I’ve actually got quite a few projects in the works, but this
one has been a big focus these past few weeks.
This quilt started back in September 2016. I had picked up
some Kona Highlight, being colour of the year for 2016, and thought it would be
fun to make a quilt using that bright pop of yellow. But it sat in my stash for
quite awhile, until one day I was playing with fabrics. Do you ever do this?
Just pull fabrics from your stash and audition them for some potential project?
No, just me?! It’s actually something I enjoy doing and find it to be a really
calming process. That is, until I have to put it all away again 😉
Having picked up this half square triangle (HST) print at a
fabric sale, it had been sitting in my stash just itching for me to put it to
good use. I had been tempted to dip into it for other projects, but resisted
the urge wanting to preserve as much of the yardage as possible. Boy, am I
happy I waited! I had designed an HST quilt pattern way back in late 2015/
early 2016 and, during the fabric play session, I had visions of using this
print as the backing to a baby girl quilt. I decided to keep the front fairly
light and neutral – choosing only 3 main solids – Kona Petal, Kona Highlight
and Kona White.
I had made quite a bit of progress when I initially got
underway, but then ran out of my pink and yellow fabrics. I had most of my pink blocks made, with the
exception of 2 and had about half of my yellow HST squares prepped.
And so there the project sat for several months before I
picked her up again earlier this year after deciding to add her to my FAL 2017Q1 list.
Once I received my restock of fabric, I made quick work of
cutting my fabric, making my HSTs and trimming the squares down.
I was back in my happy place with lots of chain piecing 😊
The quilt top came together quite quickly once I was in piecing mode.
Once basted, I had to set her aside for a few days as I considered
my quilting options. Right from the start of the project, I knew I wanted to do
a combo of both machine and big stitch hand quilting. I just wasn’t sure how I
wanted the two to compliment one another.
In the end, I decided to go with straight machine quilted
white lines on either side of the blocks using my trusty Aurifil 50 wt thread
in #2021. After the machine quilting, I hesitated whether I should add the hand
quilting detail. I loved the simplicity of the quilt top and didn’t want it to
get too fussy or busy with hand quilting. But I just couldn’t resist and
decided to do a couple of blocks to see how it would look.
I decided to use Aurifil 12 wt in colours Pale Pink #2410
and Lemon #2115. The pink is used on the yellow HSTs and the yellow thread on
the pink blocks. I love how subtle the hand stitching is and you barely notice
it from afar. But it adds great detail and texture once up close.
Now I’m slowly working my way through the hand quilting
detail, trying to not overdue it so my tendinitis doesn’t flare up.
What do you think. Do you love the addition of the hand
quilting or do you feel it’s too much? Would love to hear your thoughts in the
comments!
Hope to share this completed quilt with you soon!
Until then, happy quilting my friends!
xo
I love the texture hand quilting adds! I just wish I had the patience and the skills to pull it off myself. ;-)
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