Pretty Irish Chain with Applique

  

When Lori sent a photo of this quilt top asking for custom quilting (and especially feathers), I couldn't wait for it to get to the top of my list!

The recipient of this quilt loves feathers and more traditional quilting, so feathers wreaths were the request for the open white spaces.

I added continuous curves in the chain section, and because of the white in all the prints, I was able to use white thread for all the quilting.

The pretty flower details in the border were all hand appliqued.  I stitched around the applique and added a simple stipple backfill.

Finally simple loops the the small turquoise borders completed the look.

Lori provided a white on white backing and the quilting is so nice to look at on the back!

I really must put an Irish chain quilt on my to do list!

 

Summer Lake Log Cabin

Lori brought me this Summer Lake Log Cabin quilt with a request for custom quilting.  The pictures of this quilt are a bit deceiving, as the contrast between the light and dark hand dyed fabrics are much more dramatic in the photos than they are in person.  Lori was hoping custom quilting would help to enhance the pattern.

I used a different quilting motif in each of the sections to help enhance them.  For the outer border I stitched in the ditch between the pieced piano keys.  The greek key element was subtle in the next border, so I  used a ribbon meander for the border and the middle of the centre star where those blocks reappeared.

Molar feathers were my suggestion for the light side on the log cabin blocks and Lori requested stitch in the ditch for the dark side.  The contrast between the quilting designs does help to bring out the pattern.

The quilting does show up clearing on the green backing.

 

Wheel of Mystery

  

This fun little wall hanging was sent to me by Christine.  The cool thing about this one is that is is made from a laser cut kit from the Flynn Quilt Company.  All the pieces have engineered corners and registration marks to help make the more complicated shapes go together easily.  Christine said she enjoyed the process.  

As this piece is about 40" x 50" Christine thinks she will likely use it as a wall hanging.  She had been rotating the unfinished top in and out as one of a variety of backgrounds for her many Zoom meetings!

We talked about custom quilting as well as pantograph options.  In the end we both really liked the Ripples pantograph.  This was the first time I had an opportunity to quilt it out, and I really like the end result.

 

To Give and Receive

Reneta made this charming "To Give & To Receive" quilt.  The pattern comes from the October 2020 edition of American Patchwork and Quilting magazine.

Reneta left the quilting design choice up to me this time.  This quilt was telling me to do something freehand from the front of the machine instead of selecting a pantograph.    I decided that a freehand topographical meander would be nice. 

  

I love the texture that this type of quilting gives and I just wanted to run my hand across the quilt once it was done.

All ready to go home!

 

 

Sweet Bunnies & A Bonus Quilt

I have two quilts to share today.  The first is a sweet baby quilt Reneta made using a single charm pack and and some leftover bits of this and that.  The bunny is from the Delightful Dessert pattern by Elizabeth Hartman.  The layout was inspired by this one made by Elm Street Quilts.  The hearts and bunny tails are pink minkee which just adds to the cuteness!

Reneta selected the Pieces of My Heart pantograph and my hardest job was selecting a thread color.  I ended up with a medium/dark green that didn't look too bold on the bunnies, but still looked nice on the charm squares.

The second quilt of the day was made by Christine.  This entire top was made from leftovers from a quilt kit she finished years ago. 

Christine selected the Clamflower pantograph which suits all of the Oriental fabrics in the top.

We decided to use the Quilter's Dream black poly batting as the top was quite dark and the back was a black flannel.

It is always amazing what can be made from "scraps."

 

Cinched

   Christine sent this cheerful jelly roll quilt made from a pattern called Cinched.  The pantograph design options that I showed Christine were definitely influenced by this cute flannel backing that she had chosen.  The leafy Novaya Zhihn pantograph was what Christine selected and I love how it looks on both the front and the back.

All of Christine's fabric has a little bit of a metallic fleck in them so I used a shiny golden beige thread to tie it all together.

Amy's One Block Wonder

Amy made this funky One Block Wonder as part of a fun challenge between friends.  They each bought some Tula Pink fabric and decided to make some version of a Stack 'n Whack quilt or One Block Wonder.  They were to show them off at their next retreat, which of course didn't happen because of Covid restrictions.  

Amy used these two fabrics from Tula Pink's Zuma line.

 

 

 

I knew exactly which panto I thought would look good on this quilt and sent Amy only one photo.  She agreed with my suggestion of "Ripples."

Amy used up all the extra fabric from the front into a fun pieced backing and the solids sure show off the pantograph well.

 

Pick of the Patch

Reneta made this lovely "Pick of the Patch" quilt.  The pattern comes from the October 2020 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine.    There are free instructions for the block made into a wall hanging here.

Reneta selected the Oak Breeze pantograph and I think it is the perfect compliment to this fall themed quilt.  I love the movement in this panto.