Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Boston and a String Quilt

Next stop, Boston. We've walked every day despite blustery winds and rain. And guess what? Another spring! The leaves are just starting to appear on cherry trees. Such a delight of pink, white and green. Plus star magnolias, tulips and more violets.

View of Boston's SW Corridor Path in bloom.
Boston trees budding

I enjoyed the detailed brickwork of the historic churches, the many statues, the granite curbs.

Trinity Church and Old South Church,
both from the steps of Boston Public Library

The mother-to-be would prefer the yellow-and-white quilt so I laid it out again and stitched the top. Here's the first and final arrangements. Who'd have thought such small changes in the placement of these soft blocks would make any difference? But they do to me.

First and final layouts of
string quilt in white and yellow

Another treat was using the featherweight to quilt the yellow and white string top. Parallel organic lines kept it simple. After a quick wash and dry, it fluffed up beautifully.

Yellow and White String quilt finished

Just for fun, everyone put a stitch or two in the binding. That makes it a gift from the whole family!

Details of quilting and binding

Quilt Details
Size: 41" x 41"
Pattern: String
Batting: Mountain Mist Blue Ribbon cotton
Thread: Gutermann cotton sewing thread in white
Quilting: Organic straight line on Singer featherweight

Enjoy the day, Ann

32 comments:

Quilting Babcia said...

Amazing design with your string blocks. I just love the diagonal rectangle formed with the black/white strings and underlying the yellows. This may just be my favorite string block quilt ever!

LA Paylor said...

Ann! It's just wonderful. I love yellow, I took a yellow scrap quilt made by my grandmother to college. Yours makes me want to drop everything and go make one. Thanks for showing the pictures of the town too. Love the quilt and that you quilted it on the featherweight, several family members took a stitch! LeeAnna

Monica said...

Isn't it magic how it all melds together after washing? I love that! It's a really great little quilt -- yellow is so happy -- and I hope they will get a lot of use from it. :D

Stephie said...

The mother to be has great taste Ann! The yellow brings it alive I think. And I totally agree that sometimes it's the smallest changes that make the biggest difference. Is there a more lovely way to finish up a gift than have the whole family make stitch or two - what a wonderful keepsake. I know I'd be thrilled!

Ann said...

I agree. And it was complete serendipity that the black and white rectangle formed! These surprises are why I enjoy scrap quilts so much.

Ann said...

Lucky you, LeeAnna! The older o get the more I like these buttery yellows - bottled sunshine. It was very special to quilt on the featherweight and include the whole family.

Ann said...

You're absolutely correct, Monica. A friend of mine with a textile degree told me that natural fibers respond better to washing. Just like our own hair.
I hope they use it lots, too. Fortunately, most people recognize scrap quilts as utility quilts.

Ann said...

Thanks, Stephie. I think the yellow brings it to life. And always fun to include family in the fun... And in the jokes.

Helen L said...

A beautiful quilt!! And that church is amazing!! Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures!! Hugs, H in Healdsburg

Julierose said...

Oh just love the diagonal yellows--a huge change I think--so lovely hugs, Julierose

Lara B. said...

So lovely Ann! The way the quilt changes through each stage is amazing to see! It looks absolutely perfect with the quilting you chose.

Janie said...

Another spring, how wonderful! Great quilt, a winner.

Kaja said...

I love the happy yellows too. I think the changes you made, especially the direction of those strong black and white strips, worked well (as you say, they seem small but make a big difference).

Ann said...

Thanks, Helen. The churches were very interesting to visit.

Ann said...

Thanks, Julierose. It's a happy, useful quilt.

Ann said...

Thanks, Lara. Simple quilting. I didn't want to fight puckers since there was no walking foot.

Ann said...

Yes, Janie, I was lucky. Spring has the prettiest flowers. And fun to see what blooms
In different zones.

Ann said...

I was fortunate to have to lay this out more than once, Kaja. It's helpful to use the camera, too. Usually forget that step.

Mystic Quilter said...

Oh this quilt is a beauty Ann. Love the way you have the yellow blocks on the diagonal, wonderful movement and fabric selection. Thanks so much for sharing photos of Boston, looks a beautiful city.

Ann said...

Thanks, Maureen. That's all the yellow blocks so they either had to be a row or a diagonal.

Cathy said...

The close up of the quilting makes it look so inviting. How fun that everyone put in a few stitches. And, who knew that arranging and rearranging string blocks would make a difference. I usually just slap them together as they come off the block pile but might try some arranging next time.

One of my sisters lived in Boston for a year while she worked on her PhD and I was always going to visit her while she was out there but never got around to it, darn it.

Mel said...

I appreciate your attention to detail in the fine tuning the placement/order of the yellow blocks to create a gradation! The straight line quilting nicely complements the string blocks and I just love how you involved your family in the binding process...what a lovely gift from all!!

Ann said...

I'm sorry you missed visiting Boston while your sister lived there. It's such a fun city to wander through. We had a good time. Having everyone help with the quilt made for an evening of laughter.

Ann said...

Thanks, Mel. It's interesting how different our quilts are but how much care goes into all of them. Involving everyone makes it a fun and memorable gift, at least for us!

Mary Marcotte said...

I agree with your small changes...the lines now help the eye to move across the quilt, and those colors are so pretty together.

Your pictures are wonderful...makes me want to go to Boston much sooner than we've planned! We enjoy historic churches, so I guess we'll have to make sure to catch those.

Kate @ Smiles From Kate said...

Oh it is so pretty, I love the contrast with the beautiful soft colours. If only I could get my daughter to pick up a needle.
Smiles
Kate

Carie @ Space for the Butterflies said...

Oh that is just so pretty!! I love the colours and the way the gold meanders through :)

Ann said...

Thanks for the comments about the little quilt, Mary. Have a wonderful time in Boston. There's so much history to see. Wear comfy shoes.

Ann said...

Haha, Kate. My daughter made two stitches.

Ann said...

Thanks, Carie. I like the way the prints worked out in this quilt, too. Lots of striped scraps that cut up very well.

Heidi said...

Love this layout, and your reference to bottled sunshine! Momma is going to love it!

Ann said...

Thanks for writing, Heidi. My grandmother always called yellow bottled sunshine.