Wednesday, December 8, 2021

A Big Quilt for My Sister

For a few years, my sister talked about the quilt she wanted, and I began to take notes. Teal. Grey. Orange. Modern, not traditional old quilt patterns. Noted. I love making quilts for my family! 

My sister had a big birthday (number, not party) early in the COVID shut-down. I told her my present to her would be her quilt and that it would not be done until it was done. She told me that she wanted it to be a surprise. So I have been keeping the quilt off social media, where we both hang out, and the one time I went down to North Carolina with her and her husband, I sat in the back and quilted and she chose to keep her gaze forward. I think that was a hard time for her, but I could not bear to sit empty-handed on such a long drive with such a big quilt to finish. The quilt also traveled with me by car to upstate New York, to the beach a few times, and camping where it picked up some dirt and smokiness (I washed it when it was done!). 

This is a large queen-sized quilt. I pieced it in rows, slipping four-patches in every other row, and a little piecing on the back. I machine quilted long lines parallel to the row seams. Then I hand-quilted with black perle cotton down the middle of each row, stopping to outline the little four-patches. I adore striped binding, and I do really like my decision to have that as the only pattern on this quilt. 


I finished the quilt a few days before Thanksgiving, and my big kids helped me get photos of it.


Not only were we all happy on Thanksgiving being inside and so very normal together, but then I got out the quilt to give to my sister. So much joy! 

I started her quilt in April 2020 and finished it in November 2021. I already know what my next quilt will be: entirely sourced from my overflowing piece bag. 

16 comments:

  1. That is incredibly gorgeous. I'm not even a huge lover of orange, but in this it's so perfect. Well done, you!

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  2. A work of art -- reminiscent of a Mondrian pattern painting

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    1. Oh, that's a fun comparison - had not thought of that!

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  3. Big goal accomplished and rich blessing. Way to go!

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    1. Happy you could see it in progress at the campsite ;)

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  4. What a gorgeous quilt! I love the colors, love them! Fun to have the occasional small 4-patch popping up here and there and the rest strips. And, wow, that's a lot of hand quilting! My former mother-in-law used to take unfinished quilts camping to work on them. Lots of down time for quiet stitching.
    I'm sure your sister is delighted with it. (Looks enormous! Bigger than a queen?)

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  5. Just gorgeous!! I love your talent for color combinations. I miss being able to sit and talk with you about quilting--you'd be a perfect partner to tie comforters with! Love to you and your family!

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    1. Awww, friend, it would be so fun! I'm actually making an MCC comforter next - partly inspired by you :)

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  6. Oh, my! Those colors are just gorgeous. What a precious gift! What a labor of love for you and what a treasure for your sister. That's wonderful. Well done, Margo.

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