I think the pattern was called Star Soup, though I can't remember who it was by because, ahem, I didn't attach a label. Maybe this will be a lesson to me a dozen years later: remember the label! This was my third completed quilt, finished in Sept. 2006. (I know the date because the photo was dated.) It only took me a couple of years to make. Piecing it went fairly quickly but the hand quilting slowed down the finish. This was in my "one finished quilt every two to three years" period.
I quilted a diagonal grid lined up with the star points, stitched in the ditch around each star, and quilted a little heart in most of the stars. The rest of the stars have letters to spell out my daughter's name.
I used a painting stencil to trace the letters. I did not and do not free-hand that well!
I bought all the star fabrics and the background at Poppin's Parlour in Pentiction, British Columbia but by the time I had assembled the top and discovered I didn't have enough background fabric to use for the border we had moved to Iowa. Being short of fabric was entirely my fault, by the way, not the shop's. It turns out that if you make a quilt larger than the pattern plans for, you'll need more fabric. Who knew ? :)
Anyhow, I couldn't find more of the same fabric, but another blue with slightly larger hearts scattered all over fit the theme so I went with that.
This quilt has been well loved and used. Though it was replaced as Laura's main bed quilt several years ago, it still gets pulled out now and then for extra warmth. I curled up under it on the couch recently and decided I need to make another flannel quilt. It is so soft and cuddly! I'll get right on that...or maybe just add to the list? That list is getting very long...
It is a very fun quilt. You would never know that the outer border was not part of the original fabric choice.
ReplyDeleteI went through that same phase of finishing a quilt every 2 or 3 years--and then there are the quilts that still aren't finished 20 years later.
This was an entertaining post. :)
Hehe.... I've started adding flannel to the backing of some of the throw quilts..... nice and snuggly. Pretty quilt.... hey you had littles then - life is on their time at that point. So glad it is still getting loved....who know's it might go to college too!
ReplyDeleteThat truly is one sweet quilt! The second fabric find looks great with the original also; looks intentional to me. ---"Love"
ReplyDeleteA lovely quilt! I too have started using flannel as backing, it really gives such a snuggle buggle feeling!
ReplyDeleteIf you hadn't told us, we'd never have known thar border fabric wasn't what you originally planned. It's a great quilt and so much better because you've hand quilted it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bright and happy quilt! I would have never guessed that the additional fabric wasn't from the same line. It's a perfect match :)
ReplyDeleteI HEAR you on the list! I just said to the two I read before you that 1) a QAL would be great and I'd join in, and 2) the second one I hope writes a tutorial or a pattern because I'd totally make it! This is as bad as the DrEAMi! linky for squirrels! Love your star quilt, the quilting especially, as you know how LONG it took for me to finish just one runner that is hand-quilted! Yes! On the flannel quilts, so glad I backed the Splash of Colour with flannel as it is so cuddly, a bit more weight, perfect for these spring nights to pull on my side of the bed for a bit extra warmth! I love that you bought the fabric in BC, and how you made it work with fabric in Iowa - just perfect!
ReplyDeleteThat is a really cute quilt. I remember hand-quilting quilts a very long time ago too!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started quilting, I intended to hand piece and hand quilt but my stash got too big too quickly. Your bright quilt is timeless, those colors never get old do they. And great job for finding another fabric that went well with the other one, it looks like it was meant to go together.
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty quilt, and it sounds so cuddly! The hand quilting is wonderful, love the hearts!
ReplyDeleteOoh, such a bright and happy quilt! You sure did find just the right border print for it—it was meant to be. I like how you used the star middles to spell out your daughter’s name. Paint stencils—what a good idea! Isn’t it amazing how long it took to finish quilts with hand quilting? I’m very happy for machine quilting now, but there was something neat about the kinds of memories that developed from hand quilting, too—where you were and what was happening in life at that time. I think there should always be room in our lives for some hand quilting.
ReplyDeleteI like to use flannel as the backing on children's bed quilts, nice and cuddly and they don't slip off the bed.
ReplyDeleteThese throwback Thursday memories are the best! I pulled out the quilt I’d made my daughter upon her high school graduation a few weeks ago and it was so loved, it began to shred and had to be replaced with another. Label your quilts, young lady!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it lovely to look back on these early quilts? Nice that it's still loved even and lasting well with the use it's had.
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