Whiplash

FInally, a Whiplash competition I really want to try and that I actually had time for!  This time it is a miniature quilt theme and that's right up my alley now.  I started this project the day after the announcement of the theme and had it done in about a week.  I had to wait a couple of days to get the binding on because my machine went in the shop to fix the bobbin winder.  Some sneak peek photos can be found here.   

I really loved working on this project.  From the start I wanted to do something totally spontaneous.  It started with the pieced squares which are inspired by Gwen Marston's Liberated Quiltmaking.  Then I really wanted the appliqued circles too, so I added the one at the left.  The bird came next because I'm experimenting with bird images in all the art I'm doing lately.  Finally, I ran out of the white fabric, so I added the green strip up the right side.  The appliqued circles there were just because I wanted to do more circles!  The fabric for those is a new one in the stash.  It didn't seem to fit right on the light side of the quilt because it's was too yellow, but it worked just right on the green.

This little quilt provided the perfect opportunity to play with the hand quilting as well.  I hand quilted this without marking at all.  I find that I really love this way of quilting.  Each section was done a little differently.  I also added the embroidery stitches in green for a little more color.

Just in the past couple of days I discovered this great article about free hand quilting by Joe Cunningham.  I also have a book that Joe did with Gwen Marston called Quilting with Style and they talk about quilting without marking there as well.  This is a beautiful book that is well worth the price if you are a hand quilter.  There is also a great tutorial on free hand fans here.

I call this quilt, "Think Green".  It's 15" x 19", machine pieced, hand appliqued, hand quilted.  I used Quilter's Dream Request which is their thinnest loft 100% cotton batting. 

Comments

[Hedgehog]

This is a beautiful little quilt!

[Cathi]

Such a simple beautiful quilt. I am trying to learn handquilting and have had some good teachers, but have a hard time doing it. What way do you hand quilt, which style?

I love the freehand quilting, especially the swirls around the bird!

PS-Went a little nuts and did another (noro) moebius basket...felting was pretty horrible by hand, so put it on full hot cycle in the front loader, as it was so loose I figured there was no worries of it shrinking too much...MUCH BETTER!!

PSS-Love Gwen Marstons Liberated Quiltmaking book too!

[Roxie]

What a lovely quilt! Thinking of green in Redmond? Oh how I relate to that! In the middle of August when everything is burned brown or dusty gray, you can rest your eyes on the fresh coolness of that quilt and feel like you've had a dip in the river.

[Pieces]

I love everything about it! It is lovely.

[Jodie]

This is beatiful ! I adore green so was bound to love it. I have never tried handquilting - it's on my "to do" list.

[Kim Sherrod]

Thank you for the link on free hand fans- I am getting ready to hand quilt my little red poppies quilt and wasn't sure what pattern to use. I may try this! I am adding your blog to my SB! Way to rock that Doll Quilt, sistah! BTW, I am making another Group on Flickr- A Doll Quilt Challenge Group. Please join it once I have it up! Happy Sewing! Kim

[dorie]

very pretty!

[Anina]

I love this quilt. I love the green. So cool and summery!

[Laura]

Beautiful!

[emily]

This is a wonderful quilt! Has a quietness in it...lovely!

[Maria Peagler]

Really adorable and totally original quilt. I just took a class from Gwen Marston and she is a lovely lady. I looked up the Quilting with Style book and Yikes! The price is out of sight as it's now in demand and out of print, but my library is putting a hold on it for me. Thanks for the recommendation. I'm a huge machine quilter but would like to do some handwork now and then.

[drenka]

The green looks very fresh and environmental friendly! :)

[Wendy]

I just love this. I don't do quilting, but seeing things like this just might inspire me to start. Thanks for showing us your work.

[Lina]

This is beautiful, you did a great work!

[Deanne]

I saw your quilt on WhipUp! Congratulations! It's beautiful! You are so very talented. :)

[kathy]

Congrats on your WhipUp win. The quilt is gorgeous. I love how you pieced the green squares in the white background off center. The bird, those squares and your quilting give it amazing movement. Beautiful to gaze at.

[Tonya R]

Lovely quilt. The colors are so soothing and the quilting is awesome.