Hello my dear friends,
Well, it's finally finished - my navy, lemon and white quilt. I took it to my quilter yesterday and I told her there is no hurry as I know what it's like at this time of year.
Nicola (my Quilter) is going to individually quilt each square for me (custom made), for which I am truly grateful, that way the quilt won't be covered by stitches, as the squares themselves are so full of stitches.
It was made on my Husqvarna Ruby Royale, took months to do and the squares are 7x7 inches (17cm). The whole quilt measures roughly 9ft 2" x 8ft (2.8 x 2m). Went through 5,000 metres of the yellow thread, and nearly as much with the white and navy, hundreds of bobbins and yards of stabiliser and batting.
I have asked Nicola not to put more batting (wadding) in the quilt as I don't like too heavy a quilt when sleeping. Once this is on the bed it will be summertime and it's too hot to have on there anyway.
All the designs are from our own Australian company called Sweetpea in Queensland. They are mostly applique and machine embroidered designs. I added only one design of a Dragon as I was born in the year of the Dragon and that was just a silhoutte design.
When I get it back all that will need to be done is the binding and I'll put a quilt label on the back. Thanks for all the positive comments so far during the construction of this beauty. Love Chris
(If you double click on the picture you can see the squares close up. There are about 9 designs, most of them doubled up -, except for the Dragon - second row from the top third from the right - it's a plain lemon fabric, but you can't really see the Dragon silhouette, it doesn't show from this distance)
234475Hi Chris I was looking on Sweet Pea news letter last night and saw this beauty there . I was disappointed to see that they didn't give you much credit for the hours and hours of work that you did to accomplish their designs in such an outstanding quilt . I felt a bit let down as I have been watching its progress..
Keep up the amazing work no matter where the designs come from . My most adventurous quilting experience was a table runner.. I wont tell you how long it took or how much unpicking I did . Got there in the end .
Cheers
Hilda in NZ
1 comment
by pennifold
08 Dec 2021
Thanks so much, Hilda, I didn't know about the Sweetpea site - that is disappointing. They were all their designs too. I also feel let down as it's taken me months to do this. Thanks for the lovely comments from you. Love Chris
1210Beautiful Chris! I know you are feeling a very satisfied accomplishment, as well you should. I like how the 4 corners are the same just turned differently to a hot it all. The center also was well thought out, all the placements, I’m sure. I don’t think I would have the fortitude to make a quilt this size on an embroidery machine, even if I had an embroidery field big enough. I know custom quilting cost so much more but I don’t think you will regret it, especially after putting in all this work yourself.
Also wanted to say, I have been accused of having OCD when it comes to sewing, quilting, etc too. I know we are both October, too. However, you would have an anxiety attack if you saw my sewing room!-lol-
1 comment
by pennifold
08 Dec 2021
Thanks Toogie, yes, it must be our scales of balance with regards to OCD!! Thanks for your comments, I'm thrilled with it. Love Chris
109777Oh, Chris, my favorite colors - this quilt turned out awesome. You must be so pleased!! Just lovely, hugs to you, Laura
1 comment
by pennifold
08 Dec 2021
Thanks so much Laura, I knew you'd like it. Hoping things are getting back to normal in your family, love Chris
96237You need to hang this on a wall for everyone to enjoy when they visit! Your work always amazes me and I've learned a lot from you. I look forward to seeing it after it is quilted out.
1 comment
by pennifold
06 Dec 2021
Thanks Penny, unfortunately it will be too heavy to hang on our walls! It will look beautiful on my bed though!!
I am so happy to read that you have learned a lot from me, I am humbled by this. Love Chris
336416079318469So lovely! I like the color, designs and pretty much everything about it. Congratulations on a beautiful project nearly finished!
1 comment
11506Absolutely Stunning!!!Beautiful work done..Congratulations!!!!!
1 comment
660141970I know you are proud and happy with this quilt, I hope the quilting does it justices.
1 comment
by pennifold
05 Dec 2021
Thanks Jenne, yes, Nicola (my quilter) is going to custom design her stitches for the whole 99 squares!! It's a bit more expensive, but hey, it's worth a lot to me in time, fabric, designs etc. etc. etc. Love Chris
27358Oh my and Wow! I'm so glad you shared the photo with us. It is even more stunning now that blocks are done and together. And yes, I di enlarge it and it just looks better and better. I hope you manage to take a rest now and sit a bit.
1 comment
by pennifold
05 Dec 2021
Thanks Karen, well these past few days we've been moving stuff from our place and Mum's garage and Dana's garage to move to Amy and Steve's new home. Poor Amy she is exhausted from all the going up and down the stairs. By the way they look amazing. I'm so proud of Steve and how he has accomplished so much in such a trying year. Once I get more photos I'll post them of the finished home.
I hope to have a bit of a rest, but tomorrow is my annual Christmas ladies lunch and because of the mess etc. we are going to a restaurant for lunch. Love Chris
169063Sew Beautiful!! Enjoy it for many years!
1 comment
by pennifold
05 Dec 2021
Thanks so much Lily, I certainly intend to have it for as long as I can. Love Chris
41781WOW Chris!! You've finally finished it! Colours are gorgeous! You can be very proud of this quilt. A great achievement with everything you have on your plate.
1 comment
by pennifold
05 Dec 2021
Thanks so much Mary. It's at the Quilter's and she is going to custom quilt it for me, I'm so pleased about that as I didn't want the quilting stitches to detract from the designs. Love Chris
12452Wonderful work!!!!! Be very proud of this one!!!
1 comment
by pennifold
05 Dec 2021
Thanks so much Dolly, yes this is one of my best pieces of work. Love Chris
45070Oh, Chris, it is absolutely stunning and so professional looking! You have done a wonderful job in all aspects of creation and completion. Congratulations!
PS: Are we learning something about you? The dragon...is that the side of the bed you sleep on...?!!! ;-)
1 comment
by pennifold
05 Dec 2021
Ha ha ha Bev, this made me laugh out loud. I have my own bedroom now. Trev snores loudly and he says I snore too, but I know I'm not loud like him as Amy has told me and they've lived with us these past 13 months!
They moved out this past week and over this weekend, yippee!!!! Love Chris
3244I have only one word for it: "Perfect"
Hugs Roberta
1 comment
9009A real labor of love, you have done yourself proud. SweetPea have so many beautiful designs and they stitch out perfectly.
Is that your sewing room in the background, Oh my so tidy. You don't want to see mine. LOL Lovely lovely job well done you.
1 comment
by pennifold
05 Dec 2021
I have a 7 metre by 4 metre back room. My sewing machine is off to the left of this picture. This is my computer desk and the boxes are full of fabrics! I'm a bit of a neat freak and I'm sure have OCD!! Love Chris
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360638Hello Chris. This is absolutely stunning. I love navy ,white and yellow together. Beautiful work. Hugs Lynn
1 comment
by pennifold
02 Dec 2021
Hi Lynn, yes, it's one of my favourite combinations too. It will be more for winter than summer, it weighs quite a lot!! Love Chris
51302I have always admired the great works you sew. Wonderful, excellent work !
1 comment
by pennifold
02 Dec 2021
Why thank you so much, I do love machine embroidery and when you get such wonderful digitisers it makes it so much fun. Love Chris
279wow,wow,wow. an amazingly beautiful quilt. Love how you changed colors on some blocks that made them look like a new pattern. What an accomplishment! Congratulation on your treasure.
1 comment
by pennifold
02 Dec 2021
Thanks so much, yes, it was deliberate, I didn't want them all the same. Love Chris
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