My brother is getting married next year, and as he keeps reminding me he is the only one I have not quilted something for.
I really wanted to do the wedding rings quilt - but I was chicken. Pieced curves frighten me!
SO I opted for a double irish chain after I watched Eleanor Burns do a "Still Stripping" show - that showed how to make short work of these blocks by Piecing together 5 - 22 inch strips in the 3 different rows needed)there are only 3 as two repeat) And I was so surprised - as I completed almost 60 squares in two weekends and I was working at a fairly leisurely pace….

the squares

SO my next conundrum was this… I not only LOVE to do the piecing I also LOVE to do the quilting almost as much if not more… But working with just a sewing machine not a long arm (WHICH I WOULD LOVE) wrestling a queen size quilt under it to do the quilting I knew would prove challenging as I did the lap quilt for my mother and it had its tense moments! In doing the circle quilts I learned that if I could quilt each row as I added it – I would always be working with very little under my machine each time. SO I went back to my QNN and searched quilt as you go and lo and behold Nancy Zieman came to my rescue - with her episode of 10, 20, 30 mins to quilt. She showed this super cool method of adding rows and borders that left no hand sewing or seams to hide. If you do not have access to QNN I also found a picture tutorial on Webshots that explains the method as well.
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...47387259nozWsW

here are three row together and quilted I might add!

To make this method look the best I decided to also piece the back in just large squares that matched the size of he squares from the front. In a way it also makes the quilt reversible. Though it is not quite so pretty on the back – Sort of a His and hers effect! And I used Warm and Natural Cotton batting not poly as shown in the Webshots thingy.

On to the QUILTING!! In the chains squares I opted for the lazy curve I learned in class – so simple but looks great when done over these squares! And even looks great in the back in the plain squares.

In the white spaces I wanted something with a heart as this is a wedding gift for my brother and his soon to be wife. So I combined 2 stencils I had to get what I wanted – I love the design – it’s just I am still pretty new at machine quilting and I am sure I will get better with practice – just don’t look to closely!

I took the picture the wrong way trying to catch the light and it looked funny if I rotated the picture.... so here it is sideways...It looks amazing once its washed and shrinks around the stitches – I did a test patch and washed it to see! - but it was before I settled on this pattern and the quilting is pretty shaky - so I dont think I'll post it :oops:

Awesome!!!

Love it. Great job.

You have done a wonderful job and if your brother doesn't want it i'll pm you. lol Thanks for the site with the tute i read it and almost got confused but next shot cleared it up, what and interesting way of doing it. HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM I'll have to remember that for later on down the road.

Thanks Rene
I'll keep you in mind if my Brother does not want it!! :lol:

Sheila

This looks like something I might be able to do as I also would like to do all of the quilt myself. And allast no money for LA lol.

Linda

Gorgeous :D

A wonderful quilt... love the back idea. And thanks for the links. You're a great quilter!

Sheila--You are doing such an awesome job. You have got to quit calling yourself a newbie quilter!!

I am glad that you took close up photos so that the fabrics showed up better-really nice choice.

I love your quilt-as-you-go. I am going to have to study this method and try it myself. Thanks for the information.

I also really like the patterns that you are quilting the quilt in. The lazy curve is wonderful and the two stencils you combined in the white areas looks wonderful.

Your brother and new sister-in-law are going to be SOOOO pleased with their quilt. :D

great job on the quilting! I lvoe those lazy curves, I've quilted plenty of quilts and have never used that - I'll have to do it with my next quilting project!

I like it a lot. He will be so happy to finally get a quilt from you.

Kyia

Really nice! Love the print fabric. The quilting looks great!!

Thanks so much!

it looks great