10/24/14

Blogger's Quilt Festival: We are the World

Amy's Creative Side

It's here! The Blogger's Quilt Festival for Fall, 2014. Thanks to Amy's Creative Side for posting this semi-annual event.

Today I'm showing off a quilt that is special to me. I call this quilt "We are the World", and it was created for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge in 2013. This is my adaptation of the "Little Red Dresses" pattern by Barbara Weiland Talbert. 


For this quilt, I tried something completely new for the quilting. I found a pantograph that was perfect on Urban Elementz called "Paper Dolls", but with this being quilted on my domestic machine, it wasn't really possible to do traditional edge-to-edge quilting. I had in mind to quilt each block individually. Here's how I did it.

The design was too large to really fit comfortably inside my 12-inch blocks. So....I copied parts of the pantograph on my copy machine, reducing them by 50%. Then I taped it together in sections to create a 16 x 16 quilt block.


There were a few little gaps that were easy enough to fill in. I made it plenty large thinking I'd choose a 12 x 12 section and just draw some lines.


Then I traced the pattern with a marker.


Then I pinned the pattern to my block, and away I went. And it worked out!



Here's how it looks from the back. It's hard to see in this image with the white on white. I messed with the brightness and contrast a little to help you see it.




The fabric for the border and sashing are busy enough that I figured simple stippling was enough there. 


Anything else wasn't going to show much. And I put a heart with a flourish in each of the cornerstones.


Here's how it looks from the back.



After toying with several ideas, I decided to use this rainbow fabric for a flange and then bind it with the polka dot. I like the way this turned out.


While I started this quilt for the 2013 Rainbow Scrap Challenge, it ended up as a gift for the granddaughter of our good friend, Chuck. Her name is Frankie. She's a cutie, isn't she?


In October, 2013, Frankie was diagnosed with a devastating neurological disorder known as Rett Syndrome. It took quite some time to obtain an accurate diagnosis, and it will be a rocky road ahead for Frankie and her family. I was just finishing sewing together the blocks for We are the World when I learned of Frankie's diagnosis. I knew immediately that this quilt was intended for her all along. People come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities, and I firmly believe that the world needs all of us. You can read more about Frankie's story right here. And with October being Rett Syndrome Awareness Month,




I couldn't resist showing off Frankie's quilt right here at the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I hope you like Frankie's quilt!

This is my 8th time participating in the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I started blogging in July of 2010 and started participating in the quilt festival as soon as I discovered it. Unless I miss my guess, that would have been in the Spring of 2011. You can see my previous entries into the Blogger's Quilt Festival right here:


For this Fall, 2014 Festival, I have another entry. You can see my other quilt, "Happy Campers" right here.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you enjoy the rest of the show. Now head on back to the festival and give my fellow participants some quilty love.

Blogger's Quilt Festival Stats:

Finished quilt measures: 75 x 60 inches
Special techniques used: Pantograph on a domestic machine, traditional and paper-piecing, binding with a flange
Quilted by: Me! On my domestic sewing machine.
Best Categories: Large Quilt, Home machine quilted, ROYGBIV, Scrappy Quilt

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I well remember this little cute quilt and your clever stitching!! I am sure this brightened this little one's days a bit!!!! Hugs........

gpc said...

When you started this quilt I didn't expect to like it. Apparently I lack vision, because it is absolutely fabulous, one of my favorites of all the ones you've done. The quilting is brilliant. The perfect hug for adorable Frankie.

make.share.give said...

I recognized these little girlies right off! The quilting pattern is perfect. Beautiful finish.

Lynette said...

I love these ladies! :)

Turid said...

Oh yes, this is a beautiful quilt!

Quilting Babcia said...

Perfect quilt for sweet Frankie! Love it!

Tami C said...

This is a perfect gift for a little girl. What a wonderful thing for you to do!

Kate said...

What a beautiful quilt for a little girl. I remember how you struggled to get going on this one, it was well worth the effort.

scraphappy said...

Beautiful quilt and an even more beautiful story. What a perfect home for your RSC quilt.

quiltzyx said...

Yes, it does take all sorts to make the world, doesn't it? Lovely quilt for a lovely girl!

Unknown said...

Your quilt is gorgeous - when I first saw it I thought 'ah, a Friends quilt' but I like your interpretation even more "We are the World" is perfect. I went to the Retts Syndrome link to learn about it because I had not heard of it so I am now aware, so thanks for sharing that information. Good luck to Frankie and a big hug too.
Pauline

perry94022 at hotmail dot com

Jeneta said...

What a beautiful quilt with a wonderful story!

Jennifer said...

I am from the quilt festival and I love your quilt! I, too, have entered the festival for several years (although this year, I did not) and I have always wondered if someone voted for one of my quilts. Well, I wanted you to know I voted for yours! I love the story behind the quilt just as much as the quilt itself! Great job with the quilting!

CathyH said...

I love this quilt!! and the all-over kids quilting is just SO FUN!! Thanks for sharing this.

Cille said...

It's a fantastic quilt - the different scrappy fabrics and yet cohesive look and feel. Ups... I may have voted for your quilt ;)

Nupur said...

I love this quilt- and the story and the little girl!