Wednesday, May 25, 2016

sunny's quilt top

Our neighbor girl, Sunny, is about as sweet as they come. She graduated from high school last Friday and her dad passed away in January. So, for two reasons she needs a quilt! I had no idea what her tastes are, so a few weeks ago I invited her over to help pick fabric for her quilt. I would much rather have her input and make something that she likes rather than try to guess what she might like. (I did guess and I was terribly wrong. Hahaha!)
This was our initial fabric pull and she chose this pattern. I really couldn't envision it, but when that happens, I've found that the best thing to do is to start sewing!
Once I started sewing, I was able to edit the fabric pull down to my liking. It came together fairly easily! I was able to cut and piece all of the blocks in under 3 hours. Sweet!
Since the center squares are cut at 5", I pulled out a few charm packs that I have been holding on to for a rainy day. They worked SO well with this color scheme and they added a lot of variety that the quilt needed. What a happy pairing! See, if you hold on to fabric long enough, you WILL find a use for it. Ha!
I think this bike block might be my favorite! I love how the wide borders frame the center square. This is a perfect quilt for fussy cutting or novelty fabrics.
The background is Essex Linen. I did add one more row and one more column than the pattern states, and I skipped the side borders. I really like how it turned out! The quilt top is about 71" x 94".

Usually I have a hard time letting go of quilts, but I am seriously excited to give this one away! Oh, I suppose I should finish it first! :)

36 comments:

Daniela said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Daniela said...

As always, love your color choices. This is such a spring time quilt, makes me want to grab a book and sit on this quilt under a tree in the grass.

Alison V. said...

This is such a fun color combination!

Daniela said...

Love the colors!

Sarah@123quilt said...

I'm sure she will love it! I like that you had her input on the fabrics. I always worry about that when I make a quilt for someone.

Yanicka said...

It is lovely and the colors she picked are great

katybee said...

She's got a great eye. Love how these colors came out - very fresh and pretty in an unusual palette. She will love it all the more for having played a role in its design.

Denise - Jewelry By Denise said...

A cheery quilt, almost 'sunny' so seems it fits her perfectly!

Teri said...

Giving them away is definitely easier when you know they will be appreciated.

Laura said...

I've never cut and pieced anything in under three hours! Looks great, and what a lovely and thoughtful gift for your neighbor.

Patti Winfield said...

Love it! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Unknown said...

This pattern looks like it might go together quickly, so I'll use it instead of the "Tell Me a Story" to make a quilt for Kristin in honor of her kitty Portia who died recently. And I'll definitely fussy-cut the blocks. Just what I was looking for!

Robby said...

What a beautiful and thoughtful gift this will be. When I graduated HS, I was a little surprised at how many of my parents' friends extended good wishes and thoughtful gifts in a way that helped me feel like I wasn't moving to adulthood all alone. This quilt will be perfect for just that at a time when your neighbor might be feeling a bit more alone than most kids.

Mary Marcotte said...

Isn't it odd how we think maybe we know someone well enough to choose color for them, only to be surprised by their real likes. I bet you are more excited about giving the quilt away because you know she's going to love it. Her choices work really well together but piecing the whole thing in three hours is pretty amazing. You must have a nitrogen boost on your machine!

dispack said...

It is wonderful! What a fun, sweet neighbor you are!

josiekitten said...

What a lovely gift for Sunny. It is beautiful. I'm sure she will treasure it.

Jenny said...

What a lovey thing to do for your young neighbour! And it is so nice that she could pick her own pattern and colours - to make it completely her own.
Looking forward to seeing it finished id due course. No pressure, now, but knowing how you sew, guess it will be sooner than later.
Jenny from New Zealand

Maria said...

Love those colours for a young lady and the big cobblestone blocks come together beautifully. How nice of you to make such a lovely gift for your young neighbour...

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

It's beautiful. She's sure to love it.

Cut&Alter said...

How lovely this has turned out! I like the idea of asking her to pick some fabric rather than guess - I might do that for a couple of quilts I have to make for people in the upcoming year.

gigi said...

The quilt is beautiful and such a happy color combo. I wouldn't have envisioned it. What color is the Essex background? Thanks!

Julie Bagamary said...

Great quilt that will bless her so much!

Sarah @ Georgia Girl Quilts said...

I am crushing hard on this palette! What a great quilt!

Kate said...

Beautiful colours! :)

Suzanne said...

This color palate and the shapes of the blocks remind me of starburst candy. It leaves a lovely sweet taste in my mind. Eye candy, I tell ya!

Of course you made her a quilt. You are celebrating milestones with fiber goodness and well as sending her off on the next stage of her life with a hug. Knowing your story, the quilt makes all the more sense.

Jeneta said...

Beautiful! You are a fast mover (I'd love to complete a top in under 3 hours). I bet Sunny will treasure her special quilt forever.

Unknown said...

Congratulations to Sunny!!!!! What a happy quilt. Would you share your thoughts on Essex Linen? I've wondered how it quilts, pieces, unravels? Glad you let her pick out here own fabrics, I have a teenage daughter who has a very different (and probably better) eye for color than my own.

the momma said...

It's perfect for a girl named Sunny!! 3 hours?! Holy cow you are FAST!!
I'm going to be making a quilt for my niece next year, so I sent her to my pinterest board to see what she likes. She sent me back the link to the Epic Swoon Quilt (Have you seen that one?!) Fortunately she also sent a link to a not nearly so time consuming (but waay more than 3 hours!) other quilt, too. I'm thinking I may need a new pinterest board - I can have my dream quilts on one, and then have one with easy quilts to send to people I'm going to make a quilt for ;-)

Happy sewing ~ Tracy

Needled Mom said...

She is going to love it and it looks perfect for a young woman. Great fabric selections.

Unknown said...

What a thoughtful and lovely gift you are making for her. I love it!

Cathy Melancon said...

Such a fun and sweet quilt! Love the pattern and agree that the wide borders really highlight the center square! Best wishes to Sunny. I know it's hard to be both happy and sad at the same time. Your gift will certainly make her smile!

Melodee said...

I have shared with you before how much I love gifting my quilts. Just gifted a grad school quilt to a classmate of my daughter's. She tells me the quilts I made for her college roommates are still used and loved. Your neighbor will her cherish her quilt.

FlourishingPalms said...

It's darling, Amanda Jean! How generous of you to make it for Sunny. You're a wonderful neighbor, and I'm sure this will mean a lot to her. Great job!

Daytona Damsel said...

It turned out beautifully. What a blessing it will be. Please post the finished quilt. Debbie

Live a Colorful Life said...

What a sweet quilt. I'm sure it will receive much love.

Quilts and Such said...

Absolutely love this! So bright and happy!