Monday, April 14, 2008

blue


This is the 3rd quilt made for my monochromatic challenge. (Previously made: yellow and green.) I love making these quilts. I really do. I think that once I finish all the colors (still to come: pink, brown, cream, purple, orange, and red) I will start all over again. It's amazing how many blue scraps I had (a lot) for the amount of blue quilts that I make (very few). Still haven't figured that one out.
I used free-form piecing (my favorite), this time in a wonky court house steps pattern. Each block is about 15" square. I started this it during spring break about 3 weeks ago.
It has a pieced back, which I love!!!
I branched out with the quilting this time: no stippling, just a series of wavy lines.
I like the effect a bunch.
And polka dots for binding. Yay.

It measures 44" x 61". This one is going to reside in our very chilly and very blue basement. I haven't washed and dried it yet, but I am sure that will all the quilting, it is going to be one very puckery quilt.

Up next for the challenge (I had my son pick a random color out of a basket): brown. Hmmm.

63 comments:

Kari V. said...

I love the wavy lines. I'm going to have to try that myself. Thanks for sharing!!!

jacquie said...

I like the wavy lines too. Makes for a cool effect on the quilt. I love everything you make. Such an inspiration, you are!

Nanette Merrill said...

I love it. The quilting is so cute and I love the one color theme. I think using up scraps always makes me happy. Its like revisiting old friends again and feeling good about getting the most out of very expensive fabric. I have to tell myself that every tiny piece of fabric was worth $9.00 a yard or whatever at some point! Good job.

house on hill road said...

the wavy lines are excellent! i love how the whole thing turned out.

Robin said...

Lovely! I love how you quilted it too-- the wavy lines create a wonderful watery look. I'm really enjoying seeing your one-color quilts come together. Very inspiring!

Amy said...

I just love all of your quilts! How about a grey one?!?! You didn't list a grey one..I know I know grey? I think it would be lovely!
The wavy lines are my favorite thing about this one!

MeganZ said...

This is so pretty! I love the quilting and the polka dots!

Anonymous said...

I really like the wavy quilting.

May Kristin said...

This is another beautiful quilt!
The wavy lines are so clever!

Philigry said...

this is beautiful! i love the new quilting method! it looks great! can't wait to see the brown! i do love brown!

Heather said...

I really like the wavy lines. Very zen quilt to me. One day, I promise I will say something negative in these comments just to keep you humble ;)

Tine said...

The quilting is lovely, I like how the wavy lines contrast the straight lines of the pieced blocks!

Susan said...

I was thinking of using wavy lines on the quilt to be quilted next. After seeing yours I will definitely give it a try........

Thanks for the inspiration.

QuiltedSimple said...

I think so far I like this one the best - although I like all of yours a lot. I'll have to try the wavy lines. You are certainly motivated - you get lots done.

Kris

Unknown said...

I am constantly amazed at your talent and drive. You are positively creative!! I love your wavy line quilting and the blue looks fabulous!! I can't wait to see what you do in brown, what a great idea to have your son pick out the color.

Linda said...

I LOVE this one! I really, really love this one! :) J would love the fact that it is blue. He thinks everything in the world should be blue, especially the really vibrant royal and electric blue shades.

Sara said...

I am really liking these quilts that you are making. They are turning out very cute. Like the stitching you did on this one...the wavy lines are neat!

Roxanne said...

Loving the wavy lines too! Is this still "free-motion" or did you use a regular foot? Hmm, brown, I'm excited to see what you come up with!!

dutchcomfort said...

I love the wavy lines, love the blue, love the back, love the binding... Lo-ve-ly Lo-ve-ly!

lera said...

Polka dot binding???? Where does the madness end?? You are killing me! In a very good way, of course. (Love the back, too, with the narrow strip.) Fabuloso!

Danetta said...

Wow. You are starting to leave me speachless.

Anonymous said...

Yay!!

Oiyi said...

I love the pieced back, too.

Rebekah said...

very pretty! I love the pieced back and your free motion quilting pattern : )

Donna said...

Nice. I'm going to try those wavy lines on one of my upcoming tops!

Amanda Jean said...

roxanne,

about the quilting...I used my walking foot, just in a free motion kind of way. it's lots of fun and pretty easy.

amandajean

Jodie said...

The wavy line quilting is fantastic - truly gorgeous.

Debbie said...

I think that I like that you are so free with your piecing AND your quilting...it gives the rest of us hope that we can also not be so rigid and go by the rules. I also like the size of quilts you do--very usable...not always for "a bed."
I love looking.....

Anonymous said...

The blue quilt turned out great, too! I'm really looking forward to brown.

Kim said...

very pretty- I was thinking of doing the bento boxes from yesterday in blues and creams - now I'm not sure

Lisa said...

Beautiful! I love it! love those wavy lines!!!

Sherry said...

Love the quilt and the wavy line quilting. I found a tutorial awhile back for wavy lines quilting. I believe it was at Acorn Hill Quilts (Rhonda Dohna) but haven't tried it yet. The pieced back looks great too. And a big woohoo for the polka dot binding. Great job!

Liz said...

I love everything about that quilt! Do you own a long arm?

Amanda Jean said...

liz,

I do not own a long arm. I quilt all my quilts on a JUKI sewing machine. it does very well!

amandajean

Kieny The Dutchlady said...

I love everything about this quilt. The pattern, fabrics, colours and quilting it all looks great!

Alice Grace said...

Beautiful! I love the blue, and the polka dot binding! All your work is so wonderful!

Linda said...

I love the blue quilt, it looks great...I have really enjoyed seeing your monochromatic quilts. I can just imagine seeing the rainbow at your house when you have these quilts stacked up together...You do lovely work. Quilty hugs, Linda

Amy Jo said...

love the quilting. It really came together well, but I knew it would! Well Done.

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Great quilt and especially liked the way you have quilted it....

QuiltNut Creations said...

love love love this! the wavy quilting lines are fantastic!

Marcia said...

You never cease to amaze me! Wow!
I wish I used my "free" time better. The wavy lines look great on it.

Jodie said...

The wavy quilting looks amazing... I love the pieced back too..

Jodie :)

Anonymous said...

I like the quilting lines!!!

honestly... how many quilts do you have in your home?

Sarah said...

Love the quilting, especially! These monochromatic quilts are so gorgeous.

Solidia said...

Lovely quilt! Love the shades of blue and the wavy quilting. How on earth do you find time produce so many beautiful things? Please share your secret! :)

Andrea said...

I've been watching your progress for the last few weeks, and have finally decided to introduce myself and tell you how much I admire your work! I love the wavy lines, it looks really neat ! Your colour schemes are so beautiful in all the work you do.
How do you manage with kids? (I have a 5 and 2.5 yo boy)
Do you prewash your fabric? How do you wash your quilts to get that puckering? I've just completed my 3rd quilt and am a little nervous to pop them in the wash!

Best wishes - you're a great inspiration to me!
Andrea

Bee said...

Oh I just love it:) Blue is my favorite color!

M said...

I love the wavy quilting and the back, LOVE the back. Great job !

Anina said...

Your wonkiness sure is straight! Very pretty. Pieced backs are so cool! And you get to use up scraps of fabric. I love the wavy quilting.

Chara Michele said...

Oh I love this one! The pieced back looks wonderful.

Katherine said...

I love your latest monochromatic quilt, Amandajean. I love the colour, the scrappy goodness of all those fabrics, the wavy quilting lines, the pieced backing and those polka dots for the binding are the perfect finish. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

Unknown said...

Hi there - thanks so much for sharing your life with all of us! I love the wavy lines - I have been working on stippling but may give this a try before hand - on a quilt. I just have on question - Have you ever gone back and done more quilting after finishing with the binding? Thanks!

Amanda Jean said...

Amy,

I don't think I have gone back and add more quilting to a quilt once the binding is on, but I have considered it a few times. I don't see any reason why you couldn't as long as you don't stitch over the binding at all. if you give it a try, let me know how it works out.

amandajean

Amanda Jean said...

andrea,

I don't prewash my fabric (unless it's a red that bleeds)...and as far as getting the puckering, just wash and dry your quilt with the regular laundry (I always use cold water) and it should be plenty puckery. i was hesitant to wash my first several quilts, too. I was always amazed that they came out in one piece. :)

thanks for your kind words!
amandajean

dottycookie said...

That is really gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Okay, one more question from someone starting their first quilt! I just read that you do not prewash your fabric. I just assumed that everyone prewashed fabric so I did. Will that make my quilt not so puckery? I love the puckery look of your finished quilts so I sure hope I didn't ruin it!!

And I love your quilts, you are truly amazing! You have even inspired me to make one of my own. I'm so excited (and a little nervous!) to get started. It took me forever to plan out the design and I think I've finally narrowed it down after changing my mind 10 times! We'll see how it goes!

Di said...

I love this quilt! The colours are great and the polka dots just make it!

Amanda Jean said...

kristy,

don't fret if you already prewashed your fabrics. your quilt will still come out of the wash puckery because the batting will shrink up during the wash/dry cycle. maybe just a bit less, but I have a feeling that it will come out just fine.

amandajean

sulu-design said...

Okay... this is getting ridiculous - I saw the lemonade quilt that you posted the other day and thought, "This is amazing. It's one of my favorites yet." Then you go and top yourself with this. Blue being my favorite color and the monochromatic approach being one of my favorite approaches of yours, put this one at the top of my current favorite list. Wow, lady!

Barb said...

Can I ask yet another question about the wavy lines...where do you start sewing? In the middle?

Christy said...

I really like the wavy lines quilting. So cool!

GranthamLynn said...

Wow you amaze me. I love the quilting too.
Do you have a quilting tutorial. I am still looking at your finished projects.

Unknown said...

I hope you're able to still receive comments, eventhough this post is a few years old! I've wanted to make a courthouse design for my son, and my WIP's are finally down to 2...so time to start another! ;) But I LOVE the wonkiness of this design! How did you keep the pattern so even with the different width strips? Did you add a row, measure and cut; repeat? Or did you eyeball this (please tell me you didn't! ;) Thanks for any help you can offer!

(I sent you an e-mail, too...in case you don't get comments to "old" posts...sorry for the bombardment, just want help! ;)

Lara