Tag Archives: Aurifil

It takes a Village – Finish

I started this quilt, “It Takes A Village”, back in December. I think February, March and April, I listed it as my monthly goal for “A lovely year of finishes” but could not get it done. Well, I am ecstatic to say that have finally finished it!!

ItTakesAVillage_Front

It Takes A Village, started out as one of my Quilt Design a Day designs. I actually kept pretty close to the original color scheme.

QDAD_FlyingGeeseBrownLinen_3August2014

While pulling the fabric, I decided to switch out the lighter brown for a Cotton and Steel print. I thought it added some interest into the quilt, while the background color was similar to the design.

I tried a couple of new things with this quilt:

  • I bought a new tool – a BLOC LOC Ruler for a triangle in square. I loved it! It made it much easier to trim up the triangles and it improved accuracy.
  • I was inspired by Angela Walters book “Shape by Shape”, and decided to quilt each individual triangle, with one of three designs.

I used Aurifil for my quilting and it provided the most amazing texture to the quilt.

ItTakesAVillage_Quilting

For the back, I wanted a patchwork brick feel. However,  when finished, the back did not look right with lines moving horizontally, so I flipped it so the lines ran vertically. The final design decision I made, was to pull one of the colors out of the Cotton and Steel print and use it as a main color in the back and binding. It landed up being the blue, the pink just didn’t work for me.
ItTakesAVillage_Back

Here are the final details for the quilt.

Details

Name: It takes a Village
Dimensions: 48″ x 48″
Design: Michelle Wilkie

Fabric:
Yarn-Dyed Essex Linen Flax; Kona Chocolate; Kona Silver; Kona Oyster; Cotton and Steel – Tack; Back + Binding: Also includes Kona Lagoon

Quilted: Walking foot. Triangles: Quilted using 3 designs; Negative Space: Circle represents a Town Circle while the lines are pathways through the village to add movement.
Thread – Aurifil (50 wt): White – 2021; Light Beige – 2310; Turquoise – 2810 (used for 3 triangles + binding).

Linking up with Amanda Jean over at Crazy Mom Quilts for next week’s Finish it up Friday. I will be writing it up as a pattern and hope to release it next month.

Linking up with  Adrienne for 2015 Finish along, as this was one of my goals for Q2 to finish.

2015 FAL at On the Windy Side

Phased Circles, deadlines met!!

PhasedCirclesComplete

It’s finished and entered into QuiltCon. This was an epic quilting journey over the last week. Total hours of quilting = ~77 hours.

I had a couple of moments there, where I did not think I would make it, or I wasn’t sure I made the right quilting choice for the outer border. I am so thankful for a couple of friends  was texting with, and the IG community, without the support this definitely would not have been finished on time.

This is now my favorite quilt I have made, and over the next couple of days I want to share with you a couple of posts.  One on the design choices I made and why and the other on the matching binding.

In the meantime, here are some of my IG photos of my week’s progress.mosaic28491bd5b0ae3086c18072c732c823281fe8ba171. Block 1 front finished Dec 16th, 2. Block 1 back,  3.  Block 2 back, 4. Tuesday: Block 2 front, 5. Wednesday: Blocks 2&3, 6. Thursday: Blocks 1-4, 7. Friday: Blocks 1-5, 7. Saturday: Blocks 1-6 and 1/2 outer border quilted, 8. Sunday: All done without the binding

 Details

Name: Phased Circles
Dimensions: ~ 56″ x 60″
Design: Michelle Wilkie (inspired by a doodle)
Quilted: Walking foot

Blocks: Matchstick quilting (vertical and horizontal), Crosshatch quilting
Border: 1″ Straight Line quilting
Thread – Aurifil: A fantastic range of cottons that allowed me to match my fabrics perfectly, and made such a difference in textures. Blue block: 6738, 2725; Orange Block: 1133; Green Block: 2835, 5015; Pink Block: 1100, 2600; Jade: 2810, 5007; Gold: 5022, 2110 (not all colors shown in the picture below).
Aurifil_PhasedCircles

Fabric for Front: Carolyn Friedlander Architextures & Botanics, Kona Curry, Valentine, Breakers, Torch, Wasabi, Prussian, White
Backing: Black, White and Grey Carolyn Friedlander Architextures & Botanics, Kona White and Black
Binding: Matching Binding technique (matching prints/solids)

Linking up for A lovely year of finishes and with Amanda Jean’s (@crazymomquilts)  for Finish it up Friday. Also this was one of my Q4 Finish Along 2014 goals.

Finish Along 2014

In the Neighbourhood

It is finally complete!!

“Neighbourhood”

Neighbourhood_Finished_Front_Closeup

The original design was inspired by a rug I had seen. This was one of my first designs when I started participating in Quilt Design a Day.
QDAD_Neighbourhood_Day313June2014

As soon as I decided that I would make this I knew that I wanted to make it with Oakshott Cottons. Michael Oakshott from Oakshott Cottons kindly sponsored my quilt. The vibrancy of the oranges, yellows, pinks and purples truly make the quilt amazing. I wish you all could see it up close.

Neighbourhood_Finished_Front
Photo taken at the Biltmore Conservatory with the most amazing orchids (helper is my son)

I did not want to waste any of the Oakshott cottons, so I made an improve “totem-like” strip for the back. I love this as much as the front. The straight line quilting turned out just like I wanted. I used Auriful Sunshine variegated thread. It gave so much texture to the quilt and the color changes in the thread added another (subtle) level of interest.Neighbourhood_Finished_Back
Photo taken at Biltmore Estate (husband is the helper this time)

The best thing about a 4 hour road trip is that you can get some hand stitching done……my project – the binding. The fabulous yellow binding – is Kona School Bus.Neighbourhood_Finished_Action_shot

I am hoping to submit the quilt to Quiltcon Quilt Show, so another plus…I have finished in time for submissions!!

Details

Name: Neighbourhood
Dimensions: ~ 31″ x 33″ Mini Quilt
Design: Michelle Wilkie (inspired by a rug)
Quilted: Straight line quilting  Aurifil #4658 wt. 50 (Sunshine Variegated Thread)
Fabric for Front: Oakshott Cotton + Kona Oyster
Backing: Dottie, Cotton and Steel + Oakshott Cotton + Kona Oyster
Binding: Kona School Bus

Additional Blog Posts

Quilting Close-ups
Quilting process and steps
Back Details
Top Finish
Design + Initial Color Palette

Oakshott-ButtonLinking up with Alyce @Blossom Heart Quilts for Sew Cute Tuesday (see button on the right) and Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday.