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Sunday, May 20, 2012

Blogger's Quilt Festival

First, I want to thank Amy @ Amy's Creative Side for hosting this Festival.

 Amy's Creative Side

The quilt I am sharing in the Blogger's Quilt Festival is my White-on-White Counterpane Victorian style quilt.  I am entering this quilt in the handquilted category. It is 92x75 inches (Double Bed size with plenty of drape). In addition, I made matching pillow shams and a round decorative pillow. I am sorry that I don't have wonderful photos of my quilt. The only camera I have is on my cell phone.

This quilt will always be special to me. It is the first bed-sized quilt I ever made. I spent a lot of time selecting the designs for each panel. My overall goal was for the quilt to look antique. The method was quilt as you go, so each block and border were completed separately and then put together. I wanted the joining seams to be disguised so I shopped for just the right lace to give the antique look while hiding the seams. I couldn't find anything that looked antique. I bought samples of several and experimented using different methods to get just the right look. The method that worked on the lace that I put on my quilt was a specific ratio of chlorine bleach and water. I experimented with different times to get the lace to look antique.
I also took great care in selecting the patterns for each block. I saw a picture of a tulip applique block in a magazine that I really wanted to include in my quilt. The picture was very small, so I took it to the public library and used an overhead projector to put the outline on the wall. I had to adjust the focus and the distance of the projector from the wall in order to get the right size. I made my own pattern from that tiny picture.
I made pillow shams and a round decorative pillow to go with this quilt. The pattern I used on the shams used two different patterns that I put together to please myself. The feathered oval surrounds a bouquet of roses. Stipple quilting surrounds the roses.

Thanks so much for having a look at my quilt. Enjoy the Blogger's Quilt Festival. Come back again to visit my blog.

16 comments:

Sarah said...

Wow - I am in awe of anyone who hand quilts and your quilt is fantastic.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Ok - this is a winner with my vote. Love hand quilting, but a lot of work, thought and self went into this and deserves the recognition. Just wonderful!

Cherie said...

Wow that looks incredible! All the detailed quilting is amazing! You did a really great job! Good luck in the festival!! =D

Joanie's Trendy Quilts said...

What an amazing an lovely quilt. You did well in accomplishing an antique look. The lace really does add so much to your wonderfully hand quilted blocks. Great job!

Sarah Ashford said...

Wow, what an amazing quilt. I bet you lost count of the hours you put into it. It's beautiful x

Rosemary Dickinson said...

This is just beautiful! The lace adds so much! Unbelievable!!

purduepam said...

Love the white on white. What a great way to be able to add whatever color for the season that you like. What a timeless style. Best of luck in the festival

Ariane said...

Your quilt is beautiful!!

Lonci said...

Amazing work, congratulations:)))

Quilterbell said...

Fantastic work! well done!!!!!

Unknown said...

Karen, your work is absolutely beautiful!!
hugs from Russia,
Masha

Taya@TypeB said...

That is amazing - gorgeous work! Thanks for sharing it!

Finding Fifth said...

I voted yours first...best of luck. It is a singularly astonishing quilt.

Kati from Kati's Quilting said...

Beautiful! I love the whole cloth hand quilting, I voted for you, hope You'll win!

Anonymous said...

This quilt is just fantastic!
I did a whole cloth quilt in natural, years ago, but it doesn't look anything like this! Good Luck to you!!!

Fischtown Lady said...

Oh, it is so beautifull! Ich love handquiltig and ich love your quilt!
Geetings Marita