This Quilt of Valor was brought to me for quilting, and it is a wonderful study in design. Often, our local chapter of Quilts of Valor receives boxes of fabric scraps and orphan blocks. The supplies moved from one storage space to another, and the group had just found a nice space for monthly quilting time at Beginnings when lockdown happened. Our leader, Didi Salvatierra, was going through some of the bounty, and found a wonderful patriotic embroidered block. She decided to use it in a quilt, along with some pinwheels she found. Note that the pinwheels are two different sizes. By making frames for the embroidery panel using the pinwheels as cornerstones, Didi was able to integrate those into a cohesive whole quilt.
We do not know who did this wonderful block. When donations are left without a name, then jumbled with others, it is just not possible to know. If you do know, please let Didi know, as she would love to give credit on the label. The detail is exquisite, and it is beautifully stitched.
I loaded it on the longarm, after assuring Didi that I could quilt over this work.
Quilting was done with white Glide thread in the top, and an ecru Bottom Line in the bobbin to match ecru backing.
I used a pantograph that I often use as this is a big quilt. The panto is Fascination by Lorien Quilting.
The quilting disappears over the busy prints.
Quilting stepped over the stitching easily.
Some close up views show the lovely handwork.
White thread doesn’t really show here, so the stitchery shines.
Incredible, beautiful straight lines and expressive faces.
It appears to depict different peoples as all part of our country.
Lovely, and a wonderful focal point for a Quilt of Valor.
Continuing on, the quilting shows well in the solid colors, adding a bit of interest to those areas.
One more roll of the quilt and just a few passes to go.
All finished, and ready for binding. On this view, you can see the dark background pinwheels placed on four corners of an outer frame.
You did good, Didi! Someone will be thrilled with this.
Are you sewing this week?
Sharing at Clever Chameleon.
From My Carolina Home 
Beautiful quilt. Didi has a great eye for a layout and putting those orphans to great use. Your quilting is lovely and really enhances the project. I wondered if you would quilt “over” the embroidery, but the quilting doesn’t distract at all.
Absolutely stunning….every single part of this quilt!!
You and Didi make a good team! The different values in the quilt serve to blend all the various elements well. And the quilting design and thread colors are just right, imho, to produce a beautiful finish that anyone would be delighted to own. The thoughtful finish not only honors a veteran, but the embroiderer who donated the lovely centerpiece. Great job!
My sewing this week includes matching toile fabric for a 1860 Victorian settee which traveled the world with a 3 star general who has since passed away and handed down to a friend of mine. I’ll send a picture when it is completed. Wondered if you would consider teaching me how to use a long arm the next time I work on a top? Btw, nice QOV. Michele
Excellent inspiration! I love to embroider and will start looking for a pattern ASAP. Thank you for sharing, Carole. I believe we will start encouraging our Quilts of Valor group members to turn in “orphan” blocks to us and then let our quilt design wizard create another of her masterpiece quilts with them… Food for thought.
This quilt is a beautiful result using all those orphaned blocks. I’m glad you and Didi were able to make something of meaning from all of it! No sewing for me this week or next…my sewing room is getting a makeover…new flooring. Out with the carpet (which collects threads and dust) and in with new vinyl planks (easier to keep clean). I’m in process now of packing things up (I have 4 storage cabinets in there) and moving the furniture out. An added bonus is some sorting and organization when we move everything back, which hasn’t really been done in about two years and is long overdue! In the meantime, I’m doing some scrapbooking and some hand sewing to stay busy otherwise.
Such a beautiful quilt, the center of which says it all, and it would be nice to be able to track down the person who donated it. Your quilting of the block did not diminish nor distort the vibrancy of the stitching. Whomever is the lucky recipient of this QOV, will have a treasure that should be passed down from generation to generation. Your friend Didi and you did such a magnificent job of combining your talents in this one Carole. Enjoy your day.
just gorgeous!
What a beautiful quilt! Made so much more special by several very talented hands!!! Something more to be grateful for in this mixed up world. Thanks for sharing.
An absolutely stunning quilt! The embroidery work is amaziING! I’m a Canadian but I love the quilt!
That is a beautiful quilt! You both did an awesome job! I know someone will appreciate this so much!
What an awesome quilt! I know someone will appreciate this so much!
There is a special talent involved in putting orphan blocks into a pleasing design. Didi hit it out of the park. And using the neutral thread color you chose for the quilting lets the embroidered block shine. Three gold stars to both of you. I finally started sandwiching a baby quilt that is long overdue. Cooler temps this weekend mean I can finally get it quilted and gifted.
This is beautiful! Amazing how it came together and love the quilting.
Stunning quilt and the handwork lovely. Beautiful collaboration on this quilt!
That’s a beautiful quilt, all made from orphan blocks! I was interested to see how you quilted over the embroidery – I’ve always wondered about how to do that that with my own embroidered pieces. This turned out just lovely, Carole!
Didi, I just happened to see this on Google. What an absolutely stunning quilt! It is beyond words!!! You have a true gift for design. I do not quilt, but I do sew, embroider and do counted cross stitch. Hand work is my passion. The embroidery is magnificent. Do think there is anyway to share the “pattern” of the embroidery? Or a large detailed copy of it? I think it is so very perfect for our current difficulty times.
Thank you for all the wonderful work you and your group do for the veterans.
Betsy
See Joan’s comment for the magazine that has the embroidery pattern.
Yes, beautiful QOV. I use Glide thread and love the shine it gives the QOVs I quilt.
This is a stunning quilt and whoever gets it will surely be one proud Veteran. I am in awe!
Good morning, the “Stitchery shines”, so very true. A lovely quilt made from orphan squares etc. Didi that is talent putting that together. Carole did make it shine. Ladies a great job for a great person to appreciate QOV. Have a great day.
Wow, what beautiful embroidery! Nicely quilted, too, Carole! I’m so glad for the veteran who will receive this gift.
That is a beautiful quilt. Everyone did a marvelous job!
This is one that has so much from so many in it, the centre block, truly beautiful, the pinwheels and their placing and your quilting, the large swirls and the thread a perfect finish. This will be the most wonderful gift .
This is a wonderful quilt. Someone is going to be proud to own it. Didi did a marvelous job of setting and you of quilting.
Stunning and love the quilting – like the breeze blowing while they march. The pinwheels give it some movement as well. Every about this quilt is stunning. The wide red border looks like the background pattern from paper money! Perfect head to toe. I did find a copy of the pattern for sale on ebay. Seems it was cut from a magazine. I’ll call the library and ask if they can find it through their magazine/periodical file as I’m not having much luck. Remember the old days with the card catalog? I could do that, but the computer – not so much. Thanks so much to you and your friends for rescuing this piece.
Thank you, Joan, for sending the info on the embroidery pattern!
American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine, June 2002 (Better Homes & Gardens, Volume 10, Number 3, Issue Number 56)
What a beautiful and unique QOV! Someone will love and cherish this one!
Hello Carole, I was inspired by the way that the individual blocks were used to make this quilt such a stunning QOV. Plus, the way that your quilting talents enhanced the design and made this beautiful quilt into a true treasure that anyone who receives it will be honored. Thank you for sharing this marvelous quilt with us! Have a great day!
That is amazing! I am sure the recipient will treasure it!
Such a wonderful Q of V. Congratulations, you have both done a marvelous job on this quilt, with the piecing, and your quilting!
That is a beauty, and your great quilting just enhanced it! I am sewing this week, I got a remnant of wool challis that I am making a top from, it is a beautiful fine weave. 🙂
Beautiful job, Carole. What a treasure! Yes, I have been sewing, sewing….keeping busy and even reorganized my sewing room. Still, I can’t find a piece of fabric I just hand my hands on recently! LOL It will surely turn up eventually. I hope!
Beautiful job. Kudos to all involved in this treasure.
You have done a beautiful quilting job on this amazing quilt, you are right Carole, some one will treasure this quilt.
Thank you Carole!!! It looks wonderful. It really came to life with your quilting design. I can’t wait to bind it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! The larger pinwheel blocks came from a friend in Greenville, SC who knows I am involved with Q of V. I made the smaller pinwheels for cornerstones of the embroidery. I envision this will be awarded to a female Veteran in the future.
The embroidery block is a star! And Didi did a masterful job with the setting and use of other blocks. Your quilting is just beautiful. This will be a treasured QOV.
What a pretty center! I love how such a nice quilt came from different donated components.
Somehow I missed reading this on the 9th, so it’s a special for me to see it on this solemn day when we honor those who died in the tragedy and the aftermath that continues.
A beautiful quilt. The design showcases the embroidery perfectly.
That is a fascinating block. Great to see it being used. And I am impressed with the way the different sized pin wheels were used. A lot of skill putting that one together.