fredag, juni 24, 2011

Windmill quilt

In March I put in the last quilting stitches on this project that has been undergoing a process for about thirteen years. 


A few days ago sewing down the binding was almost done too. It is a strange feeling, ending a process. It is almost like saying farewell to a friend.

My pretentious working title for this quilt was 'Winds form the east'. My husband is Swedish, and I started making this when we had just met. It is a leftover quilt - made from fabrics after the making of this one.

I like the back too. After it was finished I threw it in the washer, and I find that the cotton batting has worked its wonders nicely.


The windmill blocks are quilted with lines half an inch apart. When I started working on the borders - oh, the initial woes of choosing patterns for borders - I decided I wanted to keep working in 'half inches' The pattern I landed on, so to speak, was one similar to the orange peel pattern. I outlined the peel shapes, and quilted free hand around them. As I progressed, the half inch increment narrowed down to a 'scant' quarter inch. In a way the quilting took over and started living its own life.


Choosing border, backing and binding fabrics I had good help from Trine Bakke at my favorite local quilt shop, Lappemakeriet.


Good help was also given by a dear friend, who helped me baste it before quilting. To my 'horror' I discovered my backing was not large enough. Looking through my friend's scrap basket we discovered backing fabrics from a quilt she then recently had finished. It was perfect for this backing, seen in the pic above to the right.  

Hand pieced, hand quilted. All cotton, fabrics, batting and thread.
Measurements: 56x48 inches.


Corner block - one of my favorites. Looking at this quilt, I see my color preferences have gone through some changes over the last decade or more, but the fabrics and colors in this block I could have picked out yesterday... See you.

23 kommentarer:

Anonym sa...

Oh, I'm in awe, this is such a wonderful quilt ! I just can't help looking at it and admiring your exquisite quilting. The pattern as well, is beautiful and it makes me wish to start one like this. THANKS a bunch for the inspiration ! Reading that it took 13 years to complete is giving me such a positive "push" to keep going, no matter how long it will take, enjoying each and every stitch ;>)
So gratefully, with a big, friendly smile from my little corner,
XOXOXOXOXOXOXXO
NADINE

susis quilts sa...

hey,your quilting by hand is just amazing,wonderful work!i love the colours and the pattern,happy stitching,susi

Nicky sa...

Funnily enough I would never have put these colours together in a quilt I made but I absolutely love it! Just goes to show we need to think outside that box! Well done for achieving a great piece of hand work!

Crispy sa...

Oh Una the quilt is lovely and I love how you quilted it. Also congratulations on finally getting it done.....13 years isn't that bad LOL. You will have a nice snuggle quilt for this winter :0)

Crispy

David sa...

I love your quilt. It is beautiful and the back i salso gorgeous. Your quilting gives it this antique look I like so much. It's a real pleasure to read the story of the quilt making. Thanks for sharing.

Ann Marie sa...

It is inspiring that you stuck with it for so many years, but with such a pretty pattern and fabric maybe it wasn't so hard. Beautiful quilt! Congratulations.

Meredith sa...

lovely quilt. I love hand quilting. It is a weird feeling when a quilt is done.

Shirley sa...

Well done for finishing such a lovely soft and gentle looking quilt.

Jan sa...

Lovely - all that hand quilting is scrumptious!

Hanne Katrine sa...

Ja Una, jeg beundrer deg, du er virkelig kjempeflink!
Takk også for i går! Mange hyggelige timer sammen med dere!
Klem,
Trine.

Annemieke sa...

Loveley quilt! And there are so many quilting stitches in the quilt. I like the backside too:)
Groetjes
Annemieke

Lynda (Granny K) sa...

I love this quilt! Are you left handed too?

Marit sa...

I am completely in love with this beauty. Love your color sense, then and now. The quilting is amazing, love how you have used lots of parallel lines (except for the border) The back is pretty. It's a perfect heirloom quilt. You have inspired me to look in my drawer of reproduction fabric. In a perfect world, I would meet up with you in Lappemakeriet...
; )

Lori sa...

What a fantastic quilt! It looks perfectly snuggly!!

Angelikas quilts and knits sa...

den er saa smuk ! godt at den blev faerdig :-)

pratima sa...

Wow, tohose tiny stitches are taking my breath away! Your quilt is wonderful, Una! I love the soft colors and beautiful array of prints and patterns. Great job!

Anne-Mettes Oaser sa...

Wauh, hvor er den smuk og enkelt. Jeg elsker disse bagsider, som også er lappet sammen :-).
Super flot quiltning.
Ha' en god sommer.
Klem,
Anne-Mette

Anonym sa...

What a wonderful quilt and your hand quilting is ... woaw ! Congrats, Una !

Alice sa...

Beautiful quilt, fabrics and quilting. I might borrow your orange peel idea for my own long time quilt (8 year project:) ). Your quilting is beautiful.

Lisa sa...

Oh Una, the quilt is wonderful. And I just LOVE pieced backs. :)

Anonym sa...

This is a stunning quilt with an antique feeling. You are a very patient quilter ! I love your colors too...
Congrats and thanks for sharing,
Katell, France

Valentina sa...

oh, breathtaking, Una! just lovely... the quilting is supreme. And I love the design: I have to admit that I immediately remembered that lovely bundle from Trine's... :) Congratulations on a beautiful finish, xox

Lisa sa...

Your quilting is amazing! How great to have a finish. I love your King George blocks, too.