Sunflowers
74 x 98
Hand quilted
This one is for me.
Pattern is from 19th Century Patchwork Divas' Treasury of Quilts by Betsy Chutchian and Carol Staehle. This is the second quilt from this book I have made and I have another in the works (aka UFO).
A long time ago I saw a Sunflower quilt. I can't remember where now. I loved it. I really really loved it. It was one of those quilts I thought I would never be able to make. Never. Ever. Never ever in a million years.
But here we are today. I do like a challenge. The instructions for making this quilt were excellent and very easy to follow. The blocks were machine pieced and not paper pieced. And that's a good thing because I'm not so much a fan of paper piecing.
And speaking of challenges...I hand quilted it too. Lots of curves with the tiniest stitches I could take. It is so very difficult to take photos of texture but it is there. And it's a funny thing about hand quilting...you can feel the fabrics soften with each stitch you take. Well, maybe not with each stitch but you get my drift- you can actually feel the "comfy" getting quilted into the quilt as you go. You can feel the transformation of fabrics into quilt.
With the hand quilting the Sunflowers look three dimensional.
Sometimes the hand quilting doesn't show up in the corners of the Sunflower blocks but I know it's there and I'm glad I went ahead and did that quilting in the corners of each block. I had decided to do it, then decided it would be too much work, then decided I had to do it so I did it. That was the right decision and I would have regretted it if I hadn't done all that quilting in the corner of each block. That was a lot of curves and twisting and turning of the hoop but...it was the right thing for me to do!
I used stencils and a pounce pad for marking some of the quilt.
But I just eyeballed the quilting and tried to stay 1/4 inside the seams in the Sunflower diamonds, sashing squares and Flying Geese.
Have I mentioned that I made this??
I made this quilt.
And now that it is getting colder I will probably be wearing it around the house; dancing around the house in it. Isn't that what quilts are for?
Have I mentioned I made this?? Never say never ever!!
for
And now on to the next "never say never" quilt...
But first let's visit:
45 comments:
It is a masterpiece.
What a gorgeous quilt! :D
You never cease to amaze me! It’s fabulous!!
This is such a gorgeous quilt! You should be proud of all the care and special effort you put in to make it. Sandy at sewhigh.blogspot.com
This quilt is a lifetime achievement, so worthy of all the love and pride you have in it. Every tiny hand stitch just accentuates your wonderful piecing and fabric choices. A masterpiece!
What a lovely quilt! I would keep it for myself too, just beautiful! Happy Stitching!
I’m sipping my favorite Harney and Sons tea while reading your post. I was so mesmerized by this quilt that my tea sat.... getting cold! I absolutely love civil war quilts but I honestly fell head over heels in Love with your quilt. The sunflower block is a favorite of mine. Quite sure it’s because my quilting grandma made one with sunflower blocks.
Your fabric choices bring it alive. Seriously I just sat here looking and looking at this quilt. Then it dawned on me that I was instantly drawn in with the first picture that you showcased in this blog. Right there! The fabric choices and placement of them in the setting squares is, to me anyway, what makes this quilt ‘a real stunner’ as Grandma Knowles would say. I could just hug you for adding that you machine pieced the quilt for I too don’t happen to enjoy PP. Finally, so happy for you that you hand quilted it.
No double in my mind that every time you pass by this quilt, you’ll hesitate a moment to savor its beauty. I made a relatively simple quilt years back that gave me that feeling every time I passed by our bedroom. Especially as light filtered through lace curtains and danced over the fabrics. I ended up gifting it to my father as he became very ill. He was able to enjoy it for several years.
A big hug from Maine for a quilt well done. Now going to reheat my Peaches and Ginger tea, and its a black tea. My favorite.
Wow! What a masterpiece! You did a great job!
I've learned in quilting to "never say never"! Beautiful quilt AND you handquilted it?!? Double kudos goes to you! I'm a big fan of the 19C P-Divas and have Marti Michel's templates for this bocks so your project gives me hope that I can eventually budge it from the "One Day" list. Enjoy snuggling under it!
For my very first on line comment I say ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!! You have produced a masterpiece. You should keep it and display it very, very proudly.
I’m back to thank you for also mentioning thet the book for this pattern, 19th Century Patchwork Divas' Treasury of Quilts. I Just ordered it. I know I won’t be able to start it until next year but can be saving fabrics. I am about to start a log cabin quilt for my husband and had collected lots of reproduction fabrics for it. The vintage style Log Cabin quilt with the traditional setting is his favorite. That will keep me busy for awhile. Can you see the big grin on my face? Timing is perfect as I’ll be able to set aside fabrics from his quilt toward this one.
Round of applause - No - Standing Ovation! What a beautiful, intricate and well executed quilt! You go, Girl! Can't wait to see the next one.
such a pretty fall quilt - it really turned out well
Cathy, that is a gorgeous quilt! I can see why you love it so much, and you should definitely keep it. The sunflower blocks are really amazing, and I love all the flying geese, too. Congratulations on your finish!
Wow!! That one is simply stunning! I am glad you are keeping it for you - what an amazing one!!
very nice quilt and quilting....a real heirloom...i would brag about it too!
Just a fantastic quilt!! I love everything about it! Beautiful job! definitely a masterpiece hugs, Julierose
You can be very proud of completing this beauty. I have one or two treasures and I know how satisfied one can feel when they challenge themselves and grow. Again - what a beauty!
It's incredible and showcases your talents and taste beautifully. So glad you went with the hand quilting all over so that nothing ever detracts from the accomplishment in your mind. Brava!
Hurray for you! I am happy to read you are keeping this one for yourself. It is beautiful.
Keep on dancing!
Fabulous!!! Love everything about it - the design, the hand quilting, it’s just brilliant. Finish No 9. Hooray!
Stunning! So beautiful and so impressed that you hand quilted it as well.
It is just beautiful. Love the colors you used.
Spectacular! I've admired these blocks ever since you showed the first ones and machine piecing them instead of EPP makes them even more amazing. Of course, you're keeping this one. After all you made it yourself. :)
Pat
Such a beautiful quilt and colour palette, congratulation on the finish.
What a beautiful quilt. You should be so proud. I don't know how you could do anything but look at this all day long. Just gorgeous.
Stunning!! An absolutely perfect finish for autumn. Are you now on a finish-a-day pace?? LOL
Did you make this? 'cause I think it's gorgeous!
This is absolutely GORGEOUS!! A real heirloom. You have inspired me. At the very least, I want to buy the book and dream about trying to make one for myself. Maybe someday I will get up the nerve to try. I am curious, what have you found to be the best method to make your flying geese?
What a gorgeous quilt. So many beautiful details and interesting colors. Love it.
Wow! This is a stunning quilt! I love the way you unified the flower colors by using the same range of colors for each part of every block. And the flying geese sashing just adds to the beauty. Well done!
Beautiful and beautiful!!! Oh such a nice quilt. I love it.
This is your Opus Magnum. I'm so moved by your joy and pride at the work and love and heart you put into this beautiful, beautiful quilt. When you wrote about feeling the quilt become itself as you hand stitched each quilting stitch, I could feel the texture and growing softness in my own hands. Thank you for sharing your delight!
This is a spectacular quilt! It's one of my all time favourites.... ever!
I love the design and the colourwork is amazing...so much work and time went into the making of this complex and challenging quilt pattern!
But then the quilting just makes me swoon!
So glad you are keeping this special heirloom quilt for yourself.
I hope you will link up to Slow Sunday Stitching tomorrow so all the hand quilting fans can drool over this masterpiece!
It's perfect!
(And I knew you could do it all along!)
I am so very happy for you. Having the impossible dream come true is always fabulous. And it didn't just come true - you went out and made it true. Lovely!
Your quilt is gorgeous Cathy! Congratulations on challenging yourself to make such a difficult quilt design - you did a great job! I am so glad that you are rewarding yourself by keeping it. :)
I totally agree with Amy that it deserves a standing ovation! Gorgeous fabrics, neutrals, color placement, and HAND QUILTING! Well done!
Your Sunflowers quilt is a masterpiece! The fabric choice, the pattern....all those itty bitty triangles.....oh and the masterful hand quilting....EVERYTHING is sublime! Congratulations to you on a most spectacular finish. I too would be dancing around with this beauty draped around myself.
This is my absolute favorite of all so far! Your quilting is beautiful too. ---"Love"
THIS is a beauty. Definitely show-worthy. (One suggestion: the Wisconsin Quilt Expo.)
A million years must have passed, because you MADE your never-ever quilt. It is stunning! Please dance around in it all you want. You deserve it.
Love, love, LOVE this quilt! Congratulations on a stunning finish! It's been inspiring to watch your progress on this quilt...the pattern is still on my Bucket List...I'll have to "pin" one of your pictures somewhere to remind me not to procrastinate forever!
This quilt is absolutely incredible Cathy! Love it so much. Wonderful, wonderful job with this one. The colors are droolworthy.:)
I am sooooooo impressed...I just ordered a copy of the book today. I figure it will take me about 8 years to make it...just in time for my 75th birthday!
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