Friday, February 27, 2015

FF: The Ranch Quilt. Finished.


Back in December, I finished a quilt top for my niece, E, who was expected end of December/early January. It sat, untouched, until a couple of weeks ago, when I decided to just get it done.


The quilting had completely stumped me. How would I quilt it? What color thread? I considered a purple variegated and a lavender before finally settling on a gray that matched the background fabric. I considered a boxy FMQ stipple of sorts, a triangular/pointy stipple of sorts, echo quilting, straight lines radiating from the center, diagonal lines, a grid...and then I finally just put the quilt under the needle and stitched horizontal lines across each long strip. It wasn't anything complicated, and I had originally intended to go back and make the vertical lines to make a grid, but when I finished with the horizontal, I decided it was fine just as it was.


The backing is a large cut of this purple stars print that I picked up at my LQS, with a strip of purple scraps along the back. The back is much more plum than the blue-y purples of the front, but I like the contrast. I do not, however, like the stars fabric, as it did not behave well with my sewing machine. As Agatha is a rather undiscerning machine when it comes to what fabric she will sew, I'm fairly confident this fabric is just evil. Sure, Agatha is pretty snobby when it comes to thread--Italian all the way, baby!--but I've never had a problem with fabric. Then, as I was handstitching the binding, I encountered a lot more needle resistance than I usually do. I felt like I was stitching binding onto a batik backing! So something about this particular fabric was whack, and I was exceedingly glad to have this quilt finished.


I handstitched down this purple heart to serve as a label, and I am excited that Baby E will have her quilt soon.

While it's not exactly an original motif nowadays, I took my inspiration from an old bedspread and drew up the design. The cutting was a bit of a process, and I had to be careful when I was piecing to make sure I was on the right row, but it was pretty simple to piece, and I imagine I'll make this one again.

Finally, it's on my FAL list--finish four of nine--and it's my second quilt finish of the year, woo!


I'm linking up with TGIFF hosted this week by Persimon Dreams.

17 comments:

  1. Fabulous finish! I really like the gradient effect with the purples. I am glad you were able to power through, despite the problems with the star fabric. It really does make an adorable backing!

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  2. Excellent! Sometimes when the quilting stumps you, straight lines are the way to go. :)

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  3. This is really awesome, Audry, and the heart label is totally adorable. What a bummer to hear about the backing fabric. I had a Kona White once that pulled funny and just about made me loose my mind; I have never had another experience with a Kona fabric like that.

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  4. Bummer about the naughty fabric, but those straight lines look perfect! (I'm going to Fancy Tiger after work today- promise to fondle the fabric for you ;-) )

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  5. Why? Why can't it be *me* who's finished two quilts by the end of February?! I'm excited about your latest finish, especially your creative label (nope, I've never labeled a quilt) ... and I'm a little jealous, too. ; )

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  6. Love how you made the gradient blocks. I have made a quilt using this block using all blue fabrics but your gradient makes the quilt so much more appealing! Great job!

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  7. Really love the ombre effectt of the blocks and the horizontal straight lines are just right! Love the prints you used on the back- and that little lavender heart! I wish I had an emoji keyboard on my laptop because I would totally use those purple hearts right here!

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  8. Brilliant quilt, it looks really soft! I love how the top almost pink 'diamond' (?) looks like it's glowing and then it goes all the way down to that awesome inkiness :)

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  9. I love it, and I think it's brilliant that you chose to bind it in the neutral rather than choosing one of the the shades of purple, which would have accentuated one shade over all of the others. Perfect! Well done!

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  10. Yeah, I really like that plummy purple's contrast, too - and such a cute label heart!

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  11. Fantastic finish! I am always stumped by variegated thread myself. Gray was a perfect choice! Baby E is going to love it!

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  12. Fabulous quilt! Congratulations on the finish!

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  13. This is darling! I love the gradation of color and the motif is a great! It is like a "fuller" plus! Just a super finish!

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