countdown to Christmas

a little last-minute sewing as we countdown to Christmas

🔔🎶🔔🎶🔔

- closeup of binding fabric

and my positivities & *pas de deux quilts together ...

A couple of years ago I made Rachel's 'pas de deux' quilt, a modern BOM sampler, see above *pic. And as many of you know, I joined in with the 'positivities' sew-a-long this year, another similar modern quilt designed by Rachel @stitchedincolor. I love how Rachel creates these sampler quilts with so much negative space. It allows the blocks to flow and our individual colour choices tie the whole thing together. 

Yesterday I spent a very pleasant couple of hours out on the deck sewing the binding down on my 'positivities' quilt. 

Quilt stats:

Fabrics: I opted to use a constant soft minty-green solid as my background and I used a selection of scraps from my stash. 
Backing: it was a great way to use up some mixed size, leftover vintage sheet pieces.
Quilting: simply quilted in edge-to-edge straight lines by Leeanne @quiltmekiwi who by now knows my taste so well!
Binding: After some indecision, I chose 'visitation' from the Bright Eyes collection by AMH. The soft purple with its large-scale floral design breaks up nicely along the narrow segments of the binding. And I love how those intermittent floral clusters seem to draw out the warm colours in the quilt.
Finished quilt measurements: 63" x 76". 

10th quilt finish for 2024.

🎄🎅🎄🤶🎄

Wishing you all a wonderful festive season with family and friends.

Taking a break from posting now, see you next year!

Linda

party in the quilt back

Most of the time I really prefer piecing to quilting…just want to make tops forever! But a month or so ago, I pulled out a few recently finished quilt tops and began working on backings. 

I tend to make my backing decisions after my quilt top is finished. And this year my focus has been on using up mainly what I have here on hand really ... any larger pieces neglected in my stash, a group of leftover fabrics or blocks from the front, maybe a vintage sheet or two.

I love a scrappy look, and I'm finding that the back of a quilt is the perfect way to use up more scraps & leftovers and perhaps add an extra little surprise. 

It took me a few days to sort my backings out and then I sent everything off to Leeanne from quiltmekiwi for some quilting goodness. My quilts have come back home now, and they all have that 'party in the quilt back' vibe happening. 

*Warning: photo overload!

'checkered garden #2' - the flower power version!

Backing: I pulled out a small log cabin quilt top (see back here) in pink, brown & green leftovers, and then just started building around the log cabin center with my chunky strips to bring it up to size. Hm-m-m - this one has a real two-sided appeal thingy happening!

and a few other details about the quilt front:
Fabrics: Definitely channeling my vintage granny chic with modern twist vibe here! I selected blending florals in light - medium values from my stash, in a variety of old & new prints, in peachy pinks, rosy pinks, primrose yellow, green, & teal/aqua. Add in a little contrast from the darker teals & bright pink, et voilà!

Quilting: edge-to-edge 'coneflower' panto, a favourite of mine at present!

'Margorie' 

Backing: I used two vintage sheet strips and inserted three leftover blocks. I think the back complements the front of the quilt nicely with those extra blocks tucked in there. Best of all, it's a little surprise when the quilt is turned over!

and a few other details about the quilt front:

Quilt pattern: #Marjoriequilt by Penelope Handmade

Fabric: various pink/peach/lilac/blues from my stash.

Quilting: My 'Margorie' quilt is finished with 'peeling good' quilting. 

This is my 'Positivities' quilt

It's certainly a happy day when you make good progress on a yearlong project. 

 

Backing: a great way to use up some mixed size, leftover vintage sheet pieces. 

and a few other details about the quilt front:

I joined in with the sew-a-long this year with Rachel of @stitchedincolor.  

Fabrics: I opted to use a constant soft minty-green solid as my background and I used a selection of scraps from my stash. I appreciate how Rachel creates these sampler quilts with so much negative space. It allows the blocks to flow and our individual colour choices tie the whole thing together.

Quilting: simply quilted in edge-to-edge straight lines by Leeanne who by now knows my taste so well!

And finally, 'Le Moyne Star

Backing: I had one leftover block, so I used that as my starting point. Next, I added a pink & orange mishmash from my stash, strips & chunks set in an improv log cabin style until it all came up to size. 

and a few other quilt front details:

Fabrics: It was fun making these fussy cut blocks. I decided the Anna Maria Horner peach/pink 'Cathedral' print would be my unifying element, and I used it for the sashing & borders. I also repeated a couple of other fabrics in different colourways, to help with a calmer & more cohesive look. 

Quilting: edge-to-edge 'coneflower' panto, it works so well with all those AMH fabrics!

A little pile of happiness💕

Thank you, Leeanne for quilting my quilt tops and turning them into quilts, they have come up a treat.

If anyone needs me, I'll be busy binding! 

Linking up my "finishes" with Michelle here 

I'm curious, what’s your take on making pieced backings? hate them or love them?

Linda