I finished this top and sent it out to be quilted 5 months ago. I just got it back two weeks ago and I finished the binding on it last night. It is king size and I did not have anyone to hold the quilt for me so I threw it on the guest bed. It is for my son and I am going to see him tonight and give it to him-he has already seen it--it is not a surprise.

Considering the amount of time (over 4 months) this long arm quilter had my quilt and the amount of money that she charged me (LOTS) I wish I was happier with the results. I will not be using her again.

Details

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just love that.

I love it. The quilt is very dramatic. Am finishing a red/black/gray and white quilt for 14 yr old grandson. Haven't decided how to quilt it yet - may just tie it. Also want to make a black/white/yellow one for myself.

Marcia, your quilt is outstanding, what a shame you are disappointed with the finished result, had you used this longarmer before?? I must admit I think I would be very wary of sending out to be quilted for that very reason, not that we have anybody here in Spain anyway :roll: :D

The use of color is perfect. Beautiful quilt.

Looks good to me, he'll be so happy. Sorry the longarmmer took so long and your not pleased but i really didn't see anything but again I'm new at this.

Yes, Izy, I have used her before and so have a lot of my friends. Her work used to be impeccable, but lately she has gotten so sloppy. Not sure what her problem is. This is the last quilt she will do for me.

Thanks, everyone. It was a long time in the making. When I collected fabrics I bought ones that would appeal to my son--music related, cards, dice and cats, just to name a few. I also made sure I did not buy any fabrics that were floral. I told the longarmer that it was for my son and I did not wanted it quilted "frilly". She obviously did not listen to me-she even put feathers in the border.

It is gorgeous! PJ will love it even with the feathers!!!

she obviously wasn't listening very well and only heard the word "frilly"....

or when it came time to actually do the quilting, she could only remember the word, "frilly".....

well, nowadays if I don't like what the 'longarm quilter' did I only have myself to blame... buwhwhwaaaaaaaaa :roll: :wink:

ps... the quilt itself is GORGEOUS....

Good God!
I love it!

The quilt is very pretty. I love the red & black. So sorry about the quilting. Rest assured what you did is great!!!!!

AWESOME quilt :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I too have had a negative experience from a longarm quilter, I know the feeling :(

I think it's beautiful. I love red and black together.

AWESOME quilt! Very striking, you did a great job on it!

Beautiful quilt, sorry you don't like the quilting. I have never sent anything out, yet. I'm sure he will love it all the same!!

Marcia....Beautiful quilt...as for the quilting that is the exact reason my Dad is quilting......I took one of my quilts to a quilter....9 months later still not done...can you imagine...and the charge was high if she would have finished it....Plus I had to wait 5 months before I could give it to her to do....so I was on a time line to get my quilt to her.....She did do excellant work but my goodness my money counts too....any way I found another quilter but she done an aweful job....:-( So Dad said I think I can do better than that and he has...plus I get to use the machine as well.....:-)

Very Striking! I love the colors and design.
:D

oh wow Marcia, that is incredible!

Wow! Very striking! What a great gift to your son! And to collect fabric that he can relate to-very clever.

Wow, your quilt is a knockout! Very dramatic! You may not be happy with the quilting, but I'll bet your son won't even know what you're talking about! He's going to love it!

It's wonderful, Marcia! I'm sorry you aren't happy with the quilting though. Four months seems like a very long time. :(

that is gorgeous. :D

Cathie-You are so fortunate to have your father there to quilt for you-I have tried to find someone local, with no success yet. I will keep on trying though.

Thank you, everyone, for the really sweet comments. My son is very happy with the quilt-just glad he finally has it!!

It is beautiful but I agree she didn't do it justice. Ladies check out the quilter and is samples. I have a student that tried a friend once and threw out the quilt . She went back to her original quilter. Check them out first.

He will love it and not pay near as much attention to the quilting as you do :lol: He'll only see..black, white..warm and the love you made it with :lol:

Your quilt is dramatic. Sorry the quilting wasn't what you wanted. You know, I don't think your son will be concerned with the feathers. He'll see the color and pattern which is just terrific.

Your quilt is fabulous. The stitching dosen't look bad either. Your son will love it anyway. Is that your own pattern design or is it a commercial pattern. Just curious. Thanks for sharing. Watson's mom

Your quilt top is beautiful!

Spectacular !!! Even with the quilting. I do my own because I could never afford to have anyone else do it... but the quilt top is spectacular. Good job.

Marcia, Vert striking. My son would like one like that.
Connie

Great Job! I think the quilt is beautiful.

PJ won't mind the 'feathers', he's going to appreciate the love you put into making it and the warmth it will provide him for years & years.

Thank you for the compliment. The pattern is neither an original design nor a commercial pattern. My guild in VA did this quilt in different colors as a raffle quilt. It is REALLY EASY to do.

I began by cutting 12 1/2" squares of muslin to foundation piece the blocks. Next I cut the red strips (I cut mine 3" to finish 2 1/2", but you can make yours any width you want to) and centered them diagonally across the muslin squares. The last step is the fun one! Cut strips at random widths and then sew them on either side of the red strip using the "sew and flip" method (where you sew a strip, open and press the seam, sew another strip, open and press, etc.) The strips will be longer than the muslin foundation and you turn the block over and trim off the excess to fit the muslin when you are finished with the block. Arrange your blocks to make the center strips form the pattern you like.

The fun comes with the color. The quilt we made for the raffle used aqua center strips. The random width strips sewn on either side started with navy blues and then lightened as you went to the edge-ending in a pale blue. When the blocks were joined it formed a light blue diamond effect where 4 blocks come together.

I collected black and whites for mine. When sewing the blocks I started with my darkest blacks first, then used my fabrics that were more of a half black/half white print next and finished the outside edge with fabrics that were predominately white with a small amount of black.

You can make your muslin foundation any size you choose, your center fabric strip can be any width you choose. The blocks look best if you use 4 or more fabric strips on each side of the focus fabric strip.

I do not have the pictures of this quilt on this computer, but I downloaded the first one I posted, cropped one block and am posting it for you to see. Unfortunately, it is very small, but you can get a better idea of what one block looks like this way.

I love it. I'm a bit awed it took so long. Longer than my machine was in for service. LOL! And she obviously forgot all about the "no frilly" since she had it for so long. Her business must be booming or she's awfully sllooooowwww. There are too many people out there who'd get it to you much faster. But shipping is costly and a pain. I hope you can find someone else local.

And thanks for the directions!

Thank you for Sharing your instructions, sounds like fun!

I saved your instructions ... now to start gathering fabrics :-D

Stunning! What a great quilt for a guy!

Gorgeous. Love the red

Gosh Marcia ... This is very nice! I hope your son enjoys it, even though he has seen it before. It is sure a treasure.