in the Quilting Studio, no. 40
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of finishing a quilt. So much thought, so much time and our much-loved fabrics go into each one. Completing the quilt top is like reaching the top of a mountain. The outlook is exhilarating! But soon it is time to descend, only the work of basting and quilting aren’t quite as easy as walking downhill. I really love that my service as a longarm quilter puts me in the position of helping fellow quilt-makers transform their quilt flimsies into three-dimensional objects that are as beautiful as they are usable. I have the equipment to make the descent a pleasure, and as a team we can accomplish something pretty amazing, like these finished quilts!
Big Sky Star by Donna @filvolantpatchwork
Take a look at this stunner! Donna made this quilt using the Big Sky Star quilt pattern by Plains & Pine.
Besides the fantastic piecing and exciting patchwork layout, I also admire Donna’s fabric choices. Hers is a colorful quilt, but it feels balanced. You can take in the design as a whole without getting lost in the fabrics because she used relatively few and repeated same-fabrics in different colors. That’s not how I usually sew, thus it presents to me a fresh perspective.
I especially love her choice of background fabric! What a bold and fun choice. I think it works really well.
In terms of quilting motif, we opted for Fire, an all-over quilting pattern. This is actually the first time I quilted the Fire motif, and I was surprised how it looked when translated to cloth. It is actually softer and more flowing than I expected.
Thanks, Donna, for entrusting me with this project!
Hexagon Flowers BY Lucy @CottonCityLou
When is the last time that hexagon flower patchwork surprised you? Take a look at what Lucy has done with that quintessential English paper piecing block - - -
Nope, I didn’t see that coming either! There’s lots to appreciate here, from the dark floral background to the asymmetrical large-scale patchwork border to the way that the flowers are nestled so very close together. She used half-hexagons as sashing between the hexagon flowers. Come take a closer look.
Just lovely! I suggested my Lily motif for all-over quilting. It is a sweet style that suits the fabrics and patchwork perfectly. Very Liberty-esque, in my opinion, for all you Liberty fabric lovers.
The back of the quilt is also a delight, with charming floral prints set in a modern improv-style backing. Now it’s ready to be trimmed, bound and enjoyed.
Pinwheels by Emma
When I received this project from Emma, I was a little surprised that she wanted to have it custom quilted. That was silly of me, because any quilt can be a good candidate for custom quilting, no matter how simple the patchwork style. In fact, simple quilts can sometimes gain the most by getting the full spa treatment at the longarm quilter!
Emma’s quilt is made up of 8” pinwheel blocks with wide, purple sashing. The approach of block quilting in combination with sashing quilting is pretty obvious, but choosing the right patterns took some time.
After a bit of back and forth, we settled on this pairing - a Feathers quilting pattern on the blocks and an open, swirly sashing motif.
Emma used wool batting, which creates extra loft in comparison with cotton batting. I wanted to make sure that the quilting choices did not get so dense that they stiffened the quilt. That could have easily occurred in the sashing, for example, since many lovely designs would have been too tight at this scale. The chosen quilting patterns strike a healthy balance qua style and quilting density.
So, the finished quilt is warm and snuggly - just how we like them!
It turns out that Emma’s instinct to have this project custom quilted was spot on. In my opinion, the quilting was able to emphasize the beauty of the patchwork in a way that makes it extra special. I’m always learning something new from my customers.
I’d be happy to finish your projects with a beautiful quilting texture too. My services are available to those who live throughout the European region. Please be in touch if you have any questions or start the process off by placing your order. I can’t wait to collaborate on YOUR quilt!
