Friday, April 06, 2012

finish it up Friday, week 22

Welcome to finish it up Friday! I hope you've had a great week of finishing!
I'm delighted to say that I am finally done with my rolling stone quilt! I had to push really hard to finish this one. It seems like this is all I've worked on for a LONG time....I'm glad I saw it through to the end!
After auditioning a bunch of thread colors, I decided to use two colors to quilt it...teal and natural. I needed to pick two because I didn't want the quilting (if I were to use only teal) to muddy up the blocks. On the other hand, I didn't want the natural to contrast with all that teal background. The solution was to quilt all the block pieces separately. Even with all the starting and stopping I had to do, I think it was a good choice. And it kind of looks neat on the back. I do love that lime green backing!

The pebble quilting was intense! It was very time consuming, but I did enjoy the process. Mostly. :) It was easy to work into the smaller spaces. It also uses a ton of thread. Thank goodness Connecting Threads spools are nicely sized. I estimate that I used about one whole spool of teal thread...1200 yards! (I started with a partial spool and ended with a partial spool, so I can only estimate...but it was a lot!)
The pattern is based on a traditional rolling stone block, and it's set on point. I love the almost circle effect of the block. The fabric is all from the Mod Basics line by Birch Fabrics. I think this was my first experience using organic fabric, and it is was very nice to work with. It quilted up beautifully. I'm excited to wash and dry it...the texture is gonna be FAB!

The quilt measures approximately 65" x 86", so a decent twin size. Did I mention that I'm so happy this one is DONE?  :)

Now it's your turn! Do you have a finish to share this week? If so, please link up to a specific blog post from the past week. Then go ahead and cheer on some other finishers as well. Happy Friday to you!


57 comments:

Susan said...

I LOVE your quilt! The pebble quilting is AWESOME!!

Gra said...

Beautiful quilt. Amazing quilting!

Aliceart said...

Love that quilting - I want to try it, but scary!
I just got a hold of your book, and love it. It's so wonderful the way you describe a project, and then discuss making it your own. The discussion about what makes a particular quilt work is so valuable to newer quilters, and is a great thinking point for the more experienced. The ideas easily transfer to other things you are doing or wish to do. Thank you for a fantastic book that did not disappoint!

Anonymous said...

Love your modern take on a traditional block -beautiful!,

Unknown said...

Your quilt is GORGEOUS! Those cirlces are wonderful ...but make me nervous! My machine seems to not like circles.... almost as much as I hate changing bobbins ;) Does this quilt have a special place?

Katie @SwimBikeQuilt said...

Ooh. It looks fabulous!

Jane said...

I love this quilt! I have done pebble quilting once and I love it, but goodness it uses up the thread!
Can I ask how you find the Connecting Threads spools? I have just ordered a heap and I'm having them shipped to Australia, because they are so much (about 1/4 the price) cheaper than anything here. I am just hoping like crazy they're good quality!

Karen said...

I love the quilt! I always feel obligated to put multiple borders on my quilts, but yours looks amazing with no borders at all! The pattern reminded me of card trick, and I think the rolling stone block and card trick would work well together. Thanks for sharing!

Shawn said...

Love it Amanda Jean, amazing pebble quilting, I would love to give this style a try. P esss, I've been using your soap recipe and love it, exchanged the fells naptha for some dove pink for some loads and love the way it works/smells too!

Northern Deb said...

The colors in your quilt are perfect, modern and traditional at the same time. I love it!

Quilting Grannie said...

Your quilt is very pretty. I still have not gotten another one started. But we did finish up a project--something to keep the robins from dive-bombing one of the windows in our sunroom! I would have thought they would have killed themselves, flying in to it head first, but they would just drop to the porch floor and do it again, as many as five times in a row! We got some painter's drop cloths and make curtains for the windows. I'll have pics on my blog in a few days. It looks great! And the birds are leaving the window alone.

Mrsblocko said...

Love love love the pebble quilting. Great choice for a great quilt.

Svetlana said...

What a gorgeous quilt!!! And that quilting is stunning, I love your choice of 2 threads, wonderful idea.

randi--i have to say said...

Very nice, Amanda! I do love the colors framed by that lovely teal solid!

Betsy said...

The pebble quilting is the most amazing quilting I have ever seen. Definitely a work of art!

Debbie said...

Just beautiful! I love that you used different thread colors. Very nice!!

Kat said...

I think you picked the perfect thread colors. The pebble quilting looks like it would take pretty much forever, but it's so beautiful when it's done. Maybe I'll get brave and give it a try one of these days. Beautiful finish, as always!

Rachel said...

Love, love, love it! Every aspect..Awesome!

M. said...

Very impressive! It turned out great!

Emily said...

Wow, that pebble quilting gives it SO much texture. Bet it's super snuggly now.

Kat said...

Happy Easter Holidays to you and your family!

beth said...

That quilting design must have taken FOR-EV-ER! Hope this is a special quilt for a special someone. The tag needs to read: This quilt took a really LONG time to make!

Esch House Quilts said...

Oooh - it turned out beautifully! I love the pebble quilting - I'm not sure I'd have the perseverance it requires :) I agree about the thread colors too - I don't like one color to dilute the other.

Maja said...

Fantastic work!
Love your quilting!!!

Terriaw said...

I really love how this quilt turned out. That quilting is so cool! I'm happy to report that I finally finished and released my second sewing pattern this week, for a Yoga Matt. Feels great to have some progress to share on Fridays!

Pétra said...

No finishes for me this week but I love how your quilt turned out! I have yet to really try pebble quilting but I love how it looks!

CitricSugar said...

Gorgeous! I'm not sure I'd be as dedicated to stop/start that much but the results are clearly worth it. What an amazing job you did!

I love seeing teal pop up all over the place as the new "neutral" background colour in quilts...

Michelle said...

Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous!

Jennie @ Porch Swing Quilts said...

The pebble quilting is just perfect. I just want to run my hands over it! Nice finish.

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

Your thread choice is perfect! I am yet to try the pebble free motion quitling - I shall have to give it a go! Thanks for the link-up :)

Heather D. said...

Your quilt is awesome, and I love the pebble quilting.

Sew Lovins said...

Wow that does look like alot of work, nice job! Thanks for the linky party:)

O'Quilts said...

great job!

Doris said...

Not quite a finish, but I'm hoping to by tonight!

Doris

p.s. your word verification HATES me.

JanetK said...

What a great quilt! The circles on point remind me of Viewmaster disks.

Angela {fussycut} said...

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Seriously.

Summer Killebrew said...

It's gorgeous! I love, love, love the pebbles! Great finish. :D

Kim said...

Delightful!
Please show us again after it is washed. Makes me want to try this quilting technique.

congrats on a really sweet finish

Becky said...

Your quilt turned out great--as they always do! So very pretty!

diane said...

Amanda, it's so beautiful! I love the pebble quilting--it does take a long time but it's so worth it. You said that this block is a traditional Rolling Stone block...can you tell me where to find the pattern? I think my house needs one of those quilts. :)

Lucy | Charm About You said...

So BEAUTIFUL!! That Teal was such a brilliant choice and the quilting is amazing - those pebbles were well worth it, you can just see all the work you've put into it! Stunning :)

Samantha said...

the carefully colored quilting paid off- it really shines!

Cherie said...

Love the quilt! The pattern is great! =D

Susan said...

Your quilt is great! I love that you chose two different coloured threads for the quilting. Too many times you see the backs of quilts ruined by a bad coloured thread! Not sure I'll get to checking out all those linked finishes!!!!!

Nicole said...

Ooh, I know that must feel good to get this one done. Congrats! It's lovely.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

That is a beautiful quilt and I love the quilting.

Mary said...

The teal is beautiful and I am very intrigued by the quilting. I tend to choose much more open designs. How does the intensity affect the drape?

Your work is simply beautiful, as always.

Sarah Craig said...

Beautiful quilt, Amanda Jean! I love your quilting - you have so much more patience than I do, to do all that pebble quilting! I missed out on the linky party - fell asleep on the sofa - but I hope you'll check out my daughter's finish this week - it's a really good one!!

http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2012/04/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-very-best-of.html

Have a great weekend!!

Dana C. said...

Another gorgeous finish for you, Amanda! Those colors are so pretty!

Paty Z said...

Your quilt is gorgeous!!! The quilting awesome!!! I would love to try it but is scary!!

Brittany said...

I love the quilting that you decided.

Artificial Grass said...

I love this kind of fabric designs.It look so beautiful and amazing.Thanx to share with us this kind of informations.This type of fabric designs are so beautiful look.

Thimbleanna said...

Congratulations CrazyMom! That's one AWESOME quilt!!!

lovin life said...

Did you do the quilting on a regular machine?? Wow. Must have taken a little longer than forever. Beautiful!

Mama Pea said...

It is just great. I love the lime background, too. I think you chose the right colors for the quilting. I've don pebbling before, too. It is time consuming, but the effect is so worth it. Great job! Can't wait to see it washed and crinkly!

Shelly said...

I love the quilting! Beautiful quilt!

patchworkdelights said...

Lovely quilt, just bought your new book, here in Dublin Ireland