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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

I'm ready to call myself a quilter now

spiderweb quilt-complete
Yes, all because my spiderweb quilt is finished! This quilt is about as close to an heirloom as I'll ever make, I would imagine. I generally love simple quilts, but I love the intricacy of this one. LOVE it!
It was in progress less than 2 years, (started Oct. 2008) but it sure feels like it took longer than that. I thoroughly enjoyed piecing this quilt. Every single bit of it. All the colored pieces are scraps. It's hard to believe I've used that many different fabrics in my day! Most of the white pieces were scraps as well. That's not as hard for me to believe. :)

The quilting had me intimidated to no end. I thought it was going to be ridiculously hard because the quilt top itself didn't lay flat. Starting out at a deficit in that area isn't a good sign. Besides, some of the intersections have 8 layers of fabric in them. Just look at all those seams! So I basted this quilt heavily, using 9 or 10 pins in each block. In the end, the quilting went super duper smooth. It was amazing. I felt a little foolish because I was so intimidated by it for so long. I have grown to LOVE my walking foot in the process. Immensely.
Here's a shot with the backing and binding. My local quilt shop owner did a fabulous job at picking out these fabrics. Fabulous! Do you wonder why I love her taste? Polka dots and stripes! They are the perfect compliment to the quilt top.
Here is a shot of the back where the quilting lines form a star. What a fun little surprise!
It measures 66" x 88", so a perfect twin size.
The tutorial can be found here.

I'm pleased as punch that it is done!
You can bet that I'll be sleeping under this one tonight.

173 comments:

  1. AmandaJean, It is magnificent. What a wonderful quilt. I too love scrappy quilts, just seeing all the bits and remembering where each one came from, or what project it was used in, is a treasure. Great idea on the quilting!

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  2. Beautiful! I gave a spider web quilt on my "someday quilts" list.

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  3. Amazingly beautiful. that's a lot of different fabrics!

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  4. Wow, wow, wow. Heirloom, for sure! What a treat to have that quilt. Congrats on the MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR finish!

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  5. WooHoo!!!! It's done! I LOVE IT!!!!! I have been waiting for this one. My spiderweb is one of my favorites, too, but mine isn't nearly this large. Well done, my friend!

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  6. that is unbelievable! congratulations on a fantastic finish ;)

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  7. Your quilt is stunning! I've never been a big fan of scrappy pieced quilts but this quilt has completely changed my mind about trying one. Love!

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  8. Well done on your finish!! I love your version of this quilt. Making one of these is on my quilting bucket list. Thanks for the link to the tutorial...I will take a peek...

    In stitches,
    Teresa :o)

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  9. It *is* an intricate quilt, and quite nice at that. Congratulatons on a beautiful heirloom :o)

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  10. Wow, that is super impressive, great job! Love all the color!

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  11. Woweeee! It's just gorgeous!!! I don't know about it being your only heirloom quilt though - i think any handmade quilt is heirloom-worthy. :-) I love to think about that when I am sewing one...imagining someone in the future running their hands over a quilt and thinking that Great Great Granny Georgia made this. Hehe!

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  12. I can't believe you are done already! I think the dots and stripes are perfectly understated for this top--so glad you kept your stash piece for your quilt-a-long.

    What an all-around impressive piece of work. Love the surprise stars, too :)

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  13. congrats, Amanda! It's totally awesome. Great work!
    This spiderweb quilt has been on my TO-DO list for a long time.

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  14. so totally love it!!!! yeah you!

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  15. Your quilt is absolutely beautiful!!!! I love it, and I am so glad that you love it, too. Great job!

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  16. Congratulations -- it's awesome! I'm ready to call you a *marvelous quilter*! :)

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  17. So beautiful! But you have been a quilter all along, this just affirms that!

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  18. I love it! What a wonderful quilt-I love dots and stripes myself.

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  19. Hi AmandaJean. I just love your quilt. Congrats on such an awesome finish. Great job!

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  20. Congratulations! It's so fun to finish a quilt.

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  21. Amazing and beautiful! I agree, an quilt should be an heirloom.

    Can you say more about how you quilted it? I just finished a top that has a geometric pattern out of strips and I wanted to quilt it in straight lines, somewhat similar to this. This will be the first time I didn't do a meandering free motion pattern. Are you saying you used a walking foot, not a free motion foot? How does that work?

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  22. Wonderful quilt. I love it!

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  23. I hate to break the news, but I think a lot of us out here have known you as a quilter, a genious quilter, for a long time!
    It's a real beauty

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  24. Amazing job. Very well done. You should be proud of yourself.

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  25. I love the quilt! The binding is absolutely perfect.

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  26. Hooray! What an accomplishment! It is absolutely beautiful!
    I started a spiderweb a few months ago and lost steam, had to put it away for awhile because it was driving me crazy! But I think I'm ready to get it back out soon. You've inspired me!

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  27. Anonymous7:29 PM

    OMG...how gorgeous!!! And your straight line quilting adds so much to it...just brilliant!

    Sue

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  28. ohhhhhh, Amanda Jean...this is absolutely gorgeous! The pattern, the fabrics AND the quilting. YAY! A job well done...you should be very proud...and, of COURSE, you are a quilter! Never a doubt here!

    By the way, you are right...your shop owner chose the perfect binding and backing!

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  29. Congrats on finishing such a beautiful quilt!

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  30. I've considered you an amazing quilter for quite some time now so that's not news to me! This quilt is absolutely amazing and what makes it even better is that you love it and loved making it. It definitely shows! Just gorgeous!!!

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  31. Katie7:31 PM

    This is beautiful! I especially love how the intersecting lines created the stars in the quilting. I'm always inspired when I read your blog!

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  32. Magnificent Amanda Jean. It sounds like it was a labour of love and I'm not surprised you'll be sleeping under it tonight. Enjoy!

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  33. Absolutely gorgeous!!! An heirloom, for sure, but enjoy it yourself for now.

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  34. i am pretty sure you could have called yourself a quilter before now...you are so amazing at whatever you do! this is lovely. i love the straight quilting and that cute little star in the stitching.

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  35. It's absolutely stunning. Congratulations.

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  36. Congratulations on such a wonderful finish! It is really gorgeous. Yes, you really ARE a quilter....well, in my opinion you were already tops!

    A spider quilt will go on my list, but at the botton and it will be much smaller than this.

    Hugs, Karen

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  37. it's amazing! i love it too.

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  38. There isn't anything I can say that hasn't been said already above about this quilt Amanda! Enjoy it forever!

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  39. Congratulations!!! It is absolutely beautiful. I am so glad your sleeping with it tonight. :)

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  40. Wow! That is amazing!

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  41. You crack me up - as if you haven't already been an official quilter! This one, though, is just stunning! I love everything about it, from the scraps, to the backing and binding, to the quilting. Love how that quilting turned out on the back too. So gorgeous!

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  42. amazing quilt! i love the colourful effect and playfulness of all those scraps, the white just makes it look fresh and fun. great work!!

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  43. It is gorgeous! What an accomplishment!

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  44. Wow, I am so impressed! It is beautiful. The quilting adds visual interest as well as all the fun fabrics!

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  45. Love it! LOVE the quilting! Everything about it is perfect. Congrats!

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  46. It's gorgeous Amanda. It really is.

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  47. 'tis amazing !!! enjoy your heirloom .....

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  48. how amazingly beautiful! Congratulations - what a treasure!

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  49. Scrap quilts are my favorite! I just made a baby quilt with 123 different fabrics. I can't wait to start one of these! You're scrap quilts have been a real inspiration and I refer to your blog all the time! Thanks for sharing - this quilt is just beautiful!

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  50. Isn't it amazing when a heap of leftovers can become so beautiful all on their own? Great, great job!

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  51. It came out beautifully! I've been tuned in for posts about this quilt ever since you started it, and am in the process of my own as well. It's been worrying me in the back of my mind how to quilt it, but I love your solution and am so much less daunted and more excited to work on mine again! Not looking forward to all those pins though!

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  52. Gorgeous! What an accomplishment, and for the record, you WERE a quilter before . . .

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  53. My favorite quilt so far!!! I absolutely love how it's quilted.

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  54. Absolutely beautiful! I definitely have to add this to my "someday" list.

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  55. Incredible! And fascinating that you now call yourself a quilter. You need to give yourself more credit, but I totally get that too.

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  56. Amanda, this quilt is gorgeous!!! You did a marvelous job on it!! Congrats on a job well done!

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  57. This quilt makes me want to never ever throw ouy any tiny small itsy bitsy piece of fabric ever again! Love it to death!!!

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  58. kmodich9:22 PM

    When I first saw this quilt, I didn't think I liked it. Now that it is done it maybe, in my opinion, the best quilt you've done. I like how quilts transform until the last second you are done with them. Everytime I finish a quilt I sleep under it the same night! I like waking up and seeing it first thing.

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  59. Great job! You should definitely be proud of yourself. Very impressive and pretty.

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  60. That is absolutely gorgeous and you have every right to feel so accomplished! It takes a lot of determination to see a project like this one through to the very end. Bravo!

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  61. That is seriously impressive!! Congrats!

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  62. Breathtaking. That needs to be hanging on a wall for show.

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  63. i love this quilt! it inspires me to attempt a spider web quilt one day!

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  64. Absolutely beautiful quilt! ...and I have to admit, even though I voted for the other backing, the polka dot is perfect. And I love the striped binding too!! Good job.

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  65. Anonymous9:58 PM

    That is one amazingly fabulous quilt!! Hooray for you! :D

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  66. Anonymous10:06 PM

    Amazing! You are truly talented :)

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  67. I remember when you showed your first blocks way back when. Now that it's done, it is fantastic! I think you could call yourself a quilter WAY before this one! :)

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  68. It is simply gorgeous! Of course, I would've called you a quilter way before now but I totally get it.

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  69. Congratulations, it's beautiful!

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  70. Really stunning...that will be a heirloom. Pat yourself on the back as you deserve it.

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  71. Fantastic!!!
    as always!!

    xo
    eva

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  72. Yay! You did it! I was wondering when you'd finish this; I'd been eyeing this on your sidebar (last year) for awhile...

    Once again, congratulations! It looks fabulous. :)

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  73. Oh my, oh my! Just beautiful! Makes me want to get back to the one I started last year.
    Congrats on finishing yours!

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  74. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this quilt! LOVE.IT. I And the dots on the back and the stripes on the binding. Genius.

    I'm pretty sure you were already an official quilter before this quilt was finished!

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  75. This is absolutely fabulous!

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  76. Beautiful! Something you should be very proud of and enjoy.

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  77. This quilt is amazing! It *almost* makes me want to try a string quilt. ;)

    And I love your straight line quilting. I've seen several string quilts with custom free motion quilting or meandering, but I think I like your quilting the best! (Another idea to file away for the string quilt that I'll never make! haha!)

    It's always nice when you can "quilt away" those waves in quilts, isn't it? :) Been there, done that!

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  78. Beautiful! I love the quilting you did on it, too. Congratulations on a beautiful finish!

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  79. Very beautiful quilt. I like your quilting design.

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  80. This is an absolute work of art and love. And it's wonderful that you used scraps, so each "web" will remind you of so many other quilts, some of which you probably gave away. You've inspired me to think about making a scrap quilt for that very reason.

    Yay for you! And thanks.

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  81. Fantastic quilt!

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  82. That's fabulous, well done indeed!

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  83. Great job, wonderful quilt, you're really a quilter!

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  84. It's gorgeous and I'll bet you slept peacefully knowing that your little beauty is complete. A bright, colourful heirloom - what a joy.

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  85. Congratulations, AmandaJean! It is beautiful and I love the way you quilted it! Thank you for sharing. I want to make myself a big (twin) spiderweb, too!
    Did you piece this one on paper?

    ; )

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  86. Amazingly beautiful quilt. I love all the brights against the white and you are right about how great the spots and stripes look. Well done!

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  87. Very well done indeed; no wonder you are so very pleased--you have every right to be ... and you tackled those pesky seam intersections beautifully. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

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  88. Congratulatons! it is incredible!

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  89. Congratulations! It's awesome. A string spider web is on my to do list...
    I love the quilted star surprise on the back as well.

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  90. This is a testament to commitment! Well done. I love the quilting and especially the surprise stars. You have a great ability to remind us that quilt projects can be broken into bite-sized pieces to make them less overwhelming. Almost two years in the making and look how worth it! Congrats.

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  91. You quilt is beautiful! You should be very proud. I love the quilting you did - simple and not over done!

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  92. Holeee Cow! Ya know, I never much cared for these spider web quilts, but YOU have changed that -- yours is beautiful! This isn't the first time you've done that either -- you have the most amazing eye Ms. Crazy. Love it. It's GORGEOUS. Congratulations on yet ANOTHER fabulous finish!!!

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  93. Absolutely FANTASTIC! I don't know if I'd have the patience for this one.

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  94. It's BEAUTIFUL!! Congratulations to you for getting it done.

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  95. Beautiful work! A great finish!

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  96. Wow! That's absolutely beautiful. Lots of hard work that you will really enjoy. Very nice.

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  97. OMG, it's beautiful!

    I hope you have it someplace where you can just look at it and pat yourself on the back whenever you walk by.

    Congratulations on the finish!

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  98. What an absolutely wonderful quilt. I just love all the colors. You did an amazing job.
    Congratulations!!

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  99. Gorgeous! Congratulations on completing it!

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  100. Congratulations on getting this one done and quilted! It's amazing! I love the stars on the back too - so much fun.

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  101. I'm so glad you conquered your fears and ended up with a beautiful heirloom quilt! It's fantastic!!!

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  102. This is amazing!!! I hope to make one of these one day! Maybe I will start it at my next quilt retreat. That is only 6 weeks away...

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  103. It's gorgeous! It definitely has that heirloom quilt feel. I love the star that the quilting made. You're definitely a great quilter. It's funny you said that, as I was cleaning thread out of my vacuum I was thinking about the time we had company over and there were threads on the floor in various parts of the house. My husband said that's what happens when you live with a quilter. Who me? After so many quilts it's funny how I still didn't feel worthy of that title. You are a quilter!!!

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  104. Supremely beautiful! Just lovely. I'm in awe.

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  105. Absolutely gorgeous....no other way to describe it!

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  106. Hooray, hooray........a job well done and happily FINISHED !

    Just wonderful !

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  107. That is truly a masterpiece--you should be proud as all get out!!

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  108. You rock, girl! Congrats on an AMAZING finish. I do love it, thinking about making one, but there's no way I can start something new. Right? This is just the sort of intricate quilt I am drawn to -- and never finish. Love, love, LOVE yours. I have a ton of scraps.

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  109. Wow, you go girl! It is great! I'm impressed that you can remember when you began. I can't recall what year I started mine...

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  110. Anonymous11:53 AM

    Love how your quilt turned out; I'm making the same one with a yellow center, but am only about half way through the piecing. Pls tell me how you quilted it so that you had a stars on the back. Did you just stitch quarter inch in from each seam?
    Always so much inspiration in your blog.
    thanks, Jam

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  111. Wow. You'd better be mighty happy with this one!!! I think it'd take me a lot longer than two years to complete one :-). It's awesome.

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  112. Gorgeous! I have a spiderweb WIP, too, and you have inspired me to work on it tonight!

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  113. Splendiferous! And a quilter is one who quilts, so you have been one for 10 years.

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  114. Anonymous2:59 PM

    WOW - that's one beautiful quilt. You did a wonderful job on this. I love scrap quilts. I have this one on my bucket list. And I know the feeling of having a top done and then I am afraid of quilting it, don't want to ruin it. Thanks for sharing.
    cindy

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  115. I love this. It is so cheerful, and great choice in quilting, too.

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  116. Anonymous3:34 PM

    It is just lovely. yes, you can proudly call yourself a real quilter.

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  117. Wow, Amanda Jean, another beauty! But if you are just calling yourself a quilter now - egads, what am I?:) You are amazing!

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  118. that is an amazing quilt. heirloom quality for sure. i love the way you quilted it! i love the fabrics! i love everything about this quilt! thanks for the inspiration. im saving my scraps for this one too. ill get back to you about it in probably 5 years, lol!

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  119. I remember when you started this quilt - right about the time I started reading quilting blogs. And I bookmarked that tutorial because I was so in love with your blocks.

    Well, I have yet to start that project, but I've sure enjoyed looking at yours. Congratulations on a very fine accomplishment. :)

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  120. That is a beautiful quilt!!! The time and work that went into it were well worth it!

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  121. It's so beautiful! I love to come to your blog to see what you're working on. Congrats on finishing it!

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  122. Anonymous9:57 PM

    Congratulations - it really is gorgeous!

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  123. I *L*O*V*E* it!!!
    :o)

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  124. Truly stunning! Maybe the quilting went so smoothly because you pinned so well :)

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  125. Personally, I thought you were already a quilter! Gorgeous quilt - congratulations on making it and finishing it :)

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  126. Wow! It looks great. Did you work on it consistently--daily, weekly, monthly-- from the time you started to the time you finished?

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  127. Wow. And wow again looking at the stars formed on the back! And yes, great picks from your friend at the quilt store, but this is a masterpiece that you get the credit for!

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  128. I love the spiderwebs! Thanks for linking to the tutorial. It looks like fun, I will probably add one of these to my list of future projects!

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  129. You have a right to be proud. Your quilt is a masterpiece:)

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  130. Wow. Amazingly beautiful.

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  131. Congratulations ! This quilt ist absolutely great.
    Carola

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  132. You should be pleased as punch - it's spunky and fun!

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  133. Oh, so you're a quilter now, huh? What is it you've been doing all these years?
    I'm blown away by the work on this one, Amanda Jean. The intricacy of it, the quilting lines, the colors... bravo.

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  134. mika in ATL9:34 PM

    oh my - I would die for something like this. Absolutely gorgeous! Congrats.

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  135. This is so beautiful! I love scrappy quilts because each little piece of fabric reminds you of the specific projects you originally bought them for...it's like a big scrapbook of memories you can sleep under!

    You did a fabulous job and those 2 years of hard work really paid off!

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  136. Wahoooo! Honey, we've been calling you a quilter for a long time now, so it's about time you did too! :) Love it. The surprise stars are my favorite!!!

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  137. That turned out beautifully!!

    (and if you're not a quilter I'm not sure who is...when quilt designers mention you on their blogs during Market you HAVE to be legit!)

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  138. Just now a quilter? HA! Love how it turned out!! Great job.

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  139. This is truly an awesome quilt!! I've been wanting to make a spider web quilt and this was definitely inspiration to get the wheels in motion.
    Thanks so much for sharing.

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  140. What an amazing quilt! I want one ;0)

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  141. Hi Amanda,

    Just wanna know how does it looks after washing? Does it have the crinkly looks like the normal stippling effect?

    Thanks!

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  142. Beautiful quilt, and you did a fantastic job of quilting it.

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  143. Standing ovation. In fact, standing on a chair ovation. Congratulations! I'm especially impressed with the quilting through all those layers! You are my hero.

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  144. I'd say you're definitely a quilter! It's gorgeous!

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  145. The quilt is AWESOME!!! Isn't Bonnie Hunter great for putting all those tutorials in here site?

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  146. It is gorgeous - congratulations on finishing such a beautiful masterpiece!!!

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  147. Someday I hope to take on the spiderweb challenge...just not yet! That is such a time consuming project! Great job...it is amazing!

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  148. You should be proud of it, this one is divine. The colours are beautiful and I adore that stripe binding and the dotty backing. The quilting brings it all up a treat. Fabulous quilt. xo

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  149. GASP AMANDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't decide if I want to use stunning, beautiful, breathtaking, work of art or magnificent. I need to use all of them... what a stunning, beautiful, breathtaking, magnificent work of art!!!

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  150. Oh, it's absolutely stunning! I love, love, love it! I am uber-impressed with the end result - the colors, the backing, the binding, the QUILTING! It is fabulous... : )

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  151. Love this quilt!!!!!!!! You did a wonderful job, CONGRATS

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  152. I like the quilting you did! What a fun quilt!

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  153. That quilt is beyond fantastic!! You are inspiring me to get off my can and get one of those started.

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  154. This is a breathtakingly stunning quilt. I love, love, love it! Congratulations on completely such an intricate and massive project!

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  155. Absolutely Gorgeous! And a wonderful display of scraps. As always I am completely impressed!

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  156. This is a gorgeous quilt! It is definitely on my list of quilts to make!

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  157. that's gorgeous!!!!!! and congratulations! now, i always considered you a quilter, you are like, the master of all spiderwebs quilter!!!

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  158. What a beautiful quilt!

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  159. Its size is part of the reason it's so amazing. How big is it?

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  160. I thought you must have planned those little stars - so cute!

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  161. Stunning! I am hoping to quilt my spiderweb quilt the same way :)

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  162. Amanda Jean I just love your blog! I have been following it for a while now. This post inspired me to make my own spider quilt. I have just started my own blog, still trying to get the hang of it. So much to learn, but really fun. Next week I am going to post about the spider quilt and will link back to this post. Thanks for all the inspiration! Lisa

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  163. Congratulations on such a wonderful finish!! I absolutely LOVE it and I'm glad you're pleased with it, too and are using it-- ENJOY! Thanks for posting the tutorial for it-- I'll definitely add that one to my future projects list!!

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