All the quilting was done with my trusty walking foot. I did start some free motioned hooked swirls in the center, but while it looked good on a small section, it was too busy for my taste and seemed to overwhelm the design and the bird print when spread over a larger area. Plus it really didn't go well with my quilted border.
Yes, I quilted this backwards, quilting the borders before the center. I just wanted to see if my border quilting idea would look good, and I got carried away and quilted it all. I liked it, so it had to stay and I had to work from there to figure out the rest of the quilting. After a lot of staring at the quilt, walking away and coming back to stare again, I decided that for this quilt, simpler was better and I settled on simple straight lines on the diagonal. All the dressy stuff is in the border.
I still wanted more floral than what made it into the top, so that went in the binding and on the back. As I mentioned a few posts ago, I miscalculated the fabric required for the backing, so I incorporated the leftovers from the front (the blue and the floral with blue background) as a strip down the middle to make up width. That was a happy accident. I love how it turned out. It's so much more interesting than an expanse of a single floral fabric.
After a final Rosie test and approval, I boxed up the quilt and sent it off to New Brunswick.
Now on to the next project. I have a few simmering away, but the Wandering Geese remake in Moda Grunge fabric is what's on the design wall right now. I hope to have a finished top to share by the end of the week!
There's a solar eclipse themed pattern coming up soon as well. I'll post a bit more about that soon as well, and ask for testing help. Stay tuned!
This quilt turned out beautifully!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty quilt! I'm sure the recipient is pleased. So nice to have the Rosie seal of approval as well.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt and love the quilting! The front is so pretty, I really like the bird fabrics with the soft blues and greens mixed in. The fabrics on the back are wonderful and much more interesting than a single backing. The quilting sets it all off perfectly, another beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteA solar eclipse themed quilt sounds interesting, I will be watching for that one!
Oh, Joanne, there's been a terrible mistake! You know how I love birds, and I thought you knew I live in Texas, not New Brunswick!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Sorry; I just could not resist that! *giggle* The birds are beautiful, your fabric choices are beautiful, and as always, your quilting is beautiful! I'm sure the recipient will enjoy the quilt as much as I would have! ---"Love"
ReplyDeletethe bird panels make this s delightful quilt and the new owner must be delighted with it what a lovely gift to give
ReplyDeleteI'm not seeing anything at all wrong with the quilt design! I think it's absolutely lovely! I'm sure it will be much loved!
ReplyDeleteCan I come over for a quilting lesson on that border design? That's amazing that you did that with a walking foot. It's a lovely quilt and I like the way you kept the border plain so hat the birdies *sing*. Nice backing too.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely quilt. You have done a great job with the quilting
ReplyDeleteNice quilt - soothing colors. Do you draw a pattern for the border to follow, use a ruler, or some other guide? I love how they came out.
ReplyDeletewow this is a lovey quilt.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to quilt in a patterned border! I'm intrigued that you did it all with your walking foot. Did you mark the border curves first, or did you "wing it"? Ha, ha, get it? Wing it on a bird quilt? :)
ReplyDeleteI do love that bird fabric. I have some of it in my stash, and the cotton is so soft and smooth. Really high quality stuff. Whoever received this quilt is a lucky, lucky friend!
Sweet quilting choices! I have a small wall hanging with these same birds...still on the design wall unquilted. I think you're right. Simple works best for it. Maybe I'll get to it soon :-)
ReplyDeleteI love birds too! It's lovely! Can't wait to see what you come up with for the solar eclipse. We're ready for it - I got some special glasses last week. Hope I can find them when the time comes. Hee Hee!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful--blue and birds--two of my favorites!!
ReplyDeleteThat quilting is great. Really like the border idea - may use that myself sometime if that's Ok? Great inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job of floating the bird blocks. Good choice to keep the blue for the border.
ReplyDeleteYour quilting choices work well, too.
Some bird lover in New Brunswick is very happy right now! : )
Oh, a solar eclipse quilt--DH is determined that we drive North to see the event. I'll be interested to see the pattern.
Don't you love with miscalculations end up with a better solution! Love backings that have a little something extra in there.
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt - your design has really done the feature fabric justice - and the quilting on it seems just right :-) I"m sure it was well received!
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