Monday, January 4, 2010

Grandma Vicki's quilt (or lack of blogging due to Christmas presents)


Vicki had asked me a few months ago to make her a quilt that made her think of her grandchildren. She left how I did that or any color choices up to me. She did mention that she had a burgundy recliner where she planned to curl under the quilt. That was it. I toyed with the idea of names in the quilting, photos, etc. I decided that I did want to include faces, but I wanted it to be a bit subtle.

I decided to make log cabinish blocks that mostly read as solid color. Vicki likes pink, so that started the color palette. I love so many of Amy Butler's pale pink and yellow fabrics, so I decided on the yellow for the center. There are 8 grandchildren, but I wanted a square, so I made 9 yellow blocks for the center, surrounded with pink.

For the quilting, I outlined the yellow squares, and then quilted a line portrait in burgundy of each of the children on a square. I'd made quilted portraits before, using tracing paper to sew over and then removing. This time, following these suggestions from Kristin, I used a tear away stabilizer. I'm not sure which I liked more, but I remember with both feeling like I was ripping out the stitches as I removed the paper. I wonder if I would prefer transferring my drawing directly onto the fabric. I'm not sure, though. For the pink squares, I did a simple stipple with variegated pink thread. Anyway, here are a few closeups.









The center square says "Grandchildren"




My pictures aren't great. The weather wasn't great for photos, and I was completing this down to the wire. Anyway, I'm happy with the completed quilt. I think I would like to do quilted portraits in other quilts, but perhaps as a continuous line drawing. I practiced doing that as well, but thought it didn't work as well for the children.

Of course, a photo of the back. The finished quilt is 75" square.




9 comments:

Smitty 1, 2 , 3 and 4 said...

OMG! Angie, that is amazing.

Heidi said...

WOW!!!! That is amazing! I'm in total awe!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE my quilt Angie! The only problem is that I haven't used it because I'm afraid it'll get damaged.

Grandma Vicki

Angie said...

Use it!

sara said...

Gorgeous!!!!

Unknown said...

That is amazing quilting. Grandma Vicki is one lucky lady!

Valerie said...

Um, are you KIDDING ME?! Portraits on the quilt? That is the coolest idea I have seen in a long time. Seriously. I am in awe. Now I want one.

Dolly said...

That is outrageously cool !
Seriously !

Wow !

Eileen said...

i don't think i have words to say how marvelous i think this is!! i just have to try this--i know i can't wrestle a huge quilt so would have to so them qayg way, but this is just so cool!! thanks so much for sharing. lucky, lucky recipient!!!!!!!!!

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