Sunday, August 30, 2009

Quilting Makes the Quilt

The feel of Autumn is in the air and I have several quilts that need basting. My set-up for sandwiching/basting is in the garage on tables, so with cool weather coming, I'd better get a'goin'!

This Furrows and 4-Patch was not calling to me - it's pretty humble and homely, with too much WHITE, not anything I wanted to write home about, but today was lovely and I wanted to get SOMETHING sandwiched. I learned how to make a ribbon border on this project and am amazed at it's simplicity! We've all heard the phrase, "Quilting Makes the Quilt". As soon as I started machine quilting, the quilt became alive. I'm using a pastel pink, blue, green yellow thread, 40 wt, that helped to blend the fabrics and toned down the WHITE. Also, I keep forgetting to drop the feed dogs on my machine and it makes no difference at all! LOL

I made this one day (OK, maybe 2 or 3) when I just needed to sew something!!! This is about as easy as a quilt can get. It's about 70" x 80", and I used what I had on hand, except for the 2 blues in the ribbon border - that needed to be consistant fabrics. If you've been afraid of this border, you will be amazed at it's simplicity! Give it a try!

18 comments:

  1. What a clean, fresh look! I can just see it on a bed in a beachhouse on Maine's seashore. The quilting even looks a little like whitecaps! I've always like ribbon borders, but I've never made one. Thanks for the encouragement.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Absolutely stunning! It looks so crisp!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a neat quilt, looks like one that I would love to curl up in on a chilly Fall night. and your quilting is great. I never could quilt like that on my sewing machine.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your quilting is so pretty! I had an ebay top once that I hated and quilted babtist fans on it just to practice. I planned to give it away but after it was done I loved it! Now it's on my bed.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the quilt and really love the quilting design! I could not do that on my sewing machine either! I have my longarm, because I found it too hard to quilt on my sewing machine, so my hat is off to you!!! It is amazing!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love ribbon borders, its a great quilt and your right the quilting is making the quilt sing! keep going!!!!
    Kathie

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think it's beautiful. I love the quilting design and I'm amazed that you are able to do it without a long arm!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh isn't this pretty! You really turned this quilt into something dreamy and sweet. I reckon you surprised yourself. How neat that feeling is. I'm inspired by the spontaneity of it all. Love this one and glad you shared it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Took a quilting class once where the instructor told us to try leaving the feed dogs up, turn down the stitch length to 0 and use our darning foot (I call mine open toed free hand quilting foot). She said she got better tension that way. Worked for me too.
    Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  10. The white just makes the others more lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Elaine,
    I think your quilt is really lovely. Is there a specific pattern for this quilt- I like this design and I know someone who would love this quilt?
    Your feather quilting is fabulous too.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Regards,
    Anna

    ReplyDelete
  12. The ribbon border is one I've wanted to try for some time. I bought Judy Laquidara's Nine-Patch Extravaganza book and she always does fabulous borders; the ribbon border is one of them. I'm glad your "too white" quilt is warming up with your quilting. It's amazing how it changes the fabric without affecting the color!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yep, the texture from the quilting makes all the difference!

    When I quilted on my DSM I rarely dropped my feed dogs, I felt like that little bit of friction gave me more control.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I think your quilting and the border has turned simple blocks and layout into a gorgeous quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your quilting is so professional looking congrats. I will be eager to see the project.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It is a beautiful quilt - I love blue and I am liking white more and more these days. The quilting makes it even more lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your quilt is turning out so pretty! That ribbon border is so special, and your quilting is making the whole quilt just come to life. It will be gorgeous when you're finished!

    ReplyDelete

I no longer will accept Anonymous comments. I hope my adjustments to Comments do not cause anyone hardships.