Quilters Show and Tell

Kaleidescope Quilt

Submitted by Elitexas.

I was amazed when I saw for the first time those kaleidoscope quilts. 

 

I made this unusual one and named it 'Earths in the Universe'

Ducky Quilt

Submitted by fifelake.

I purchased the embroidered little ducks at a craft fair. They were too pretty to use as hand towels. I used them in this throw size quilt along with some log cabin blocks and a small square border. 

 

Even the binding is pieced from left over log cabin strips. It was hand pieced and hand quilted and I enjoyed making it because of the beautiful fabrics in it. Very colorful and bright.

Drunkard's Path

Submitted by fifelake.

This is a double sized quilt in the Drunkards' Path pattern. I then arranged it in the Around the World way. 

 

It probably has close to 500 different fabrics in it and too many pieces to count. I had the state of New Mexico in mind when I made it and that is why I used a bright blue border. Zoom in if you can to see all the fabrics. Sorry I don't have a larger area photographed.

Maple Leaf Quilt

Submitted by LizW.

I made this quilt for my brother-in-law's wedding. 

I would've like to have done a double wedding ring but didn't have the time. 

The bottom centre block has the couple's names and the date of the wedding. 

This was done in an appropriate font with a matching colour on Word, then flipped and printed onto transfer paper. I then embroidered daisies around it. This was finished in the car on the way down to the wedding venue!

Double Hexagon Diamonds

Submitted by Woodland Patches.

Woodland Patches has a blog and sell their products through their website.

It's Hermione here again :o) with a different hat on.

A friend and I started a new business selling accurate pre-cut patchwork pieces and I can't resist showing off our newest project.

Isn't it awesome? I'm so pleased with it.

We hand pieced the whole thing - actually it didn't take very long because all the cutting was already done.

The side measurement of the hexagons is 1.5" - small enough to get the effect of lots of pieces but big enough to grow quickly.

I quilted it myself on my longarm with continuous curves. I'm feeling rather pleased with myself :o)

Barbara

Submitted by Ellie's Quiltplace.

You can see more of Ellie's work on her blog.

Hello, meet Barbara, a little snowgirl I designed and made. It's a quick and easy to make quilt for Christmas, that brings warmth to my home. A nice project made out of scraps (which I have in plentiful supply!) Happy Holidays!

 

Scrappy Stars

Submitted by patchworkmaniac.

You can see more of patchworkmaniac's work on her Flickr page.

This was originally a project in Australian Patchwork and Quilting some years ago. I started hand piecing it watching my son at Kanga Cricket but got so bored I resorted to the machine pretty quickly and added a wide border to compensate for its size.

 

"Realistic Fabric Photos" Quilt

Submitted by Cindi in Michigan.

This is a quilt I made while taking the 'Realistic Fabric Photos' class with Marily Belford online at Quilt University. It was my first class at QuiltU, and I had an absolute blast. I can't wait to start my next picture. The picture is of Jefferson, my massage therapist and friend, who is one of the warmest, most gentle and kind people I know. I've included the original picture that I made the quilt from and also a picture of the label.

 

Juliet's Wedding Ring

Submitted by Ellie's Quiltplace.

You can see more of Ellie's work on her blog.

While in my favourite quiltshop, I just couldn't resist buying the fabrics for this quilt. In May 2008 I started piecing the quilt, the binding I finished in July. The finished size is aproximately 120 x 120 cm.

I love the antique look of the quilt. The background fabric is white. At first I thought it would be too white (I prefered to use beige), but in the end I think the white background gives the quilt a fresh look. I named the quilt 'Juliet's Wedding Ring' because the fabrics are very 'rosemantic' and they made me think of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

 

First Quilt

Submitted by patchworkmaniac.

You can see more of patchworkmaniac's work on her Flickr page.

My first quilt, finally completed about 10 years ago.

At the time I did not want or like florals at all, hence the country look.

I started it about 3 years ago and decided to hand quilt it. I don't do hand quilting - it is too slow for me.

So many people never finish their first quilts because they hate them but I still really love mine and am so pleased with it.

 

Batik Elephants

Submitted by Marina Bugeja.

My Aunty was living in Indonesia for a few years and on one of her trips home she brought me a stack of batik fabrics in case I didn't have any projects on the go. The fabric pretty well dictated the pattern and I added the Asian elephants to link to a theme.

The quilt just grew and grew and there were still leftovers so I joined them together in an assortment of blocks and made the back of the quilt so I didn't have to think of a backing fabric.

The quilt was machine quilted by Jemima's as I couldn't face handquilting a queen size quilt. It has taken about a year to complete. My favourite part was appliqueing the elephants. It even got the cat seal of approval.

 

True Loves Knot

Submitted by Sandra McLay of Foothills Fabric and Threads.

Sandra is a co-owner of a quilt shop - read about the shop on their blog.

I started this quilt in about 2002 using Robyn Pandolph's Bed of Roses fabric and white homespun. I finally finished it recently in time my friendship groups quilt show. The show was just what I needed to finish my quilt.

   

My First Attempt

Submitted by Jan.

This is my first attempt at quilting. It all started when I went to visit my family in Canada and met Denise, after seeing some of her work I was so impressed and completely amazed that I could not wait to get home to England and have a go. I am now starting a bed size quilt and am absolutely hooked on my new hobby, without Denise's help I would not be doing this, thank you Denise.. Jan

 

Suffolk Puffs (lots of them)

Submitted by Linda White from Gum Valley Patchwork, Cooriemungle, Vic. Australia.

Linda has her own patchwork shop and you can see more of Linda's work on her blog.

This is a quilt that I made only a few years ago. It started when a friend gave me a garbage bag full of fabric. It was a wonderful assortment that she had collected over a 6 year period. I set about sorting them out into colours and ranges, and finally decided that I would like to make a quilt out of suffolk puffs.

I began making the puffs - all 900 of them. I used a paper template to cut the circles and then stitched them by hand (not a yo-yo maker in sight). On a good night I could make about 40. It was very relaxing and quiet so I didn't attract any dirty looks from the rest of the family as they watched television (as opposed to machine sewing!).

From there I hand stitched them together in rows of 3 and then blocks of 9, and then stitched the blocks together. Now I wanted to attach it to a background. After much thinking I decided to stretch a backing on my quilt stretching frame. Then down went some light weight wadding, then the background fabric, then finally the suffolk puff quilt. It was pinned into position and then I attached (through the centres) all of the puffs around the outside of the quilt. My first plan was to do this to all 900 but after it took 2½ hours just to do the outside rows it was onto plan B (skip the next 4 rows and do the 6th rows in; then skip 4 and do 11th rows etc til the centre). Once it was finished off with the binding and displayed in the shop my friend (who gave me the fabric) said she wanted it. I told her that she could have it when I die. She was happy with that until I reminded her that as I was only 3 years older than herself and as I planned to live for a long time she would ultimately only own the quilt for a couple of years! So to remind her that she can't have it until I die I purchased this badge and attached it to the quilt.

 

Christmas Gold

Submitted by Judy B.

In 2004 the Golden Harvest Quilters presented me with these blocks as a farewell gift, along with some fabric to match, a plant and a photo Album, and made me a Life Member all at the same time. As those who were there on the day I received my blocks should know, I was thrilled, and challenged! Also speechless! I had to think about how I would put them together while I unpacked, and for some time after. The first problem was that here were so many blocks that I would have to make lots of wall hangings. Or a quilt! And if it was to be a quilt, how about queen size for our bed, and leave out the wadding so we would actually use it during summer.

Before the blocks became threadbare from me playing with them, I put the small borders around each one in Jan 2005, and got them together, though still ragged around the edges two days later. The project was left a bit rough around the edges for more thinking time while I planned the border. It came out again in May 2006 and but it was not until the day the Golden Girls celebrated their 20th birthday on Wednesday 13th September 2006 that it became less ragged. Finally the day came, while the Golden Girls were celebrating at the 2006 Christmas Party, I got it all together, sandwiched (with out the filling so we can use it over our summer Christmas), quilted and within days it was completed and on the bed.

It looks absolutely wonderful, and every time Brian wiggles a toe bells ring! (I'm not telling you what is going on when the bells ring for extended periods of time, but we will have to curtail that sort of activity while we have guests!) I am delighted with the results, and it is sort of sad to put it away during the colder months, but what a thrill it is to get it out when the Christmas decorations come out for their annual airing. It is unlikely that I will ever forget the Golden Harvest Quilters anyway, but I have no doubt that the memories will come back every Christmas despite age and old timers disease!

My Japanese Garden

Submitted by Adrie.

This quilt I made after a workshop of a Japanese technic. I used only Fabric I had in my stash. The pattern was my own idee! I named it 'My Japanese Garden' It's hanging in our livingroom now. I like it very much!

Linda's First Quilt

Submitted by Linda White from Gum Valley Patchwork, Cooriemungle, Vic. Australia.

Linda has her own patchwork shop and you can see more of Linda's work on her blog.

I made my first quilt almost 30 years ago when I was about 16 years old (1978/9). I cannot remember what triggered me to make a quilt but I think it must have been in my blood. My maternal grandmother, whom we called Mammar, lost her mother when she was only five years old in 1915. She, along with 2 of her 3 brothers, were brought up by her two maiden aunts. Auntie Sis and Auntie Jeanie were dressmakers and Mammar learned to sew through them. She gave me lots of fabric scraps from her own dress and apron making projects and these along with scraps from my mother’s collection formed the basis of the quilt. From them I made hexagons – hundreds of them. And the hexagons were made into ‘flowers’. The entire quilt was hand pieced. Every school holidays and every spare moment, I would sit crossed legged on my bed stitching the hexagons by hand.

Once the top was completed Mum and I had no idea what to do next. We sought advice from a lady in Warrnambool, whom we were told did patchwork. Armed with the information we set about and stretched it on the lounge room floor using a bright green sheet for the backing. I hand quilted around only some of the flowers – not nearly enough but I didn’t know any better.

I used it for many years on my bed and it still holds a very special place in my heart. A lot of the fabrics are unknown fabrics, but many others I can remember. Fabrics from dresses, skirts and shirts my sisters and I wore as children and teenagers, and even fabric left over from the bow on Mum’s kitchen tea dress which is now over 50 years old (it’s the mauve/purple with white spots). The quilt measures 195cm x 265cm.

Sandra's Quilt for her Mum

Submitted by Sandra McLay of Foothills Fabric and Threads.

Sandra is a co-owner of a quilt shop - read about the shop on their blog.

This is a quilt that I made for my Mum.

It is called Strawberry Laurel and was made in a class with Alison Niclair at Sandlyn House.

I  made if for my mum's 80th Birthday which was in 2003. 

It is machine applique blocks, foundations pieced sashing, quilt as you go with hand quilted wreaths.

I didn't do the full size quilt, I omitted the borders.  It sits on top of my mums double bed and she loves it.

Nicola's Quilt for Kathy

Submitted by Nicola Harman of Harmany Quilting. 

See more of Nicola's work on her blog and Webshots.

This is a hexagon quilt that I made for my friend Kathy using a pattern from Lizard of Oz.  I am now making one for my family. 

The quilt is hexagon-shaped (it's lying on another quilt for the photos).

There's something like ~500 pieces in the quilt and I adapted the pattern as the background was cream and I thought that blue looked much better. 

It took me a year from when I started to when I gave it to Kathy, and I took it everywhere in the car and on camping and bike riding trips.  Even if there was one hexagon sewn it was good.  Some of the pieces are from my own hand dyed to quilts that I have made and some are fabrics that Kathy and I shared.  Good memories.  Also good to give to Kathy as it is all hand pieced and quilted.