Electric Blue

Teena made this very cool and modern quilt as a Christmas present for her daughter-in-law.   I love the colours and the design.  It is so fresh and striking.

It was quilted with a freehand allover pattern of echoing wavy lines which I think look like ripples in a pond.

Pop over to Esther’s Blog to see what other quilter are doing this Wednesday.

A Collingwood Quilt

I am making a Collingwood quilt for my nephew.

A few months back, a customer brought me a great Collingwood quilt, and I asked her where she got the fabric/emblem for the top.  She said it was from a doona cover that she bought online.  So I ordered one for myself.  I chopped up the doona cover and this is what I have made.

I am also working on another black and white quilt, but this is a coincidence, and this is not a Collingwood quilt.  I have a black, white and red striped fabric which I think I will use as the binding just so I have added another colour in the mix.

I think I might quilt feathers along the grey strips.  This is a present for my sister, and I know she likes feathers.

Feather Background

This quilt was made by Debbie. Although the background was made with the same fabric over the entire quilt, I wanted to break it into three areas – the appliqué border, the pieced border, and the centre.

To do this, I quilted two backgrounds. Small curls around the pieced border, and feathers in the other two areas. I love the texture and movement the feathers give, which is in keeping with the traditional style and fabrics of the quilt.

Pop over to Esther's Blog to see what other people are working on with her WIP Wednesdays.

A Quilt with a Difference

I have been quilting for Judy for a few years now. I have learnt to expect the unexpected from her and this quilt was no different.

Judy wanted the circle part of the blocks to stand out, so we decided I would ditch stitch and continuous curve them with a small feather in the centre.

Even though it was a completely different style of quilt, Judy liked what I had done on a earlier quilt by Margaret (to see Margaret's quilt click here), and we decided that I would feather the remainder of the quilt with the feathers curling out from circular wreaths on the four feature fabric blocks.

Judy chose an electric blue thread, and because she gave me a white back, the quilting is really striking.

Pop over to Esther's Blog to see what other quilters are doing this Wednesday.

Feather Allover

Janet loves feathers, so we decided that I would do an allover freehand feather winding up and down the quilt.  I usually prefer more random feathers, but as the front of the quilt is pieced in orderly strips, if felt like more orderly feathers were called for on this one.

Floating a Quilt – Tutorial

Kathy asked in the comments of my previous post if I float my quilts.  The answer is yes, and I thought I would share my method.

There are different ways of loading a quilt, and the best way depends on the preferences of the quilter.  I prefer to float my quilt as I feel it gives me more control, and I am better able to see any issues as I am working through the quilt.

First I load the backing by pinning it to the rollers.  I lay the wadding on the top of it, and then the quilt top, ensuring that the top is straight and square on the machine. 

I then tack along the top edge of the quilt.

You can see in the picture that this quilt is extremely well pieced and is hanging straight on the machine.  However if there were issues like a wavy border, or fullness in places, I would be able to clearly see it and be able to take steps to correct them.

These photos show the quilt on my A1 machine.  Those with the same machine will see I have removed the top front roller.  I don’t use this roller and found it got in my way.  

I roll the quilt forward and tack down the sides.

After quilting or stabilising the available area, I roll the quilt forward, tacking down the sides as I go.  I check to ensure the sides are straight as I tack them down.  I also check that the lines in the piecing are straight and square.

 

I continue quilting, rolling the quilt forward and tacking down the sides until I get to the end of the quilt.  Then I tack down the bottom of the quilt.

 

 

If you want to see this quilt completed – click here.

The above photos are on my A1 machine and I follow the same procedure on my APQS.

I haven’t removed the top roller on my APQS as it doesn’t get in the way like on the A1.  I use it to line up the quilts to ensure they are square and it is handy to lean on. 

3D Baltimore

This exquisitely stitched appliqué quilt was made by Pam, and if you look closely at the photos you can see that many of the flowers are individually made and stitched on.

Pam asked me to background fill around her appliqué to make it pop, which I did with a small curl design, and to quilt feathers in the border.

 

Medallion Quilt in Liberty Fabrics

Lisa made this pretty and feminine quilt in Liberty fabrics from a pattern by Judy Newman.

Kathy, of Tamarack Shack had pictured on her blog a feather motif that incorporated hearts that I really liked, and I used this as inspiration for the feather design I quilted around the centre appliqué motif.  To see the blog post with the quilting motif I used as inspiration, click here.

I am so glad Lisa chose a plain back so all the quilting shows beautifully.

Pop over to Esther's Blog to see what other people are working on with her WIP Wednesdays.

Fabric Memories

This quilt, made by Jane, is special because it is made from left over fabric from many of the quilts Jane has made over the years.

Each block represents a quilt Jane has made. I think Jane’s choice of fabric for the triangles between the blocks was perfect as it just blends into the background letting the fabric in the blocks shine.

The back had panels where Jane placed hand-written details of the quilts she had made, which the fabric represents.

It was quilted with an allover freehand line and loop pattern which is funky and fun and compliments the quilt.

Giant Dahlia

I have quilted many of Michelle Yeo’s Giant Dahlia pattern, and have made one for myself.  I even have reproduction fabric already picked out to make another one – I just need more hours in the day.

I particularly liked this one as I found the fabrics appealing.  It was quilted with an allover freehand leaf and loop pattern.  I am usually asked to do allovers on this design, but occasionally custom quilt it, usually with feathers going out from the arcs.  Next time I custom quilt one, I will post photos.

Georgetown in Baltimore

This gorgeous traditional quilt by Barb was a pleasure to quilt – everything Barb brings me to quilt for her is always lovely and well pieced. 

Barb asked for traditional quilting, so of course that meant feathers.