My exotic King quilt

 After upgrading from a Queen to a King size bed, I didn't want to part with my Queen duvet I had made. I made an entry for this almost seven years ago in Finally back to sewing. I questioned if taking it apart, adding borders, hand quilting it, and then sewing the binding would be worth it. So, with a week off from work as a creative 'Staycation', I got to work. 

This was a huge task, and my fingers are pretty much devoid of fingerprints from hand quilting around the squares. I used a dark gray bed sheet for the backing because a) fabric is expensive, and b) I like to use what I have on hand. Once I quilted it together, I had to cut binding at a 90' angle from another bedsheet, pin it, and ensure the corners didn't show any gaps. 

All throughout the finishing of this quilt, my cat Cece lended her paw-well, not really. But she definitely enjoys this quilt and thinks it's hers now.

King size quilt in purple and sky blue

 When the pandemic hit and we all realized we wouldn't be going anywhere for awhile, I decided to start a new quilt. But not just one that was a lap size like so many I have made. The largest I had made up to this point was a double wedding ring quilt that I hand quilted.

This quilt was going to be King size because my husband and I wanted to upgrade from a Queen to a King size bed. I found a geometric pattern, and began to look at colors. The pattern only required 2 for the top, but there was also the border and backing to consider. 

There is a local quilt shop very close to my house that I just love. While there are many beautiful printed fabrics, I really only go there for the Kona solids and unique Batik fabrics. 

Sharon's Attic & Quilt Shop

With so many people opting to sew their own face masks, and supply chains being fouled up, I had to special order this fabric and wait about a month before I could buy it. 

Sewing the top took me nearly a year to finish, and the hand-quilting took me even longer. I did not work on it consistently however, so had I been doing that, I could have been done with this in 6 months. I used a contrasting violet for the border, and picked out a gorgeous batik that brings out all the colors plus a few more. Very pleased with the backing!

It's hard to see, but I did mess up cutting some of the squares, so the pattern does not line up as I like. The quilting is more sparse than most hand-quilted projects because it is just so huge I would be quilting it still in five years! 

Regardless of it not being 100% the way I had hoped, it did turn out stunning and is now placed on our beautiful new King bed.

Hawaiian cushions

I'm super proud of these cushions! This is a Hawaiian style quilting, and all applique and quilted stitching is done by hand. It took me a year to finish these, although I admit I kept putting them down for weeks at a time. I have come to appreciate Hawaiian style quilting, and have a queen sized quilt pattern waiting for me to take it one--someday.

Wedding Ring Quilt

The current quilt on my frame is on hold temporarily so that I may prepare another piece of work to enter into an upcoming show. Technically not a judging show, the Airing of the Quilts is a show of local quilt owners and artists displaying their prized possessions. This year will be my first attempt to have my wedding ring quilt accepted for display. 

The past few days I have spent repairing any small flaws, ironing the quilt, and trying to get out some dreaded chalk marks when the quilt was hand-quilted. I am trying the Mr. Clean Magic Erase to get these orange marks out, but it isn't working as miraculously as I had hoped. I do have a few more methods to try getting them out. For future reference, don't use Dritz quilter's chalk, especially in orange!

The next goal for this quilt is to have it documented by the Oregon Quilt Project. Quilts are inspected and logged into the Oregon Quilt Index. I can truthfully say that this is a quilt made with fabric that was purchased in an exclusive Oregon fabric store, made in Oregon, by an Oregonian. I chose the wedding ring pattern to give myself a challenge, and the first quilt I ever fell in love with was a wedding ring quilt. Although blue isn't my top favorite color, I chose it because it is my husband's favorite color. The blues remind me of the summer sky and ocean as we were married in July at the beach.

This quilt was meant to be a queen size for our bed. Unfortunately, it is better suited for a full size. I didn't purchase enough fabric initially to make that extra row of rings. It is currently kept in an airtight bag to preserve the color from fading now.

I love this pattern, and hope to make it again with black as the background and bright colors for the rings. It is a challenging pattern, this particular quilt has heard a few four letter words that I don't repeat in front of kids! But like a solid marriage, it is a work of patience, tears, and love.