Project: White Diamonds Quilt

The second quilt I was asked to make for my friend's sister as a Christmas gift. A picture of the inspiration. This quilt originally had 40 blocks total and made a lap sized quilt but I was asked to make it a full. I then drew it out to go from being a 5x8 quilt to an 8x10 quilt, doubling the number of blocks to 80. I still used a 5" border for the quilt (making the final size about 79"x87"). Once the pieces were cut, this comes put together rather quickly. She loved the way it looked quilted on this one as well so I tried my best to replicate it in my own way.

Half triangles starting up: 

(using a 30 degree triangle ruler that I bought, which the recommended in the pattern as well)

All 80 cream/white full triangles and 80 sets of pattern/color half triangles:

First side on and pressed:

About to press the second side:

The final look of each block:

All blocks on the design wall (there will still be a blue border):

Now, instead of sewing the blocks to each other going across, you sew them going down into sets of two, making the cream into a diamond shape. Once the sets of two are sewn together, you sew the rows vertically still and then the vertical rows together into the quilt top. After that is done, all that's needed is the 5" border to be added to the outside.

Rows all sewn together before adding the border:

Finished quilt top with border:

The border stencil being traced on:

I had a request to add a bird into part of the quilt (since her nickname is Birdie in her family). Here's what I was able to find on pinterest that wasn't too bad to quilt:

Traced it on tissue paper:

Bird quilted on:

Part of the stippling I was able to draw out with marker but the rest (that was repetitive), I traced onto tissue paper:

Stippling being quilted on:

Quilted (front view):

Back view:

The flower stencil I used (pinterest and made on parchment paper for the original design):

I found I could fit 5 on a sheet of tissue paper (so easy to quilt on and tear away when perforated):

Close up flower quilted:

Front view all done:

Front view (close up):

Back view (close up):

Again, this one came together fast considering my life. I have to admit, to make my deadline, I had a coke and was up until 2am to get it in the wash but it was SO worth it. I hope this one will be well loved by it's new owner in time for Christmas! 

Now to enjoy a quiet week until the next quilt for next month...

Project: "Hugs" full sized quilt

I was asked to make two full sized quilts as Christmas gifts for my friend. I had done the full sized boy quilt for her already so she was familiar with my work ;)  She picked this one and another one (the next post) for her sisters. Loved the design (the pattern is called "Hugs"). It ended up being about 75" x 85".

The inspiration for this quilt:

And here's the fabric she sent me to use for the quilt: (LOVE the color selection)

I got started by making the squares (the small ones and the large ones for the first part of the block*):

*I did end up buying the pattern although it is pretty simple to deconstruct*

Once the small cream blocks were sewn in opposite corners, I trimmed off the excess:

And pressed them:

Then I laid out the first sashing that would go between the top two parts of the block:

Pressed them:

Laid them out:

And added the middle sashing to make the full block (and then pressed again):

Then I pinned them up onto my design wall (that is still needing to be finished out with flannel):

This was a fun/crazy process to lay them out and decide which colors I wanted where.

Then I added the middle sashing between the blocks and then the sashing between the rows and pressed:

There are 3 borders to this quilt: a cream, a navy, and another cream. This is a photo with two of the borders on:

Then I added the third border (pressing them in-between adding the borders):

The design of the quilting was then stenciled on- a pedal shape on the colors, a loop on the inner border (and at the time I couldn't decide on the outer border stencil so I just quilted what I had on):

Front view of the blocks and inner border quilted:

Back view:

I then decided on this wave stencil for the outer border and quilted it on:

Close up:

All quilted and ready to be trimmed:

And on with the binding:

All finished (sorry, no back view on this quilt at the end):

And a close up:

This was fun to make and I busted it out really fast (considering this pregnancy and the holidays). I'll be honest here- I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to get it quilted in time and had a quote done for the quilting but it wouldn't be quilted the way I/we had envisioned. 

It was a pleasure to make and I hope her sister really likes it!