I am now working on some tote bags (w/tutorial), but when I finally turned on my cleaned and tuned machine I felt a deep need to FINISH something. Anything. I'd run the first three quilting lines of this before the repair, so this one was the closest to being finished.
I've not washed the finished quilt yet and the fabric was bought cut and not pre-washed, so hopefully the fabric will change a bit at that first run through the machine. I'd be happy with a little old-fashioned puckering to go with the look of the prints. This is pretty far from my usual style, but I like the simple look.
It was made to go in this room where I work on the PC and the dog sleeps (that's any room for her, but I only work here). The IKEA futon underneath is covered in plain cream canvas, so it warms it up a bit.
A couple of notes...
I liked the idea of the charm blocks being pre-cut with a selection of every fabric from Moda's Wuthering Heights collection, but since choosing the fabrics, designing the top and cutting are my favorite parts of the process, the convenience wasn't satisfying. I arranged the blocks and cut the borders, but that was it.
This is the first time I've used a poly batting and I learned a few things:
1) Overall, I much prefer the flat, high quality 100% cotton (but this has its place).
2) The whole feel of the quilting process changes, so I would suggest playing around a bit rather than just jumping straight into the middle of your quilt (guess which one I did?).
3) The poly doesn't work with quilting spray. I've since seen that written clearly on another brand, but the brand I was using just said (buried in the text) something like best on cotton. How about works like crud on poly and sucks up product as you try? In the end I had lightly-stuck batting - just enough to be a problem. After a few screwy rows I gather my wits and used a quilt basting gun to reinforce the basting.
One final, painful to admit in public, note. Don't ever get some silly notion in your head that when you have exactly - EXACTLY - enough discontinued fabric to make the back you should get cute like the quilt store ladies and cut a notch, then rip your yardage to make the two even pieces you need to seam up the middle. What possessed me? I've NEVER done that. Never. Never will again either. That's why there's a 1" fold-over on the binding and I machine stitched it through all the layers - to hide and secure the 3/4 inch shortfall that runs about a foot along the edge of the backing. If you ever consider doing that, just stop, breathe and remember this sad tale.
I'll leave you with a sunset image. This is one of my husband's watermelon radishes. I think he has three kinds, but since I"m not much of a radish person I've only half listened (hey, he could't tell you much about yarn other than I've got too much of it). Anyway, I may not eat it, but I think it's very pretty.
It matches some of my cleomes too.
What a lovely quilt - I know what you mean about precut fabric, too. And that radish - I don't eat them either, but it's very neat looking!
Posted by: chris | June 19, 2007 at 08:39 AM
That's a lovely quilt. I have to admit, the cutting is not one of my favorite parts of the process. I might have to find me some precut stuff!
That is one neat-o looking radish.
Posted by: Risa | June 19, 2007 at 10:53 AM
I love that quilt! You are inspiring me to finish my own charm quilt already :)
Posted by: Moni | June 20, 2007 at 09:52 AM
Your quilt is beautiful! I love the colors. And the watermelon radish is gorgeous too! I will have to look for them at the store.
Posted by: monica | June 20, 2007 at 04:49 PM
Just beautiful!
Posted by: Donna | June 21, 2007 at 05:18 AM
Gosh, I love your quilt. Am almost inspired to try some more quilting - the last thing I made was a pram quilt for my elder daughter, and she's 29 now! The radish is just beautiful. Could just see a print based on the slices of it laid on the glass dish. Amazing colours.
Best wishes from very wet Liverpool - seems to rain all the time at the mo, wish summer would come back!
Posted by: Maggie | June 24, 2007 at 04:05 AM
Those radishes are beautiful! I like to eat radishes if they're not too spicey. I got some (actually a truck-load) from a friend and they were too big and it has been hot--thus making them VERY spicey. Anyway, I would grow those just to look at the innards! I'm just wierd that way!
Your garden is gorgeous!
Posted by: Sharon | July 02, 2007 at 08:47 AM