A friend recently asked me to do a quilt for her, and I was delighted. She is a fantastic piecer and this beautiful black and yellow quilt just showcased her skills. Look at all those little bits in the middle of the rectangles! She’ll slap me for talking about her, so I won’t reveal her name, but this quilt was an absolute joy to quilt. I spread it out on the longarm bar to make sure I had the backing oriented correctly.
I loaded the backing, then unrolled the Warm and Natural all cotton batting over it to cut to size. I find this works better than measuring with a tape measure, and I can cut a straighter line.
I floated the top as usual, and stitched the top edge down. Then I did my normal check, folding the bottom edge of the quilt up to the bar to see if there will be any adjustments to the quilting for borders.
Look how flat it is, heaven to quilt! Didn’t even need a single spray of Best Press.
She chose a medium grey thread Essentials thread, and I used grey Aurifil Thread in the bobbin.
The pantograph is called Halcyon designed by Hermione Agee for Lorien Quilting.
The dragonflies in this pretty yellow tone on tone…
and the bees in this print made the quilting look a bit like flight paths.
The pantograph design brings clouds to mind over the greys.
One more look at the quilting, the side borders are nicely flat too.
The grey really does go well in the wide grey outer border. Taking it off the longarm, I trimmed it up for her.
All done, the quilting is nicely subtle from a distance, and gives some lovely texture and pattern to the solids and tone-on-tones from close up.
She is coming to get it this week, and I hope she likes it.
What are you working on this week?
Check out today’s Flash Sale.
Get started on your holiday shopping for family and friends with these links. If you want to get some of gorgeous fabrics for your holiday sewing, check out the Fat Quarter Shop’s Moda Line. Get spools and cones of the fantastic Aurifil Threads at Fat Quarter Shop Aurifil Threads. Be sure to see all 17 pages, there are a few of the collections on sale, and special pricing on bundles of fabrics with Aurifil threads. You’ll love the extra light with the Sewing Machine LED Lighting Kit
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From My Carolina Home 
I know she likes it!
Truly a spectacular quilt top – and the over-all top-stitch pattern was well chosen, and executed, for the entire quilt! GREAT job, ladies!
You did a BEAUTIFUL job on that quilt….looked perfect! I just finished Time Travel from AQS and am trying to figure out what to work on next. While I”m deciding, I’m just doing patriotic 1/2 square triangles. I figure once I get enough of those I can complete any number of designs for a top.
I love yellow with black and gray. Very pretty quilt! I am working on getting back to my normal routine after a 2 week cold.
Beautiful quilting. I am a novice long armer. Strictly FMQ since my machine is mechanical. Doesnt even have a needle up/down button. Every quilt I learn something new. I’m gifting my Autumn Stars quilt to a friend. I know she will love it.
I’m working on the same pattern….slow going with other things popping up taking priority…..but the pattern is WONDERFUL….lots of bang for you buck in the piecing!! Great quilting on this beautyk!!!
Well, if she doesn’t like it (of course she will!) you can always send it to me! LOL What is the name of that nice pattern??? Maybe Manasotavacation knows….. I’m working on some QoV blocks to send to you, Carole. I am trying to get a few loose ends tied up before I have urgencies going on with Christmas coming. I’m also making ornaments, one for each of my mini quilt group members which I need finished by our holiday meeting next month. The pattern is in the current Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine — have you seen it?
HAHA – Melanie, I was going to offer to take it off her hands but I see you beat me to the punch. So, if you find you just can’t use it . . . send it my way. ~smile~ Roseanne
Fat Quarter Swap by Marlous Designs…..www.marlousdesigns.com lap/twin-double/Queen sizes Fat quarters leave room for lots of choices!!!!
Hi Carole,
I hope your friend gets to see all the lovely comments about her quilt! Not only did she do a fabulous job, but I really love the color combination and especially the fabrics she chose. Those subtle tone-on-tones, the polka dots – just everything – I love it. And the gray thread choice and pattern – just perfect. I am 100% sure she will love it! How can she not?!! Thanks also for reminding me about that light for my sewing machine. I have to start nagging someone that I REALLY WANT ONE, and wouldn’t it be the perfect thing to get me for Christmas??!! Otherwise, I’ll just order the darn thing for myself and be done with it. I think of it every single time I sew. ~smile~ Roseanne
Love the pattern and colors. Right now opening boxes and trying to find places to put stuff. Just moved cross country. Hope to be able to start quilting again by Dec.
Oh my, what a stunning quilt. The piecing is amazing and those fabrics and colours……just beautiful. The Halycon pantograph is the perfect choice. Your quilting on this quilt is stunning, Carole.
The quilt and quilting are both beautifully done! This afternoon I am sandwiching practicing for next week’s Suzuki concert and sewing DH’s birthday shirt, out of a Pendleton plaid he found on eBay. I also want to frog the cardigan I started on Friday; it has a lacy pattern, but it is just too fussy for what I had in mind. I’ve decided to go with a rib and plain knit…then there is that wallet and kindle cover laying on my table!😆
OH you both did a WONDERFUL job on this quilt 🙂
That looks beautiful and is in one of my favorite color combinations. Bet she loved your quilting.
I always liked that panto, even though I don’t like doing them:) A great choice for a very pretty quilt.
There’s no way your customer won’t like her quilt – it is stunning! The panto you used is very pretty, I love all the curves, and you stitched it so beautifully.
Perfect thread color selected. A beautiful finish for this quilt.
I am 100% sure she will love it! The quilting you picked is beautiful and works so well with the quilt design! Beautiful job!
This is absolutely gorgeous! I love the way the grey fabric contrasts with both the lighter and darker fabrics. 😀
Beautiful quilt pattern,Carole. I’m sure your friend will love it. Her quilt top was lovely. This week I am trying to decide what quilting stuff to pack to take to work on while away for the next few months. Wish I could just take everything, so I would not have to think!Lol. Many tops need quilting but I’m limited in space. Hope your day goes well. Thanks for sharing your projects.
Love the pattern! I have fabric chosen for two baby quilts, a pink and green for March baby girl, and the same colors as your friend’s quilt for a neutral first quilt for my grandbaby (we won’t find out the sex until January, but I can’t wait!) Also need to work on some stuffed animals asap, as well as a Christmas tree wall hanging and some other projects. I’m taking next week off… hee hee! the March quilt can wait a bit, but I need to be faithful with the rest of the projects.
Love your spring bulbs. I think I can still get some in, cold, but barely penetrating the ground yet, roads all clear, and high 60’s this week.
Sharon in Colorado
PS looking at a new machine…. for ME! with drop feed dogs capability and a larger harp…
Good morning Carole,
I’m going back in time a bit to 11-12-17 about the yellow, and black quilt, this is a very pretty design and I love the quilting you chose. The swirl looks almost like the top half of a heart and is so pretty. Love
The way the swirls form the design, great thinking on that design.
Phyllis