Last weekend I started working on assembling my Line Art Quilt. It was such good fun and all week it’s been sitting on the kitchen table taunting me. So with some time on my hands I set to the task of completing the quilt top.
It came together really quickly. Was still a days worth of sewing, but it was an enjoyable day. I managed to “watch” The Notebook, Failure to Launch, Two Weeks Notice and Emma all while working on it. I even baked a chocolate cake in between sewing lines.
As I was sewing I was looking at the back of the quilt and it’s a strange thing to say, but I think I like the back nearly as much as the front. There’s something kind of cool about the rows and rows of pinking sheared fabrics sewn together that gives it a really cool textual effect… it’s like rainbow scales.
When it was done I was a little sad to see it over, but I’m ever so happy with the outcome. I think it looks amazing – the photos don’t do it justice. I’m so happy with the way the dot fabric has worked as a background. I love that I didn’t follow my OCD tendencies and put the jelly roll colours in the order I thought they should go in, I just sewed them as they came off the roll.
The only thing left to do with this top is to trim the edges to make it a square/rectangle. I’m totally too scared that I’ll screw that up so I’m going to leave it and let the machine quilter do it for me. I’d hate to get this far and then make a mistake trimming it and go from a queen bed sized spread to a lap quilt.
As I’ve been working I’ve been thinking about what pattern/colour to do the binding in and I keep coming back to black. I did toy with the idea of a simple white but I’m too worried about it getting dirty. I’m thinking that the black will give it a nice frame. Plus, when you see the back quilt fabrics in action the black might act as a settler to their crazy.
I am a little apprehensive about whether my top and back will be the same size when done. The brilliance of this quilt pattern is that aside from measuring the width of the backing strips I’ve done no measuring whatsoever. It’s just been sewing the jelly roll together with the backing fabric. I only marginally paid attention to the placement of the strips as I was sewing it together to try and keep a balance between the zig and the zag, but I’m not even sure that it will look ok when the sides are trimmed. It’s all a big exercise in hope. Guess we’ll see what comes out of it when I’m finished the back and it’s off to the machine quilters.
All that apprehension aside, I’m so excited to see this quilt finished. I’m still thinking about what quilting pattern to put all over it as well as the most important thing; what to call it. I can’t wait to have it done and covering our new bed. It’s the simple things in life really.
Don’t forget to check out Michelle from Buttontree Lane and her version of the same quilt. It’s completely stunning and totally different from the way I’ve interrupted the challenge.
Also, if this is something you think you’d like to do you can check out where I got the pattern and supplies from here.
14 Comments
This is gorgeous. You have done a wonderful job. Really really like it. I’ve never quilted before, but would absolutely love to. I’m a bit scared that I wouldn’t get anything straight or exactly to measure. I love the great colours, its very uplifting and bright … just the thing for a cold day to make you feel happy.
I would totally recommend giving quilting a crack if it’s something you’d like to try. Accuracy is so not my strength but I can still pull something together. Plus, the more you do the better you get. I’d highly recommend taking a class as well – so much fun and you learn so much.
Gorgeous! I would suggest a stripe binding. It would be cuter than white, but still have some, eg black and white, which would look interesting against the dots? Just an idea….
I did think about the stripe as well, but the backing fabric is a rainbow stripe so I was thinking it might be a little too much. What do you think?
Mate, it is looking gorg. Blown away!
Thanks
I’m a little chuffed with it too.
I love it! So jealous of your quilting ability! Has the other quilt come back from the quilter?!? Can’t wait to see that one too!
Thanks Pea. Nothing to be jealous of it’s totally an easy patchwork to do; just straight lines.
It hasn’t and I’m starting to get impatient. When I do get it back I’ll post the finished product. I’m so excited to see it.
it looks AMAZING!!! The spotty background was a stroke of genius!
Thanks Bron
I’m really happy with the way it’s coming together – shame I don’t feel the same about the back… oh well… can always do a different back.
It’s looking so good. And you have done such a great job on it! You are definitely not a newbie quilter anymore!
I would trim it yourself. Don’t be such a chicken! Lay it out on the floor, stretch a 3 metre quilters tape measure between you and the hubby, and work out where you want the edge to be. Then get your longest quilting ruler (you should have a 24 incher), and mark it out with pencil or marking chalk. Do the other side by working out your desired width. Mark it out again. Trim with scissors. This is what I’m going to do – will be a cinch!
Thanks. I think that would be correct if this wasn’t such an easy pattern – straight lines no problem, let me have a crack at curves
Um… yeah… I hear what you’re saying and I’m struggling to visualise it. (Could be pregnancy brain… or just that I’m crap with instructions!) I will rule it up and if it looks right I may cut it. May…
I love this SO much! I would LOVE to have a quilt like this in my house, it would make me happy every time I saw it!
Seriously, it’s SO easy to do you could totally make your own and then send it to a machine quilter to finish. Trust me – easy peasy