Wednesday, September 29, 2010

New Quilt Pattern and New Quilt

Last June I posted my progress on a quilt for my son and his fiance. Now I'll finish that story. The quilt is finished - ALL 1000+ square inches of it, completed with binding and label. Here's what the quilt required:

18 9" Ohio Star blocks
18 9" Indiana Puzzle blocks
49 4.5" Square in a Square blocks
(See photos of these blocks on the June 23, 2010 entry.)


In addition, the quilt required 84 4.5" x 9" diamond blocks like the one shown here. The diamond blocks will go between and surround the Ohio Stars and Indiana Puzzle blocks.



There was also a triple border which was dark brown on each side of the creme white center strip. This quilt top was much bigger than I wanted to try on my home sewing machine so I asked a friend who is in quilt guild with me to quilt it on her long arm machine. Besides, if I had tried quilting it, it would not have been finished in time for the October wedding. As you who are quilters know, once the quilting is finished, the quilt still isn't finished. There is still binding to put on and also a label to attach to the back. So that was my project this past weekend and several evenings as well. It's a long way around a 103" square quilt. (That's what it measured after quilting.) This quilt takes the prize for the largest quilt I've ever made.
Before the last bit of binding could be completed, I needed to print a label so that I could attach it on two sides as I put on the binding. Everyone who has seen this quilt has commented on the circular patterns (the quilters are reminded of the familiar weding ring pattern). So after much thought and study of the various patterns in this quilt, it was given a name - INDIANA AND OHIO RINGS. My kids like the symbolism in this quilt as my son was born in Indiana and his bride in Ohio.
Now, here is the photo of this quilt, designed on EQ5 using the requested colors of: eggplant, pumpkin, cranberry, chocolate and vanilla.
This quilt took me beyond my comfort level in both design and colors used. I don't think I would have chosen to work with all of these colors prior to designing and making this quilt but I'm very glad that I did. It was a joy to work on and I'm very pleased with the end result. I hope this quilt, once given to its new owners, brings much pleasure and enjoyment for years to come.

8 comments:

Jennifer said...

Congratulations Joyce on such a beautiful and big quilt! I love how the blocks all work together! What a wonderful wedding present!

Candra said...

This quilt is awesome! You should publish the pattern! Truly wonderful!

Pat L said...

Wow! It is absolutely stunning!

Cheryl Willis said...

very nice, this setting is an excellent way to blend two different blocks into an heirloom beauty! Congrats to the future couple.- cw

Anonymous said...

Hi Joyce,
I love your quilt and the way you told us all the steps.
They are a lucky couple, Thea in In

Quayceetatter said...

Beautiful colors and nice job!!
A GIFT that will last forever!! I hope you had written up a small 4x4 info card about the quilt, quitler, date and place in a corner of the quilt. I like to print it off onto material and attached but have seen people make an envelope and tucked the info inside....
Linda NM

Joyce said...

My fabric label had a small photo of the quilt, my name and hometown as the designer and quiltmaker, the name of the longarm quilter, the names of blocks used, who the quilt was given to, the occasion and date and city of the wedding. The label was a bit larger than 4" x 4". I'm not sure that I measured it but I'd guess that it was approx. 3" x 6". It still looked small on the back of the quilt.

Ridgewoman said...

This is an example of why I would have loved it if my Mom had taught me to sew ONE stitch. I love fabric, I love quilts; and, have studied the history of quilt-making. The nearest I ever came was when, as a bride of 19, the ladies let me sit down at the quilting frame with them and do a running basting stitch (I guess I could not do much harm). I loved the chatting and babies playing under the quilting frame. It was an introduction to the quilting world I would never have experienced if not for my wonderful MILove, Viola Davis and the ladies of the Madera Quilting group. Good memories.
Your quilt may have been a lot of work, and not what you would have chosen; but, it is a beautiful design and outcome. I know the bride will be thrilled! BJ
PS I have tatted a large, table runner of over 1,000 quarter-size motif, which was repetitious but a work of love for my youngest daughter.