This quilt I started in 2009 and promised to my eldest for Christmas! I didn't say which Christmas but she is rather despairing of ever getting her quilt so it is about time I finished it don't you think!? I last blogged about it in April this year!
This is my favourite photo of it from April - looking like a stained glass window!
I pieced it entirely by hand except for attaching the borders which is why it has taken so long to finish the top - my daughter doesn't appreciate that it is time consuming, but to be honest the top has been complete since April 2011!
It has lain waiting to be quilted! As I have progressed with my machine quilting I decided to quilt it by machine just to make sure that it will all stay together and to give it more texture. Well and also because I thought maybe I could and quite frankly it was the only way it would be finished on time!
So far I have quilted round the stars and have cross hatched the squares in the border.
Ok there are a few wiggles and the stitches are not all even but I don't think she will mind! I quilted it using King Tut variegated thread which I had bought at the time for that purpose as my top thread and cream on the bottom to match the back fabric. I wish now I had been confident enough to use the variegated thread on the bobbin too but I still like it!
I will do something else in the irregular octagons but would rather give her the quilt at Christmas bound and ready for use and add a bit of quilting to those octagons once we've had a chance to discuss what she wants there - there was talk of Japanese words but I am not sure that it will fit with the look of the quilt. But if she does want it still I will have a go! Either by machine or perhaps hand stitched in cotton perle!?
I have called it Starry, starry night for obvious reasons but also because the Don Mclean song is/was a favourite of hers.
The song was written in admiration of the work of Vincent Van Gogh - she likes his paintings too. Bit of a sad song telling how Vincent was at odds with the rest of the world - for so many years, misunderstood and alone! She is an individual too who likes to go her own way!
She is also a Doctor Who fan and who remembers which Doctor is the one to meet Vincent in one of the episodes??
Hope she will love it, and as she gets ready to go to uni next year, I hope it will remind her of home and family and all the love we feel for her.
She is interested in Cosmology and is a bit of a star herself in my eyes!
I'm linking this post to Quilt Story, see my sidebar for the button - see you there!
I pieced it entirely by hand except for attaching the borders which is why it has taken so long to finish the top - my daughter doesn't appreciate that it is time consuming, but to be honest the top has been complete since April 2011!
It has lain waiting to be quilted! As I have progressed with my machine quilting I decided to quilt it by machine just to make sure that it will all stay together and to give it more texture. Well and also because I thought maybe I could and quite frankly it was the only way it would be finished on time!
So far I have quilted round the stars and have cross hatched the squares in the border.
Ok there are a few wiggles and the stitches are not all even but I don't think she will mind! I quilted it using King Tut variegated thread which I had bought at the time for that purpose as my top thread and cream on the bottom to match the back fabric. I wish now I had been confident enough to use the variegated thread on the bobbin too but I still like it!
I will do something else in the irregular octagons but would rather give her the quilt at Christmas bound and ready for use and add a bit of quilting to those octagons once we've had a chance to discuss what she wants there - there was talk of Japanese words but I am not sure that it will fit with the look of the quilt. But if she does want it still I will have a go! Either by machine or perhaps hand stitched in cotton perle!?
I have called it Starry, starry night for obvious reasons but also because the Don Mclean song is/was a favourite of hers.
The song was written in admiration of the work of Vincent Van Gogh - she likes his paintings too. Bit of a sad song telling how Vincent was at odds with the rest of the world - for so many years, misunderstood and alone! She is an individual too who likes to go her own way!
She is also a Doctor Who fan and who remembers which Doctor is the one to meet Vincent in one of the episodes??
Hope she will love it, and as she gets ready to go to uni next year, I hope it will remind her of home and family and all the love we feel for her.
She is interested in Cosmology and is a bit of a star herself in my eyes!
I'm linking this post to Quilt Story, see my sidebar for the button - see you there!
It's gorgeous! The border really does look like stained glass. I bet your daughter will love it!!
ReplyDeleteLinda thanks for your comment and I'd love to respond but you are a no-reply blogger - see my sidebar or leave your email address please!
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt! I'm sure your daughter will love it!
ReplyDeleteLove the dark blue background! Very pretty!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! The stars glow on the dark blue background. And all by hand! I am so impressed!
ReplyDeleteThat is so beautiful! Great pattern and all that work handstitching, I'm very impressed. The quilting looks fantastic, I'm sure your star will love it ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat going, at last!!
ReplyDeleteMy girls just did Van Gogh at school and were proud to know he was in Doctor Who!!
It's beautiful, I'm sure she'll be thrilled to unwrap it on Christmas morning!
ReplyDeleteLove it Nicky!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely quilt - and a lovely thing for her to take away with her - a really fitting growing up present!
ReplyDeletePomona x
The quilt looks great SS and your daughter will love it. Well done to you on another finish.
ReplyDeleteWell done you for getting it finished in time. I am still working away on Helen's in optimistic determination. We shall see! But Starry Starry nights will be loved for sure!
ReplyDeleteIt is gorgeous Nicky! I think it was the most recent Doctor(whose name escapes my befuddled brain) it may have been the previous one though!
ReplyDeleteGreat finish Nicky.I welled up at that Dr Who episode.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful. The stained glass effect is stunning and the quilting is great. I'll be interested to see what she decides about the Japanese words :)
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt Nicky! And it seems to suit your daughter well. I love the stars, but I adore the patchwork border...just fantastic! You are just amazing Nicky and I am so impressed that you get right at those UFO's. Mine seem to just sit in the corner....ugh.
ReplyDeleteWell done on another finish. And in time for Christmas. I like the quilt and think the blue background was a wonderful choice. Good for your for machine quilting. It can't have been easy to go round those shapes.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is beautiful. The colours are so like Van Gogh's starry night paintings. I loved the episode when the (present) Dr. Who meets him.
ReplyDeletegorgeous! hand pieced?! geez louise that must have been work! glad you got it finished for her in time for christmas, lol, I've got a similar situation going for my mom and mother's day... hopefully i'll get it finished by this year's, hehe!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Stained glass hanging in the breeze. It is just stunning! You should feel a sense of pride in this piece. I am your newest follower and I am enjoying my visit. Thank you for sharing this, Kim
ReplyDeleteI love the quilt, and love the song but never knew it was about V V G! I will listen carefully next time I hear it!
ReplyDeleteAwesome quilt Nicky! V.well done. Jxo
ReplyDeleteWOWZERS! Nicky this is awesome, I have serious quilt envy! Well done on all that work
ReplyDelete