Welcome to finish it up Friday!
Late last Friday night, I put the final stitches in my "oh my stars!" quilt. I still can't believe that I hand pieced an entire quilt....and I can't believe that it is actually DONE! I started the quilt back in April 2011 and it was inspired by Jess' travel quilts. (She has a video tutorial here, that I used to get started.)
After all that time invested in the top, I had to hand quilt it! I thought it would be a good winter project, but I ended up quilting most of it this spring and early summer. Funny how that happened! I basted it last fall, and I'm quite surprised that I sped through the hand quilting process that quickly.
For the fabric, I used 30's reproduction fabrics and polka dots...and I'm so glad that I made that choice early on. It definitely was the right choice! That pink star is feed sack fabric that came from my grandma's house. I love that there is some of that included in this quilt! I also LOVE that gingham bias binding!
...and especially pretty at the end of my bed! I'm determined that after all that work, I'm going to actually USE it! The quilt measures 62" x 82".
Now it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week. Thank you for joining me for finish it up Friday!!!
95 comments:
Gorgeous finish! I agree - if I hand quilted something of that size (or any size for that matter!) I would keep it. Well done :)
Oh Amanda it's BEAUTIFUL!! I remember you starting it and it's so lovely to see such a true magnum opus finally finished. It must hold so many memories both in the fabrics and over the course of the last few years. What a treasure- may it keep you warm and snug for many years!
Oh my goodness. This is so inspiring. It's beautiful, and I'm so encouraged to see something this big hand pieced AND hand quilted. I have epp hexies started and tucked away, but I'll think of this quilt the next time my hands are idle - I would love to inch away at a project and end up with something even half this beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
What an heirloom Amanda Jean! Happy that I was able to be inspired by your art all along the way!💕
heirloom is right ! There have been many quilts you have made that are my favourite but this is my favoritest.
Stunning quilt. There's something so satisfying about hand piecing a quilt
It's beautiful! I started one at the same time and still have yet to finish it. Maybe someday!
You've created a beautiful heirloom piece for your family. It is so, so lovely.
Such a gorgeous quilt! I really want to completely hand stitch a quilt just haven't found my motivation yet.
What a fantastic labor of love! Beautiful quilt and it's wonderful you have some history in it too. I especially loved that you are going to use it. Congrats to you on a wonderful, and useful, work of art.
What a fantastic labor of love! Beautiful quilt and it's wonderful you have some history in it too. I especially loved that you are going to use it. Congrats to you on a wonderful, and useful, work of art.
What a fantastic labor of love! Beautiful quilt and it's wonderful you have some history in it too. I especially loved that you are going to use it. Congrats to you on a wonderful, and useful, work of art.
I like the coral dots. It looks almost like a faded red which goes with the 30s reproductions.
Your stars quilt is beautiful. I've hand pieced one too but haven't got her quilted yet. . . someday it will happen.
pretty quilt!
It is a beautiful quilt! I think there's nothing better than a handquilted quilt.
What a beautiful finish! Your hand quilting looks so even and makes me think of my grandmother who taught me to quilt. <3
Congratulations on this incredible finish! All that work was so worth it. Love the fabrics you chose - especially sweet that you included some from your Gramma. The backing and binding are the perfect fit. And yes, that matched backing had to be!
What a fabulous quilt! I love everything about it.
Truly a wonderful quilt! I love the 30's fabrics. I have a whole bin that I've not yet decided how to use them. This is inspirational! And, I am looking forward to learning to hand quilt and making such beautiful heirlooms :)
What a beautiful quilt - and inspiring!! I don't have a great desire to hand-finish a quilt, but I am thoroughly impressed at the fortitude it would take to do so. Your quilt is an instant heirloom for your family and lovely to look at!
You got those polka dots just right! I'm seriously amazed.
beautifully done and love those matched dots! ;-)
Oh, sigh, I have a soft spot for handpieced quilty goodness!
I’ve made a couple of handpieced and appliquéd quilts now and the feel is so different from machine pieced ones. I wonder if you have experienced that as well?
What a fantastic finish! It looks lovely and oh my alll those tiny hand stitches. Do you keep running into the room to look at it? I would.
It is BEAUTIFUL! The hand stitching is perfect!
WOW Amanda! It very nice. Bravissima!
I love everything about this quilt! That it has fabric from your grandmother and is hand stitched is just icing on the cake. Beautiful. Yes, use it and enjoy it!
Stunning!!!
This is a true heirloom!
Love it!
AMAZING & BEAUTIFUL. Wow, great work. Love it.
So pretty! Great finish! We were amazed at the hand stitching. It looks lovely and something I do not have the temperament for.
What an accomplishment! Congratulations! It's beautiful. May you and your family enjoy it for many years to come.
You are truly a versatile quilter now, with this beauty under your belt......YOU CAN DO ANYTHING !
Seriously, congratulations....you did a wonderful job, and there's nothing like using such a work of beauty and finding yourself in awe as your eye falls upon ALL THOSE STITCHES, and knowing that you put each one in BY HAND ~.~
Now that I'm older and slowing down (or rather speeding up my quilting by doing it by machine), I'm so glad that I had the time to do so many by hand, and still have many of them to enjoy. Now, I'm impatient, afraid I won't finish them if I don't machine-quilt them.
It's absolutely gorgeous! Methinks I want to start a hand project of my own. You've inspired me! Love the gingham binding, and your polka dots lined up perfectly on the back.
Your star quilt turned out lovely! I so want to make one.
Congrats on the gorgeous finish. Anything in 30s has my vote!
This is SUCH an amazing quilt! I wish everyone could see it in person.
OH MY STARS!!! Looks like it came straight from my grandma's house.......LOVE IT! You are amazing!
Wonderful finish! I bet it feels fabulous to finish this project after all those years of hand stitching. Enjoy curling up inside it.
A beautiful quilt! And it looks lovely both on the sofa and bed. Glad you're using it. Too many people put their work away.
That is one amazing quilt! I wish I had that patience!
Gorgeous!!! That's certain to become an heirloom. :)
So pretty - hand pieced and hand quilted too! Congratulations on your hard work and perseverence!
Wow, so beautiful! That will be such a treasure for years to come. I'm working on an entirely hand pieced, hand quilted quilt too...it's a lot smaller though :)
A classic heirloom quilt - what an accomplishment Amandajean! I love how you have pieced and even quilted the edges too. Did you use the same background fabric throughout? It looks like some are cream and some in white in the photos.
I just adore hit s quilt! I dont blame you for keeping it. and I must say I always admire the way you photograph your work. You're onetalented lady!
You are such an inspiration. A weekly inspiration! Your stars are just perfect. The back as well. Thank you.
I like that, so glad you are actually going to use it! That is what quilts are really for!
What a wonderful 'finish'!! So happy to see someone put the time and effort in to do hand work. Congratulations. BTW, I'm a little weird in that I always match the pattern up on the back. Sally
Wow - beautiful labor of love!
Wow--wee! It is beautiful! I'm surprised you didn't figure out how many hand stitches you did to piece that top! :)
beautiful! Question, what type of needle do you use for the hand quilting? I've been hand stitching my binding on but finding that getting my needles to easily pierce the fabric is not going well. Suggestions?
This is a beautiful quilt! I love that you sewed it by hand.
What a sensational finish. And I geeked out a little about your backing. The whole thing is one giant wow.
Wow! Very impressive as well as very beautiful.
Absolutely Beautiful! All that hard work and patience really paid off in a big way. This is one your kids will fight over!
A great vintage repro quilt. The fabrics match a pattern from that would be from that era. Hand quilting and vintage repro prints compliment each other. Great job on matching points. Special to have fabric from a grandmother.
It's lovely. You should be very proud.
OH MY!!!! I adore hand stitched and pieced quilts. What an heirloom this is:) So happy and summery, like you! XX!
That is a beautiful quilt. I hand-pieced and hand-quilted the first quilt I ever made, about 30 years ago for my oldest daughter. With 4 little children running around, I found it difficult to find time to sit down at a sewing machine so making it by hand just made sense. I could sit in the same room where the children were playing while stitching away. A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of mending, re-backing and re-quilting the quilt with new batting in between (re-done all by hand, of course). It will always be my favorite quilt and to think it lasted 30 years before needing attention! Something about making a quilt all by hand makes it really special. I am sure you will feel the same way about this lovely quilt.
Congratulations on a fabulous finish! After all those years of hand stitching, taking the last one must be extremely satisfying.
You should be proud of yourself. The quilt is beautiful.
Hand stitching and quilting is such an amazing, soothing process and I'm so glad that you enjoyed yours. It is a reality check for where this craft that so many of us enjoy came from and creates a real affinity for the fabric and your effort. Beautiful job. Looking forward to see what's next on the hand stitching list!
Wow, So beautiful. :)
oh It's absolutely beautiful!!!
Congrats on a beautiful finish! Love the fabrics you chose.
Way to go, AmandaJean!!! Now to soak in all that accomplishment!! You've made a marvelous quilt!!
Beautiful I can almost feel the soft texture through the screen. I have a paper pieced star in 30s fabrics that I hand quilted and it remains one of my favorite quilts. Enjoy your finished quilt!
Wow it is beautiful!!
Just lovely!! And how nice to use it instead of having it carefully folded away for someone else to enjoy!
Oh my stars! That is one beautiful quilt. Love that you hand stitched and then hand quilted. A True Treasure! And awesome job on matching the dots.
So beautiful! What an accomplishment, I am in awe!
Look at those points! Check out those amazing hand stitches! I don't see a seam! And how about those polka dots all lined up! You are indeed geeky--the best kind of geeky!! What a fantastic quilt and well worth all the time and energy you poured into it!
I just loooooove this! My first quilt was a small throw size that I hand pieced from beginning to end. I loved the process. I think your quilt is wonderful. Did you use a hoop to tackle the hand quilting? This is what quilting is all about I think. Slapping together a top on your sewing machine and sending it off to the long arm quilter......it is just not the same. Mind you I have done a fair number of those as well, but there isn't the same satisfaction doing it that way. Congratulations on a great finish.
Wow. Oh, my stars certainly lives up to it's name, Amanda Jean. It's gorgeous! I love how vintage this quilt looks, from those feedsack fabrics to the gingham binding and then your wonderful hand quilting. I would want this quilt on hand to be enjoyed and admired every day of the week, it's that fabulous. Congrats on a much anticipated and beautiful finish, sweet friend.
You are a super star. This is heirloom workmanship and I hope you use it until it shows love like the velveteen rabbit.
Piękna narzuta w gwiazdy!!! Podziwiam!!!
Lovely quilt...a real winner....I have yet to quilt mine, but that will have
to wait for cooler weaather. Love your work, it inspires me alot.
Eileen in Spain
Oh how pretty. So happy you decided to hand quilt it after all that hand piecing. Debbie
What a winner! You did a fabulous job on all the hand work! I have yet to make one quilt all by hand. :P
Congrats on the hand quilting finish. I have been following along as the project progressed; I just love it! Is there a template for the diamond? I hand stitch out on the pontoon in the summer and this would be perfect for my next project.
Amazing, truly amazing!
A beautiful hand-made finish! Dont you love the thought that you have created an heirloom and years down the way your family will still treasure it for its history as well as its beauty. Congratulations! xx
Hand pieced! Totally deserves a quilting gold medal - you're a champion!
Congrats on your beautiful finish! The quilt is absolutely GORGEOUS!
Congrats on your beautiful finish! The quilt is absolutely GORGEOUS!
What an amazing and stunning finish!!! Way to go and Congrats on such a huge finish!!! And I totally agree, looks amazing at the bottom of your bed!
What an outstanding and inspiring finish. It's just beautiful!!
A super special finish... I love it!
Beautiful and I just love the you hand quilted it.
Your quilt makes me smile so much! I've so enjoyed watching the progress via your blog, and now to see the finished product with all that love poured into it! (Not to mention your grandma's authentic feed sack.) This is such a wonderful finish!
FAAAANNNNNTastic Crazy Mom! It's beautiful and hand-quilting was the ONLY choice. Congratulations on a great finish!
Absolutely amazing and so beautiful. I've been watching you make this little by little. What an inspiration.
What a beautiful quilt and such an accomplishment. Just love it.
Lovely finish!!! So great to see this quilt in person.
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