So, to the penultimate in my quilting output…
I have only one more quilt in my repertoire after this but I will have to make an appointment to go and visit that one…
However, this one is far dearer to my heart anyway; it was made for our own bed and Craig chose the fabrics. It was made during 1995, and was probably just about the only thing I managed to make in that year.
I used a book which gave a very quick piecing technique for the “rings”; you cut all the coloured patterned pieces in long strips, then joined the strips together lengthwise to make a piece with six rows of your different fabrics. Then you cut this piece of fabric into strips the other way. So you had a whole bunch of strips of squares joined together… Then you just resewed each seam with a small diagonal new seam adjustment, going from no adjustment to a few millimetres; bingo, you had all these perfectly proportioned curves. The book had a table in it, depending on the size “rings” you were making. It was so much easier than I imagine if you had to cut out all those little patches to be just the exact right size from scratch… This bit, and piecing the whole top together probably only took a few days. Then for the quilting…
quilting…
quilting…
about a year later…
No, not the fastest quilter on the block, for sure! (oh, I should mention here that it is quilted entirely by hand… by me, natch)
The quilt is edged with bias binding that I made from the same red cotton as in the 4-corner bizzoes. It was attached by machine, and then handstitched in place over to the back. The quilt measures 190cm x 190 cm (6’4″ x 6’4″)
It’s a bit old-fashioned for today’s sensibilities and we don’t have it on our bed any more. But it is stored away for posterity.
Its absolutely lovely, but does reinforce that I do not have the patinece to make a quilt. I have a machine made quilt which was a gift on my bed, but it does rather set a particular decorating style.
Wow, I really like it, you did a great job. Mine is still coming along slowly……
So amazing! I absolutely love it! Hats off to you. I have one I have been working on for my best friends for the last 2 years. I feel like it is never ending since I am doing it all by hand.
Beautiful, Carolyn. I used to quilt but never anything this intricate. And I would usually send my tops away to be quilted. 🙂
Glad you have it saved for posterity!
Not only do you do everything but you do everything so well! What a beautiful quilt. The piecing is perfect and it hand quilted too.
You are an amazing artisan.
Gorgeous! That is an heirloom piece.
This is SO beautiful.
So lovely! I don't think it looks old fashioned at all. I love the curved binding.
Is there anything you can't do???
That quilt is fantastic!
Beautiful, and something to save for your grandchildren, and generations beyond.
Ah, beautiful quilt! I can't believe you had the patience to do so much of it by hand… but it looks worth it. I'm sure it will be in use again, quilts are timeless!
Beautiful, and hand quilted toooo!
I love quilts, I've made at lease 8 quilts in the last 10-years, 5 were completed and the last three, are waiting for batting and backing. My quilts are scraps quilts nothing fancy. Again that is a beautiful quilt.
Ah, how I love that you hand quilted it; what a labor of love. Most of the pieces in the textile collection at the museum where I work are hand quilted pre-1900, and I love all of them, even the simplest, for their artistry. I think a piece like this is timeless…and of course, as a collector of antique Ameicana and a Ralph Lauren accolyte, I am swooning over the red/cream/mid-blue color scheme.
Fantastic quilt and great choice of colours. It may have been out of fashion for a few years now, but I think the time is near to resurect it. Anything handmade and retro is in now!
GORGEOUS! I just finished a double wedding ring a few weeks ago, (still trying to get good photos of it, it's a Cal King, and therefore too big for us to hold and shoot)… I paper pieced all the curves, which was pretty fast, but your method sounds AWESOME!
Beautiful! I used to quilt and always wanted a wedding ring. I bought templates and was going to hand piece one but the time required put me off so I never made it. Yours is great, making me wish I had gone to the effort.
the cutting of the strips was an ingenious time-saver. How long could you keep up the hand-stitching at a stretch?
The quilt will make a wonderful heirloom gift one day.
Your DWR quilt is magnificent. I know exactly how much work goes into making them, I've made one for my son however as it needed to be machine-washed I did machine quilt it.
Lovely quilt, I enjoy quilting both by hand and machine. You did a great job!
Oh, wow …… I can say the technique for making the rings is pretty brilliant.
Fabulous! I probably never have the patience to quilt a whole quilt by hand, so my eternal admiration for you …. I am doing a reverence ….
Wow! i am speechless! you had the patience to crochet an entire skirt! Kudos to you and i love the pattern!
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It is really a beautiful heirloom. I guess the trouble with a quilt like this is that you might be afraid to wash it.
Thank you all so much for your lovely compliments!
Gail; it is just of cotton with a wool batting; so it is tossed into the machine on a gentle cycle with a wool detergent. It's been washed at least dozen times like this, no problems 🙂