Pages

Monday, November 03, 2008

what a bunch of squares

This is the quilt that I was working on with the pieced binding. I didn't want to give away too many sneak peeks before the quilt was finished.
It was inspired by Denyse Schmidt's Lazy Gal quilt. This is the third quilt in this style that I have made. The first one is on my bed. The second (quilt top only) I swapped for fabric with Jacquie.

This just may be my favorite one of this style yet. There is no pattern for this...it's just free pieced. First I made the colored blocks, then I added white borders to make the blocks 16.5". I joined all 12 blocks together, then I added white borders (4.5" cut) around the edges of the quilt to make the squares pop. The quilt measures 57" x 73".

The white fabric is bleached muslin that I bought it at JoAnn's ($1/yard with a coupon.) When I first starting working with it I thought it was a little thin, but now I'm sold on this fabric. It's lightweight but strong. I love that it IS thinner, because it makes the quilting process so much easier-there are fewer bumps (where the seams join) to quilt over. And it doesn't fray like crazy, which is another huge plus in my book.
For the back I used solids with a strip of frog fabric that came from Carolyn. The solid green fabric was from a duvet cover set I bought at IKEA. The grey came from Mill End Textiles in Fargo. It's a PERFECT grey. Isn't that frog fabric fabulous??? It's from Alexander Henry. I love it. Thanks Carolyn!
I stippled the whole quilt in white serger thread (which happens to be 100% polyester-but I don't mind-I'm not a cotton thread purist). I like to use serger thread at times, especially if I don't want the quilting to look thready and stand out. It's a thinner thread, so it blends in, which is exactly what I was looking for.

I LOVE mixing designer fabric with lots of solids.
It's a great way to get a lot of bang for your buck.
Because let's face it, when you make a lot of quilts, that really matters.

I love a pieced binding...
and here it is all folded up. I haven't washed this one yet.
That's on the agenda for today!

I'm keeping this one.

86 comments:

  1. Love it - that frog fabric is to die for!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous11:21 AM

    So pretty -- I love the color of this one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. oooohhhhh.... pretty pretty pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Go Green!! and Gray.. You could almost call it double G quilt.:)
    No no I am just kidding.
    I love it. I have to agree about muslin from JoAnn's. I also like it because after I wash it it creates softer quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  5. i think this is my favorite quilt of yours yet! It is awesome! i love the colors grey and green together! it's fantastic

    ReplyDelete
  6. i love the quilt but i LOVE the back of it! another fabulous finish!

    ReplyDelete
  7. So the quilt cupboard is now at 46?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous11:39 AM

    What a beautiful quilt! I am so envious of your skill.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Green never looked so gorgeous! I absolutely love this quilt from it's bold design right down to its pieced binding. Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  10. mama urchin,

    this one was in the quilt cupboard photo...it's the eighth one down on the left hand stack.

    aj

    ReplyDelete
  11. LOVE this quilt!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I like the back just as much as the front.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love this quilt. I agree with Katherine Green never looked so good. It is motivating me to finish the one I have going. I have 12 black and white with red blocks.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  14. Another stunning quilt! I like the idea of mixing the designer fabric with lots of solids. Thanks for sharing that!! I don't make a lot of quilts, but designer fabrics cost app. $22 pr metre here.... -unless you are lucky and find a great sale!! So a little does need to go a long way sometimes ;-) I will keep this tip of yours in mind when I go fabric shopping!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love it! I love simple quilts that show off great fabrics. And the froggy fabric is definitely a highlight!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous12:14 PM

    Love the green and grey together. I would have never thought they'd be so complementary. As usual, a beautiful piece. You inspire me to try new quilting designs and color combinations!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Absolutely awesome! I love the green and the grey and the FROGS!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I totally love this quilt! I am dying to make one of this style of my own. Thanks for the inspirations!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Another beautiful quilt! I love it. What is the measurement of the king quilt on your bed? I think I need to attempt a quilt for our bed.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beauty! Glad your keeping it :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. You really need to stop inspiring me. I work so much slower than you and I still have the QUilt ALong quilts to actually stipple and bind!
    I LOVE the colors and the whole design. I really want to make it to add to my Amanda-inspired quilt cupboard! Maybe someday I can have one like yours!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Mmmm... so lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  23. i am glad you are keepint this one! i love the green.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love this quilt. I think I will try the bleached muslin fabric. Thanks for the suggestion.

    ReplyDelete
  25. You've got another beauty;) I've done pieced borders on the last 2 quilts that I've done and I love them.

    ReplyDelete
  26. It is divine! I want it!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous1:39 PM

    beautiful as usual and I love the grey for the backing.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh, it's gorgeous. Although you make the most beautiful quilts, I'd have to say this might be my favorite of yours so far!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love, love, love! Love the simplicity, love the mix of pattern and solid, love the mix of green and gray... yet another masterpiece from the master!

    ReplyDelete
  30. This is beautiful! Great job on this one, and I would definitely keep it too.:)

    ReplyDelete
  31. OOOOHHHHH!!! Just gorgeous!!! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Billye

    ReplyDelete
  32. Yet another one of your quilts that I *LOVE*. The combination of green and grey and white is so fresh and lovely. The back is brilliant too.
    Oh! I finally finished a quilt that I have been working on forever - using your hourglass tutorial. Here it is - http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgiamcdonald/2962991032/?addedcomment=1#comment72157608624202680

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love the green and grey combination, another fine specimen!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous3:43 PM

    That is one mighty fine quilt. I absolutely love it.
    I'm knee deep in doll quilts and a queen-sized quilt I'm making for my son's singing teacher in lieu of paying for his lessons. *sigh*
    I'm saving this to my favourites. The summer holidays are coming in a couple of months and this looks like the perfect sort of quilt for my bed.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love your quilt as usual. What batting did you use inside?
    Do you prewash fabric etc?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love it! I have some blocks sitting here, you've inspired me to get them finished! love the green!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Another gorgeous quilt Amandajean! Love monochromatic quilts - the solids and prints are lovely! The pieced binding finishes it off perfectly!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Green has always been my favourite colour, so this quilt of yours is just... so... perfect. It gives me hope that I will make a quilt for me... me... me!!!.

    ReplyDelete
  39. That green and white is so fresh and charming. I would keep it too!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I LOVE IT. Seriously. I LOVE IT. And I find that to be the most fun way to make a quilt... just have fun making it block by block without thinking about math! Really - it's so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  41. i love it, and the orange one on your own bed ~ beauties both!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Love that frog fabric! Too cute!

    ReplyDelete
  43. That's gorgeous. I'm constantly amazed at how quickly you work. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love the colour green. The quilt is gorgeous. Where do I find the pattern for it. I would love to have a go at making one. The frog print is cute too.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I am LOVING this quilt. I love that shade of green. So beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  46. kerri,

    there is no pattern. i just made it up as I went.

    aj

    ReplyDelete
  47. So pretty!! Love the combination of green and grey.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Anonymous6:21 PM

    Hi, I found your blog last week and have kept coming back every day since!

    I absolutley love that quilt! I've had something similar in mind for a while now, and when I see yours I really think I'll go for it! Just need to find the right background fabric :-) Thanks for all the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  49. I love the colour combinations! Such a pretty quilt. It's going to make a great addition to your cupboard!

    ReplyDelete
  50. What a pretty quilt. I love the green and grey color combo. I have also used serger thread for quilting. As a longarmer I have heard a lot of people warn against using serger thread but I have a few quilts done with serger threads that have been washed a lot and they hold up great.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Yes you definitely had to keep this one!! I love the idea of the plains with the fancier fabrics and you have just made me realise how I can put together a quilt I had in mind for a random bit of fabric. Thanks again - I think I'm about 30 quilts behind you now ;) !

    ReplyDelete
  52. I love this one. Glad you are keeping it for yourself! I think pieced bindings are a fun finish. Great job! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Anonymous8:21 PM

    Simply stunning!! I love this quilt!! It's soothing but still strong! You are an artist!! Enjoy your quilt(or give it to me) Libby

    ReplyDelete
  54. extremely cool!!!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I love this quilt!! The greens are beautiful and when set off by the white...just wonderful! The frog fabric is very unique and I love it! Another beautiful job...can't wait to try this method! Thank you for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Anonymous12:23 AM

    Its pieces like this that make me want to get brave enough to try a quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Love the quilt! Your ability to combine colors and fabrics is extraordinary!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Gorgeous quilt and quilting, fabrics, WOW!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Love it love it love it, I am a green kinda gal. How do you make those blocks a tutorial please please please please. Happy Stitching

    ReplyDelete
  60. love the colours – Love the gray, and love the froggy fabric. I agree with you, definitely a keeper :)

    ReplyDelete
  61. Anonymous7:47 AM

    It. Is. Gorgeous. I love all those greens, with the bit of gray. Fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Anonymous8:08 AM

    Oh, just fabulous! I love the green and gray combo and the simplicity of the back. It's just gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  63. how so you get such traffic, I love the blankets but there is more too it, How do you do it? Do you listen, is that it 65comments wow

    ReplyDelete
  64. Anonymous2:47 PM

    It's gorgeous! I love the colours!

    ReplyDelete
  65. Anonymous2:48 PM

    Wow, I really enjoy your site!!!! So much inspiration & so many beautiful quilts. Thank you for sharing & may you continue to be blessed with so many fans!!!
    Ms. Brenda (no blog)

    ReplyDelete
  66. I think this is my most favorite quilt of yours! I haven't used my DS quilt book lately...I need to pull that out again :)

    ReplyDelete
  67. found a comment by you on my blog from ages ago. though i'd stop by and see what you were up to. love the quilts! they are amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  68. Oh this is just beautiful. I just don't know how you do it all!

    ReplyDelete
  69. I am in love. The whole thing is wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  70. LOVE the green - this is gorgeous! I think you would be crazy NOT to keep this for yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  71. What a great and simple quilt! I wonder what it would look like using brights and black instead of white?

    ReplyDelete
  72. Anonymous7:53 AM

    saw this one on flickr the other day and favorited it right away. i'd keep it, too, if i'd made it!

    ReplyDelete
  73. You should keep it - it's wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  74. Can I just say I LOVE THIS QUILT! And that I just might have to copy it! I love that it's off...that it's supposed to be...and you only have to square up the big squares! *novice quilter warning here*...I can square up the big squares!
    Paula

    ReplyDelete
  75. I just found your blog...what an inspiration! Thank you for the time and effort you put into sharing your work. What do you use (machine wise) for your quilting?

    ReplyDelete
  76. Anonymous7:52 AM

    So pretty, I love the frogfabric.

    ReplyDelete
  77. danielle,

    I use a JUKI TL-98Q for quilting and piecing my quilts. I LOVE my sewing machine and would highly recommend it.

    aj

    ReplyDelete
  78. What type of sewing machine do you recommend for a beginner? tips? list of materials to start? love your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  79. I love that quilt! The colors are so perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  80. michelleb,

    I made my king size a little too small. It was 90" x 102". I wish it would have made it a little bit bigger. I forgot about shrinkage after washing. but it is barely big enough.

    the pieced blocks were 18.5" unfinished. the plain white borders on the sides (only) of the quilt were 6".

    aj

    ReplyDelete
  81. Anonymous9:56 AM

    Wonderful quilt! I just love your color combos.

    ReplyDelete
  82. I love this quilt!! I'm so jealous that you have Mill End Textiles close by. I use to live in Minnesota and I found fabulous inexpensive fabric there! I need a Mill End fix......no luck in Pennsylvania!

    ReplyDelete
  83. Agata6:39 AM

    Hi

    I love this quilt. I am trying to figure out which fabric you are using. Can you please take a look at the link below and tell me which on it is?

    Thanks
    Agata
    http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/category.jsp?_DARGS=/joann/catalog/supercatleftnav.jsp.15_A&_DAV=catName&_dynSessConf=-2749764116188527104&narrowSelection=true&categoryExpand=true&categoryfullPath=All+Products////product+home////fabric////muslin&CATID=cat2555&supercatId=cat2699&lftsuperCatName=muslin&subCatName=muslin

    ReplyDelete