still go to work on Friday, you'll quickly rethink your position on machine stitched binding. *breathe* So, I machine stitched the binding.
I will absolutely admit that it totally works with this quilt and from a sanity and aesthetic standpoint, I'm glad went this route. 1. I finished the binding in way under an hour. 2. Because of the solid background, the binding stitching stick out at all. I folded the binding over and sewed it down making sure that it did not catch any of the binding on the back side. It resulted in a line of running stitches parallel to the binding on the back, but since I used matching thread, it's practically invisible.
The only place where this quilt turns complicated is in the quilting. I originally intended to totally go all out simple and quilt straight lines thinking that free motion would just take way too long. After laying down the foundation lines, a simple outline all of the rectangles, I was really having trouble deciding what to do. I wasn't loving the direction that the quilt was going and was really stuck on how I should proceed. Seriously, I was feeling like this was going to turn out in to a really half-assed quilt. Now here is wherer my thank you comes in. You got to love it when your friends push you to do your best. So thanks, Yahaira, for kicking me in the butt. After chatting with her and explaining my dilemma, putting in free motion was definitely the way to go. So that evening, I sat down at my machine at 6pm and didn't stop until nearly 1am, stopping only for bathroom breaks and to eat. I think that's a record. Never did I think that I'd be able to finish quilting a nap sized quilt in one sitting.
So what we have here, is not only just a sampler of the Mendocino fabrics but also of quilting. I quilted each fabric with a different design.
I think my favorite out of these seven is the circles, hands down. I love how the circles give a raised puffy texture and how it compliments the print, really drawing out the sea life. Even though I didn't learn the new techniques I originally planned to do, I'm glad that I was able to try out new quilting designs. Win win all around!
Comments (19)
IT IS BEAUTIFUL. gorgeous really. You should be so, so proud!
Posted by Nancy | June 30, 2009 10:15 AM
It's beautiful!!!!!!
Posted by Adrienne | June 30, 2009 10:18 AM
Omg I want one for meeeee! I love that you did all the quilting techniques - it's subtle from far away yet looks so cool close up. You're a free-motion master!
Posted by kelly | June 30, 2009 10:34 AM
I absolutely love it!
Posted by Em | June 30, 2009 10:38 AM
If I can reach into my computer screen and touch your quilt, I would do it and snuggle against it. I was looking for inspiration for some fabrics I have and spotted yours. I love love love your quilt.
Posted by Nan | June 30, 2009 10:47 AM
wow, this is just amazingly gorgeous. I love everything about it, from the colors and prints to the different quilting styles.
Posted by Diana | June 30, 2009 10:58 AM
Wow I found this on Flickr - GREAT story and GORGEOUS quilt! Well done trying out all those different types of quilting! I've only just learned how to stipple, so the circles etc are eye candy for me :-) Well done - bride-to-be will love it I'm sure!
Posted by Cristin | June 30, 2009 10:59 AM
this quilt kicks ass!! the quilting is just gorgeous and the back! the back I LOVE
now if I can get you to do all of this over text, imagine what we could do if we lived in the same city!!
Posted by yahaira | June 30, 2009 12:33 PM
Oh my goondess, this is such a beautiful quilt! I was just searching on flickr for Mendocino quilts and found yours. I love the different quilting designs, especially the wavy lines (it's what I'm planning to do on my not-even-started Mendocino quilt).
I love it all...what a beautiful gift!
Posted by Crystal | June 30, 2009 12:54 PM
I am so impressed! It's BEAUTIFUL!
Posted by Aimee | June 30, 2009 1:10 PM
Incredible!! Wow! That is exactly the kind of quilt I would love to have.
Posted by Christina | June 30, 2009 3:52 PM
Amazing! The free-motion quilting totally did the trick, and it looks so, so beautiful! It's very inspirational!
Posted by grumperina | June 30, 2009 4:24 PM
Wow! The quilt is gorgeous! B's sister is lucky to get such a beautiful gift!
Posted by Doris | June 30, 2009 7:02 PM
Beautiful! I love how you did different quilting designs in it.
Posted by Walden | July 1, 2009 1:02 AM
ah, what a tease, it looks so great, I wanna see a picture of the whole quilt! That is some insane work, Lady! The different quilt designs are impressive. I love how fresh and summery this quilt looks.
Posted by Steph | July 1, 2009 8:59 AM
That does it. You are now my quilting goddess. Swear.
Posted by carlitadee | July 2, 2009 7:48 AM
I been catching every so often, your gorgeous quilt work! Thanks for telling us how you went about it - it's really intriguing to me how fiber artists (liek you!) go thru their processes and arrive at something as gorgeous as this. Question - I notice those pins have and arc to them - are they those special quilting pins? Do they have a special name?
Posted by Terry | July 7, 2009 6:53 AM
This is, I think, the most beautiful blanket I have ever seen. You are so talented.
Posted by kristin | July 12, 2009 2:48 PM
It turned out gorgeous! I love to handbind a quilt too. I could never get it to look properly if I machine do it.
Posted by tiennie | July 15, 2009 4:31 PM