I initially had a completely different design all mapped
out. Which is surprising that things
changed along the way, as I spent a good amount of time drafting out different
ideas before settling on a particular favourite. But when it came time to actually start
cutting the Riley Blake Designs Sashing Stash fabric, inspiration hit and I just had to go with it!
This design was a little more work than I anticipated. Having tackled the Libs Elliott Weight of Love quilt top, I thought these little jewels would be easy peasy. And, in theory, they
are. I mean there is a little less
cutting and piecing to get the flowers put together, but what I hadn’t factored
in was the fact there would be even more “Y” seams than with the traditional
hexie…ugh.
are. I mean there is a little less
cutting and piecing to get the flowers put together, but what I hadn’t factored
in was the fact there would be even more “Y” seams than with the traditional
hexie…ugh.
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While I can certainly do the
“Y” seam, they are time consuming to pull together. And with these little jewels, a ¼” from the
top of each petal needs to be left unsewn; which I only realised after I had
started sewing them together! And it also meant a lot of measuring and precise
sewing. AKA chain piecing becomes limited.
And I do love me some chain piecing!
“Y” seam, they are time consuming to pull together. And with these little jewels, a ¼” from the
top of each petal needs to be left unsewn; which I only realised after I had
started sewing them together! And it also meant a lot of measuring and precise
sewing. AKA chain piecing becomes limited.
And I do love me some chain piecing!
It was fun to put my Hex-N-More ruler to use again. I always
worry when buying specialty rulers that I’ll use them once and never touch it
again! If you need some quick tips on how to use this ruler, check out my
tutorial here.
worry when buying specialty rulers that I’ll use them once and never touch it
again! If you need some quick tips on how to use this ruler, check out my
tutorial here.
That challenge aside, these little jewels are super cute and
I love how the geometric nature of the Riley Blake Designs prints really pop in this
design. Plus, I just love a black and
white combo.
I love how the geometric nature of the Riley Blake Designs prints really pop in this
design. Plus, I just love a black and
white combo.
Once I had the jewel flowers stitched together, I decided to
pull everything together by surrounding the flowers with black and white
hexies.
Since this center panel was taking so long to create, I
decided to scale back on the size of the finished quilt and opted for a table
runner instead. With a huge bolt of Kona Cotton in white in hand, I decided to
keep with the black and white theme and lay the panel on a white background.
decided to scale back on the size of the finished quilt and opted for a table
runner instead. With a huge bolt of Kona Cotton in white in hand, I decided to
keep with the black and white theme and lay the panel on a white background.
To prep for attaching the panel to the background, and
hopefully speed things up, I marked all of my ¼” lines. My Pilot Frixion pen was
perfect for the white fabric, but wasn’t showing up on the black. I was really
happy when I found a blue pencil that
worked perfectly for the job!
hopefully speed things up, I marked all of my ¼” lines. My Pilot Frixion pen was
perfect for the white fabric, but wasn’t showing up on the black. I was really
happy when I found a blue pencil that
worked perfectly for the job!
Even with scaling back on size, this project stalled a
little (or quite awhile) at the hand needle turn appliqué stage! I quite enjoy
hand sewing work, but hand needle turning every little edge of the hexies was
kind of painful to me. It was slow going and fiddly. Not my idea of fun!
Towards the end, I decided to flip each ¼” seam under and pin it in place. This
made the hand appliqué work a little quicker and more straightforward, which
was much more enjoyable to me.
As soon as I got the panel attached to the background, I
felt a huge sense of relief! Like I had overcome a huge hurdle in the quilting
journey and it felt wonderful to be past that stage!
felt a huge sense of relief! Like I had overcome a huge hurdle in the quilting
journey and it felt wonderful to be past that stage!
I quickly got her basted and spent some time thinking
through how I wanted to quilt her. I had originally planned on using white
thread with a few shots of a bold colour, like red. But once I got started
quilting, I was concerned the red would take away from the black and white
theme and so I stuck with my trusty Aurifil Thread in white.
through how I wanted to quilt her. I had originally planned on using white
thread with a few shots of a bold colour, like red. But once I got started
quilting, I was concerned the red would take away from the black and white
theme and so I stuck with my trusty Aurifil Thread in white.
However, I did choose to mix up the quilting a little. I
started off with diagonal straight lines in the central hexie panel, which
created a quilted diamond pattern that is super pretty. For the negative space
at either end of the panels I opted for narrow parallel straight lines running
perpendicular to the hexies. I love how this approach added visual interest and
some yummy quilted texture. I absolutely love the look from the back too!
started off with diagonal straight lines in the central hexie panel, which
created a quilted diamond pattern that is super pretty. For the negative space
at either end of the panels I opted for narrow parallel straight lines running
perpendicular to the hexies. I love how this approach added visual interest and
some yummy quilted texture. I absolutely love the look from the back too!
To frame the table runner, I thought a black binding would
be the perfect solution. And was it ever! I love how much contrast it adds to
the final quilt.
be the perfect solution. And was it ever! I love how much contrast it adds to
the final quilt.
The only issue I have now is convincing friends and family
that it CAN be used as a table runner! Everyone is so concerned about it
getting stained, they’re reluctant to put her to good use. Do you worry about
using your quilty projects? Especially ones that have a higher likelihood of
getting stained?
that it CAN be used as a table runner! Everyone is so concerned about it
getting stained, they’re reluctant to put her to good use. Do you worry about
using your quilty projects? Especially ones that have a higher likelihood of
getting stained?
I keep saying that the quilted table runner is meant to be
used and if it gets stained, it gets stained. What are your thoughts?
used and if it gets stained, it gets stained. What are your thoughts?
Although this project sat idle for several months, I’m so
happy I kept at it and finished her off. I learned so much during this quilting
journey.
happy I kept at it and finished her off. I learned so much during this quilting
journey.
First, sometimes you may have a plan, but when inspiration strikes
it’s good to go with it.
it’s good to go with it.
Second, this journey reconfirmed that I love working
without a pattern. I love making it up as I go along. This proves much more
time consuming as I mull my options, but I just adore thinking through the
quilt design.
without a pattern. I love making it up as I go along. This proves much more
time consuming as I mull my options, but I just adore thinking through the
quilt design.
And, lastly, I feel really accomplished in pursuing a project
that was a challenge to get through. She’s been sitting on my Finish-A-Longlist since Q2 2016!
Wow, that’s a long time in the making! I think this little pretty will hold a
special place in my heart because of that.
that was a challenge to get through. She’s been sitting on my Finish-A-Longlist since Q2 2016!
Wow, that’s a long time in the making! I think this little pretty will hold a
special place in my heart because of that.
Now comes the challenge of convincing everyone that she can
and should be used 😉
and should be used 😉
Happy quilting!
xo
Shannon
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Congratulations on moving this WIP to completion! Sometimes projects just need more time to percolate, and I hope that you find that is the same for everyone feeling like they can use it as a table runner, too (they'll warm up to it)!
Thank you, Yvonne! It feels good to cross her off my list 😉 Yes, let’s hope everyone warms up to the idea of putting her to good use!!
Stunning quilt Shannon! I have the hex n more ruler and I've used it once which is better than some of the other rulers I have!
Thank you, Sue! I try and resist buying specialty notions, but the Hex-n-More ruler has been quite handy to have.
She is stunning Shannon and I loved reading about your process. To be honest, I would have a hard time using this gorgeous finish – I made a table runner recently and although I haven't said anything out loud, I secretly get a little upset when things get spilled on it. So far, everything has washed out and I need to get over it really. If things get stained, you make more right?! 🙂
Yes!! Exactly 😊 It gives us an excuse to make more and we’ve always got the pictures to remember our makes by!!
Genius piecing. I love the Quilting too.
Maybe try it as a bed runner instead of on the table? That way it still gets used, but less chance of stains.
That's a genius idea, Ronni! Thank you for the suggestion!