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I Am So Proud of This Quilt!

I Am So Proud of This Quilt!

When I bought a half yard of this beautiful horse fabric to make Oldest Daughter’s Christmas gift, I had no intention of making a quilt with it or I would have purchased at least a yard. It is part of the Wild Field line by Dinara Mirtalipova for Windham Fabrics.

Gorgeous horse fabric from Wild Field by Dinara Mirtalipova

At first, I thought I would make her a tote or something along those lines.

Then I got the idea that I’d make her a wall hanging similar to this quilt.

But when it came time to cut and flip the strips I’d sewed together… I just couldn’t do it. The horses looked too pretty running across the fabric the way they do.

So that’s when the idea came to make a full sized cuddle/lap quilt. Which meant it needed to be longer.

But I couldn’t add more of the horse fabric because I didn’t have more. I’d used all eighteen inches of it.

Then I thought… I’ll add two wide strips of a fourth fabric to the bottom and top.

After that the logical choice was to add the narrow green border all the way around, followed by a border in the same fabric I used to add the extra length.

But it still needed something.

So I went shopping and found that beautiful orange fabric that perfectly matches the orange in the saddles… Folio Basics Pattern#7755 by Color Principle for Henry Glass.

I just love how all these fabrics play so well together.

Front of Oldest Daughters Quilt

Isn’t it gorgeous! I wish you could see it in person.

I have to tell you though, the thing that I’m most proud of on this quilt is the quilting.

I used organic wavy lines in the center part.

Then in the two large strips of swirly silver vines on black at top and bottom, I free motioned quilted words that she could find as a surprise.

She’s been applying to grad schools so in the top section I wrote the words Dream and Believe. Then in the bottom section, I quilted the words, Aloha, Hale and Ohana (Love, Home and Family in Hawaiian.)

Because they were supposed to be “hidden” messages, I used black thread which made them impossible to get a photo to show you. You’ll just have to take my word for it that they are there. 🙂

Then in the borders I ramped up the free motion quilting even more.

Free Motion Quilting on Oldest Daughter's quilt

In the green, I quilted waves.

In the swirly silver vines on black fabric border, I did open figure eights.

And finally, in the 5 inch orange border, I quilted my first ever feathers!

I am particularly proud of stretching, to not only make the attempt, but succeeding at free motion quilting feathers.  They aren’t perfectly formed feathers but I love them anyway.

For the back I used a grey print with silver swirls and circles.

Back of Oldest Daugher's Quilt

I’m happy to say that Oldest Daughter loves her new quilt and her partner loves the So Dog Gone Cute Pillow Cover I made for him modeled after their dog Bhodi.

 

 

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16 Comments

  • Amy, a redeemed sheep
    January 12, 2016 8:50 pm

    What a great quilt! I wouldn’t want to cut up that fabric either. Adorable!

  • Shasta
    January 12, 2016 2:18 pm

    That is pretty fabric – I can see why you didn’t want to cut it up. You came up with a great solution. The orange border is fabulous.

  • Renee
    January 11, 2016 12:46 pm

    What a wonderful gift!

  • Sandy R.
    January 10, 2016 3:23 pm

    And you should be proud!! It’s very nice and you made that yard of fabric go the distance.It’s lovely!

  • Susan
    January 9, 2016 10:29 pm

    Beautiful quilt! Even more beautiful quilting! I love that fabric, and the way you added each thing until you had a great looking whole.

  • Kathleen Mary
    January 9, 2016 7:52 pm

    I don’t make quilts of this nature. Usually they are too modern for me. But I love this one. I would gladly display this quilt in my home if your daughter does not want it.

    Kathleen Mary

  • Jenny Benton
    January 9, 2016 4:34 pm

    Sorry, that should have been “horse lovers” of course.

  • Jenny Benton
    January 9, 2016 4:34 pm

    WE have hore lovers in our family too, so I understand your wanting to make a special quilt for your daughter. It looks wonderful, and good on you for doing extra special free motion quilting too!

  • Rachel
    January 9, 2016 3:47 pm

    A great success. Sometimes it isn’t right to cut up a piece of cloth, and I agree, this one was much too pretty!

  • Sheryl
    January 9, 2016 3:08 pm

    gorgeous quilt and quilting. What very pretty and unusual horse fabric.

  • Carla Eldridge
    January 9, 2016 1:52 pm

    This turned out fun and so wonderful! Don’t you love it when things just come together like this?!

  • MA
    January 9, 2016 12:55 pm

    You have good reason to be proud of this one! I love those horses too – they rather remind me of something you’d see on old cave walls.

  • Mary
    January 9, 2016 11:04 am

    That was a great use of that fabric and your quilting looks perfect for it. She will treasure it.

  • Christine B.
    January 9, 2016 8:04 am

    What an absolutely beautiful quilt! Love the fabrics and the colours and the quilting! Just love it! Have a lovely weekend! Christine x

  • Sandi
    January 9, 2016 5:52 am

    I love your quilt! Great fabrics and colors! Your quilting looks very good. Hugs,

  • Maria
    January 9, 2016 1:00 am

    WOW! What a gorgeous quilt you made for your eldest daughter. Can see why you are happy with your quilting too.

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