Wednesday, September 16, 2015

The Pinwheel Quilt Can Be Marked Off the List

Okay, here it is. A true blue finish! Binding completed and even the label attached. It turned out better than I expected, actually made one of my daughters give the frowny face when I said it was being gifted. 'Mom... why are you giving this one away?'
Playful Pinwheels
Such an original name.....
Because I can and it makes me happy? I offered to save it back for her if she'd rather have the Pinwheel quilt rather than another one. Hmm... On second thought, She'd prefer a different quilt. Unless she could have both?

This one is machine quilted in a green Aurofil thread in between every pinwheel block and throughout the border. Then I came back and big stitched with various colors of #8 perle cotton in the pinwheels. I worked on it a lot during the time we were on level one evacuation and I was trying not to chew off every finger nail from stress and worry.
Looking at a finish!
I didn't mark anything, just lined it up or eyeballed things. {Well, except for the very beginnings of each spiral. I admit to marking the first little bit.} It's a bit rough in places, but I'm pretty happy with it overall. I expect it will get a lot of use, so the machine quilting will help hold it together for a very long time. Being asked to fix quilts is not my idea of a good time.
A scrappy border
Now that it's done, I can see that it does have a bit of charm. Maybe a tiny little bit! Still not my favorite quilt, but I am definitely not ashamed to call it my own. Or gift it. {Please, go snuggle up with this quilt and be happy.} Can quilts actually bring about happiness? I like to think so, if only for a short amount of time.
Closer look at the stitching
Did you want to see the back? I always buy discounted fabric for the backings and just sort of throw them together. This one isn't fabulous, but it does the job and the colors work very well with the front of the quilt--plus, plus.
'Cuz I know you want to see the back
Every time I finish quilting with a mix of both machine and hand quilting, I tell myself this needs to happen more often. It's super fast and looks perfectly acceptable for some quilts. Now I just need to convince myself to DO it...

24 comments:

  1. It's a delightful quilt! I can see why your daughter wishes it could be held on to, but the recipient is going to be very lucky! :)

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  2. Love it! I am going to have to thinking about mixing the two methods of quilting. It makes a lot of sense. I am sure the recipent is going to feel the love.

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  3. I definitely think quilts can conjure up happiness where (and when) it is needed. This one certainly fits the bill. It is a very happy quilt.

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  4. I love this quilt - the colors and the design. I too think combining machine and hand is exceptable when at one time I didn't, then I tried it out on a baby quilt and actually liked it and realized it was ok to mix it up a bit and it goes faster too.

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  5. Wonderful colors on this quilt, love it.
    Greetings,
    Sylvia

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  6. You're absolutely right, machine quilting does have its place in some of our quilts, especially for those baby and children's quilts that will get hard use, or for giftees who would never appreciate the time and effort that goes into hand quilting an entire large quilt. This one is totally charming in a happy and sunshiney kind of way!

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  7. Gorgeous, I love the quilted circles, it pairs beautifuly with the pinwheels.

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  8. I love EVERYTHING about this quilt! Good call on combining big stitch HQ with FMQ!! Love it!

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  9. Yes, quilts can bring about happiness! And at least twice - in the making and in the having. And in the viewing, in our case. Looking at it is certainly making me happy!

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  10. Very clever...I might try that sometime..hand with machine quilting,..I really suck at machine quilting but I could do straight lines like your border...Beautiful quilt BTW..love all the colors.

    Debra in Ma....a Bonniac.

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  11. It's charming indeed and quilts do bring happiness both to the recipient and the maker. The colors are bright and cheerful and the combo of hand and machine quilting is perfect. I find myself doing that more often.

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  12. That sure is a pretty, happy quilt! Love the spiral quilting you did.

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  13. I love the happy colours you've used in this quilt. I made a version in browns that is yet to be quilted. I think quilts make people happy especially when made by someone they know, and when they look as soft and cosy as your Playful Pinwheels.

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  14. I love your quilt! It is beautiful, and I like the combo of the hand and machine quilting. The spirals work so well with the pieced design! I can see that this one is outside your comfort zone as far as colors, but it's very charming and happy, and the lucky recipient will love it!

    That's cool that your daughter likes it too! Kids and parents don't have to agree on what the best quilt is - because they're all great!

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  15. A bit of charm??? I say a ton of charm. It's lovely, even if it was a little outside your comfort zone.

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  16. I love the cheery, colourful fabrics you chose for this quilt. Charming, playful, whimsical could all define your quilt. Lucky recipient, whoever it may be.

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  17. A very happy quilt! I love the combination of machine and handquilting with perle 8. I have done that on the wonky stars quilt I made for my daughter and it turned out great. Also a quilt that gets a lot of use, what quilts are made for.

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  18. Such a bright and happy quilt. I'm sure the new owner will love it.

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  19. What a lovely and cheerful Pinwheel quilt!

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  20. I would use a different word than "acceptable." I would say that combining hand and machine quilting is smart. These days I am all about choosing the right battles.

    It came out beautifully, I love the colours and the nine patch border looks really good too. Congratulations! I know it will be well appreciated.

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  21. Beautiful finish... heaps of charm here! I too enjoy a mix of hand quilting & machine, practicality combined with 'hand made' !

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  22. Playful and perfect. I like the hand quilted spirals, great touch.

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  23. It's lovely. And yes, I love seeing the backings.

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