(Oh, I just want to PICK that leaf out of the lower left of that photo.)
I started making blocks for this quilt back in early June, after digging through a pile of fabric and feeling that this was truly the only project I wanted to be doing, at all. By the end? I was starting new projects not to have to finish it. I emailed Kelly (who just finished an AMAZING Carnaby Street x-plus quilt, that is featured on Quilt Story!) whining, “it’ll never be done.” She encouraged me to keep trucking, which I did, and now–
It’s done, it’s done, hooray and whew.
It’s a generous throw size, about 72” x 72”. I like these big quilts. You can snuggle more babies under them. (#notpregnant.)
I added some non-Liberty prints in the mix, just for dimension. Holler if you need an ID on any of the prints!
I quilted it in a free-motion wonky square pattern. I think my free-motion quilting is truly improving. For awhile, I really felt like I was going to stink at it forever–but this time I sat down and just did it, and it felt so much more natural.
I bound it in the charcoal Madrona Road Memoir print.
I’m especially proud of the back of this quilt.
I backed it with an Amy Butler print from Cameo. I love the blue-grey colors with the greys and pastels of the front of the quilt. When I bought it on 50% off sale at FQS, I dumbly and blithely bought 3.5 yards, which is almost always what I auto-pilot buy when I am buying quilt backs. Of course, not enough for a 72” square quilt. I think I managed brilliantly. Looks intentional, right? The romantic story of the Memoir print plays out in the Amy Butler print, framed by some pretty sweet Liberty florals–like all these fabrics were meant to go together.
If you’re looking to do your own x-plus quilt, I used Amy Badskirt’s tutorial but cut sizes from this pin to make 12” finished blocks. I made 36 blocks, 6 x 6.
Stay tuned this week for a tip if you’re planning to make an x-plus quilt. It’s a leftovers/scrap management tip. (The idea isn’t original to me. But I love it so much I’ve got to share it.)
Oh my Laura, this is beyond words…i LOVE it so much…it’s the colours and that wonderful quilting. The back is perfect too with the little road cutting through the woods…. lovely to see it finished! (I really hope this posts!)
I really like the grey and pink in this quilt. It looks very soft and ready to snuggle under.
Just simply gorgeous! I have to share it on my facebook page! Hope you don’t mind!
http://facebook.com/sewfreshquilts
I like the back a lot too!!! Looks great. A unique take on the x-plus quilt I haven’t seen yet. Very soothing to look at.
This is so beautiful! Lovely work!
So beautiful! I love the colors and your quilting is fantastic! I totally have had the leaf thing happen to my pics too!
That back looks/is very intentional. Thanks for sharing the 3 1/2 yards for backing tip. I actually have been thinking about buying backings and hadn’t quite gotten to the point of thinking that through =)
Lovely! Really lovely. I love it when I press through a project that I’m tired off and then it’s DONE!
Stop it! I can’t take the lovelies. It is perfecto
I can’t even. Yes yes yes. This will be the first quilt I start when I return to jersey!! And yay you for the FMQ!!! Love the charcoal binding :). Ps. Send me even more pictures if you’ve got them!
love, love, LOVE it!! I had absolutely NO DOUBT that it would be fabulous! I am so glad you finally finished it since it was starting to get tiresome. The backing fabric goes so well, and I love the piecing that you did on it. It looks like you planned it all along, and the FMQ wonky squares are perfect! Yay for you!!
🙂 Kelly
I just love it Laura! Great, great job all around.
xo jan
This just came out so, so gorgeous!! I’m still in that “my fmq skills totally stink and always will” zone. I don’t do myself any favors by making excuses not to practice…but everything about this from the fabrics to the back to the quilting is just too perfect! Lovely finish!
Wow this is lovely! I love the colour palette you put together, so soft and deep at the same time. The backing turned out great. I love when you can piece the back with a few scraps and it looks meant to be!
Um,,,GORGEOUS! Love the fabric, love the colors, love it all!
Congratulations Laura your quilt look fabulous ………..love the fabric choices. Thanks for sharing ……..Marie
This looks fantastic, I love it! Your colors look fantastic! My xplus is probably my favorite quilt I’ve made… these things are addicting!
Love it! Looks fabulous!
It’s so beautiful and in just a second you won’t remember it became a bit of a chore for a wee bit!
Wow!!! Laura this is fabulous!!!! You amaze me!!! It makes me want to start the one I am making for my friend. We are swapping quilt tops so I will own one too 😉 I know she has gotten some carnaby prints and some cameo prints. I am interested to see it all come together. Although I am dreading the middle I don’t want to make anymore of these blocks stage. You give me hope that it is all worth it!
Laura, great job!!! And I agree – your choice of fabrics is fantastic!
I made only one block and I used some of my scraps. I would like to sew more blocks and make pillows for my children. I hope I can finish my intention soon 🙂 (http://vjahodovce.blogspot.cz/2013/07/weekending.html)
Jolana
A beautiful quilt – you should be very proud you persevered with it. I would like to make this block one day, but think I might just do a pillow instead
Oh oh oh. Love it! I am so tempted to start this quilt but feel like all the piecing will drive me mad. That must be a great feeling to a) have this gorgeousness done and b) feel better about fmq (I am also intimidated by that #straightlinesaremycrutch).
P.S. I like that little leaf! 🙂
LOVE!!! I have wanted to do an X+ quilt, just got side tracked with other things. Your quilt is soooo pretty, and the back–love it! I love that Amy Butler print.
Love it!
This looks great! I love the color combo!
This is so beautiful Laura! I’ve got 8 FQs of Liberty that I’m stashing for a special quilt and I really like how you’ve added in the other prints so that it’s not overtly Liberty, if you know what I mean?!