Today I finished the top for little Irish's doll quilt. I added the shamrocks to the large white squares in the double Irish chain pattern.
Originally, I had planned to put the shamrocks in the corner white squares, but then realized I hadn't left myself enough room. Actually, I like this configuration better. The quilt will be bound using that same bright green, and I think that will really set it off.
Except for quilting and binding, this one is finished now. I plan to quilt it with white thread stitching a diagonal grid, and skipping over the shamrocks. I'll outline those so that they show on the back. Then, I'll use a sort of loopy shamrock meander in the outer border. I'm so happy with how this one has turned out.
After that, I wasn't sure what to do next, but realized that if I didn't start doing some quilting, I was going to have three quilts waiting to be quilted. I don't like it when the quilting starts stacking up. So . . . . I started quilting Camlyn's doll quilt. To remind you, this is what hers looks like:
The castle has windows that are just barely visible in this image, and so my first task was to use some metallic thread to embellish them and bring them out more. Then I followed the fabric design for the castle roofs and also quilted some bricks into the castle walls. I used a swirly meander in the sky and some jagged stuff in the grass. (I hope you can see this). Also, I outlined the castle in metallic pink.
That's as far as I got today. I'm going to try to use that metallic thread to make a cross-hatch pattern in the checked border, but it will have to behave itself. Metallic thread has a tendency to break, but I had pretty good luck with it today. I'm going to use a heart pattern that I've used before in the outer border. I haven't decided how to quilt the corner crowns yet. I might just echo the shapes, and then I'll be embellishing them with Swarovski crystals.
This quilt will be bound in a pink candy stripe print, and then it will be finished! I enjoyed doing this quilting today. Each time I complete a free motion quilting project, I start the next one with a little more confidence. I still have trouble with my top thread not picking up the bottom thread where I have multiple layers of fabrics next to the seams. I'm not sure what I can do about that. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Originally, I had planned to put the shamrocks in the corner white squares, but then realized I hadn't left myself enough room. Actually, I like this configuration better. The quilt will be bound using that same bright green, and I think that will really set it off.
Except for quilting and binding, this one is finished now. I plan to quilt it with white thread stitching a diagonal grid, and skipping over the shamrocks. I'll outline those so that they show on the back. Then, I'll use a sort of loopy shamrock meander in the outer border. I'm so happy with how this one has turned out.
After that, I wasn't sure what to do next, but realized that if I didn't start doing some quilting, I was going to have three quilts waiting to be quilted. I don't like it when the quilting starts stacking up. So . . . . I started quilting Camlyn's doll quilt. To remind you, this is what hers looks like:
The castle has windows that are just barely visible in this image, and so my first task was to use some metallic thread to embellish them and bring them out more. Then I followed the fabric design for the castle roofs and also quilted some bricks into the castle walls. I used a swirly meander in the sky and some jagged stuff in the grass. (I hope you can see this). Also, I outlined the castle in metallic pink.
Then I used a long narrow meander for the water and some loopy stars in the inner border.
That's as far as I got today. I'm going to try to use that metallic thread to make a cross-hatch pattern in the checked border, but it will have to behave itself. Metallic thread has a tendency to break, but I had pretty good luck with it today. I'm going to use a heart pattern that I've used before in the outer border. I haven't decided how to quilt the corner crowns yet. I might just echo the shapes, and then I'll be embellishing them with Swarovski crystals.
This quilt will be bound in a pink candy stripe print, and then it will be finished! I enjoyed doing this quilting today. Each time I complete a free motion quilting project, I start the next one with a little more confidence. I still have trouble with my top thread not picking up the bottom thread where I have multiple layers of fabrics next to the seams. I'm not sure what I can do about that. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
12 comments:
I love the shamrocks in Irish's quilt. I'm a bit partial to shamrocks, you see. Camlyn's quilt is very cute. The trick with metallic thread is going slow. At least that has been my experience. Less apt to break.
Oh those are so cute. I really do like the castle with the crowns in the corners. Love the detail you are quilting into, makes it so special.
They are wonderful pieces, fun fabrics and colors.
Debbie
I just finished a quilt very similar to your double Irish chain - but I would never have thought to put pink in it. I love it! :)
Your Irish quilt turned out beautiful!!! And I really love what you did for the quilting in Camlyn's quilt. Great job!!!
I just love your projects, Barbara. What a FUN Patty's Day quilt, and the castle is coming out spectacular. Was it hard quilting with the metallic pink?
Both of these are just beautiful -- but I have to admit, I've got a thing for the Irish! Although, I may change my mind once those crystals are quilted in . . . !!! :)
I'm afraid I can't advise you on the metallic thread - I've not yet used it in a project! I really like how the shamrock quilt turned out!
I like the shamrocks best where they ended up - it was fate :)
I like where you put the shamrocks. Yea! (almost) two more done!
OOOOHHH! What a great job you did on these two projects! I really like the placement of the shamrocks in the body of the quilt! She will love this little quilt!! And the lucky little gal who will get the princess quilt....how pretty!!! What nice quilting around the castle! You gals are gonna get me back to quilting yet!!! It's been a hard day, but you have made me smile! Thank you so much for that!
Aloha, Andrea
Love all the quilting details you included on the castle quilt. Very pretty and unique.
Those shamrocks in the white blocks look great.
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