Saturday 22 September 2018

Grandmothers Flower Garden, English Paper pieced by Christine, quilted by Frances Meredith

Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt made by Christine,  quilted by Frances Meredith
Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt made by Christine,
 quilted by Frances Meredith
Here is another hexagon quilt I have recently done for Christine. Using the English Paper Piecing method of stitching hexagons over papers and stitching them together in this traditional  Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt pattern is often where many of us start on our quilting journey.  Christine has made this pretty hexagon quilt out of her fabric scraps and has set it off nicely with the purple border and lone purple hexagons. 
Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt made by Christine,  quilted by Frances Meredith
Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt made by Christine,
 quilted by Frances Meredith
I have quilted many hexagon quilts for customers and I usually like them a lot because they are full of different fabrics.  Sometimes it is hard to know when to stop with this pattern and I know of many which have languished in bags.  Christine brought hers to me to be quilted and we chose this joyful pattern called 'Popcorn's designed by Willow leaf Studio.
Do you have a hexagon quilt half finished?

'Popcorn' quilting pattern designed by Willow Leaf Studio
'Popcorn' quilting pattern designed by Willow Leaf Studio

Thursday 6 September 2018

Traditional Hexagon quilt made in the 1970's, quilted in 2018, made by Sue

Hexagon Quilt made by Sue in the 1970's,  finished and quilted by Frances Meredith
Hexagon Quilt made by Sue in the 1970's,
finished and quilted by Frances Meredith
What is the oldest quilt top you have in your cupboard?  Sue had been carrying this quilt top around from house to house for over 40 years.  As a 70th birthday present her husband treated her to having it finished.   She has made all the hexagon rosettes and put the quilt top together up to the red hexagon border, but had stopped when she had to deal with the irregular edge.  Not only did I quilt it, but I was able to offer a finishing service which included adding the navy border, quilting it and adding the binding.
Hexagon Quilt made by Sue in the 1970's,  finished and quilted by Frances Meredith
Hexagon Quilt made by Sue in the 1970's, 
finished and quilted by Frances Meredith
It is hard to think back to the 1970's and realise how different the quilting landscape was in those days. Whilst dress making fabric shops may have been more plentiful, quilting fabric was not as common and as accessible as it is today. Included in Sue's quilt were some contemporary Laura Ashley fabrics which would now be classed as vintage!

Laura Ashley fabrics in traditional hexagon quilt
Laura Ashley fabrics in traditional hexagon quilt
It finished up being quite a large quilt and I used a digital pantograph quilting pattern called 'Popcorn' to quilt it.  It was a real pleasure to be able to help Sue finally finish her 1970's hexagon quilt.  If you have a quilt top lingering in the cupboard that you or a family member has made, please get in touch to see how I can help. 
'Popcorn' digital pantograph by Willow Leaf Stuido
'Popcorn' digital pantograph by Willow Leaf Stuido

Monday 3 September 2018

Chambray Quilt made by Jan, quilted by Frances Meredith, Fabadashery Longarm Quilting

 'Chambray' Quilt made by Jan, quilted by Frances Meredith
'Chambray' Quilt made by Jan, quilted by Frances Meredith
Wow, look at the quilting on this lovely quilt made by Jan!  Jan picked up a quilt kit called 'Chambray' from Totally Patched made in a linen look cotton. With just a gentle contrast in the fabric, the quilt was perfect for an allover digital pattern and is the sort of quilt you could use anywhere.
'Chambray' Quilt made by Jan, quilted by Frances Meredith
'Chambray' Quilt made by Jan, quilted by Frances Meredith
Here is it once I had removed it from the longarm quilting frame - this is one of the best bits of my job!
'Chambray' Quilt made by Jan, quilted by Frances Meredith
'Chambray' Quilt made by Jan, quilted by Frances Meredith

The digital quilting pattern is called 'Nemesh Feathers' and is designed by Bethanne Nemesh.  Below is how it looked on the back. 
'Nemesh Feathers' digital quilt pattern by Bethanne Nemesh
'Nemesh Feathers' digital quilt pattern by Bethanne Nemesh

'Nemesh Feathers' digital quilt pattern by Bethanne Nemesh
'Nemesh Feathers' digital quilt pattern by Bethanne Nemesh