Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Fifth Chinese Coins Quilted

Such a simple quilt but with all the household and family memories, it's one of my favorites. Definitely a keeper.

Fifth Chinese Coins quilt

At first the fabrics seemed a random assortment; however, the monochromatic blue scheme made its presence known. {Black and white create the darkest and lightest of any color.} The multitude of blues became a boring as the quilt grew. Adding small amounts of purple and green perked it up again.

So the monochromatic color stretched into an analogous scheme. In the end, I simply had to add a smidge of red coins, too. By this point I was thinking about the color wheel. Orange should have been the "correct" color to complement blue but it didn't work for me. Whether it's because the many of the blues have a green cast (making a red the complement) or because it's my favorite color, nothing but red would do.

One perennial problem with improvisational quilts is finding the edges. Where and how should it end? Making Chinese Coins columns uniform length seemed easy but when I started quilting I realized a couple of rows were short. No problem.  I sewed two coins side by side and appliqued them to the end of those two short rows. They are about to be trimmed in this photo but at least the other rows didn't need to be shortened further. This quilt needs all its length.

Coins were appliqued to the
top of these rows to get the correct length

The first quilting was SID along the column seams with nylon monofilament on top and cotton in the bobbin. Next I quilted horizontally about 2-3" apart with cotton in top and bobbin. With that done I went back and split the distance with new quilting lines. Keeping the line spacing consistent but wide in the beginning of the project lets me stop whenever (a) it looks right or (b) I get tired of quilting. If I start out making close lines, I'm stuck to the bitter end.

Basic horizontal quilting on Chinese Coin quilt

The quilting is certainly close enough to hold the quilt but it looks a bit dull. I sewed more lines between a few of these rows and realized I liked the variation. So...

Horizontal quilting with variable spacing

The quilting alternate between seven to ten rows of close lines then six inches or so of wider spacing. Can you see them in this photo? It adds a bit of textural difference. Well, that's what I think.

When I pulled the Moda stripe for the Racetrack quilt I felt it worked even better with this one. Fortunately, there was more than enough for both. Love clearing older fabrics from my stash. Another one bites the dust!

Several aqua blue prints make up the back. This may be my first monochromatic back.

Binding and backing
on Fifth Chinese Coins quilt

Previous posts:
  1. Pulling the fabric
  2. Sewing groups
  3. Arranging the columns
  4. Sewing the top

Quilt Details
Size: 73"" x 80"
Design: Chinese Coins
Batting: Mountain Mist Blue Ribbon100% cotton
Thread: grey Aurifil cotton 50/2 thread, YLI nylon monofilament
Quilting: Walking foot SID

Enjoy the day, Ann

26 comments:

Pamela said...

Great finish! Looks very cozy.

patty a. said...

Congratulations on another finish! The quilt looks wonderful and I do like the changes in width of the quilting.

Julierose said...

Beautiful coins quilt--the extra quilting lines add so much texture--really great hugs, Julierose

Quiltdivajulie said...

Absolutely wonderful!!!!

Mel Beach said...

Fabulous finish!! I am impressed that you appliqued on extra coins as needed. I probably would have been tempted to chop off the others!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

A great finish! Even with a limited colour palette, this scrappy quilt works so well! So much to look at!

Robin said...

Sounds like you really had a pleasant time making this quilt. That's the way it should always be. Nice finish!

Monica said...

All the black & white in this quilt really makes it pop, but without making it heavy. I think you have a wonderful balance here. Great job!

Janie said...

Super finish, the binding is perfect.
Thanks for sharing your thinking on your quilting choices.

Mystic Quilter said...

Oh I do like this quilt Ann! Simply pieces with fabric scraps full of meaning and quietly quilted. Beautiful.

Ann said...

Thanks, Pamela. It is.

Ann said...

Thanks, Patty. Changing column widths let me use up more scraps. Yay.

Ann said...

I worried they wouldn't look good and I'd be forced to quilt all of it narrowly but am glad the design worked out. Thanks, Julierose.

Ann said...

Thanks, Julie.

Ann said...

The problem with improv coins is one column or another is always the shortest. I did trim but drew a line in the Sand about trimming further so had to scramble for a last few coins to use. Thanks for writing, Mel.

Ann said...

It was interesting to make the quilt random but controlled. Usually I control everything or nothing. A good for at into a new idea here, Linda.

Ann said...

I did, Robin. Almost every scrap has a funny or happy memory. Thank, Robin.

Ann said...

Several of the whites are old shirts from DH but the blacks we're mostly bits from the stash. They do help ground this quilt. I learned a lot here.

Ann said...

Thanks, Janie. We makers are always interested in process, aren't we?

Ann said...

Oh, Maureen. This is the perfect summary. Thanks!

Cathy said...

Looks ready for someone to cuddle up in it with a good book. Yes, it's definitely a keeper and, yes, red will always do. And thanks for the tip on quilting lines 2-3 wide and then going back to fill in. I'll definitely use that one!

Will there be more Coins in the Ann Fountain?

Ann said...

Good plan - quilt with a good book. I’m glad you u derstood my quilting explanation. It works very well for me. Love the. Owns in a Fountain reference.i do have two more ideas for coins rolling around in my head.

Nifty Quilts said...

It's wonderful, Ann! I like the simple quilting for this utility-type quilt. Definitely a keeper.

em's scrapbag said...

I like the shots of color in your blue scrappy coin quilt. Makes for a wonderful quilt.

Ann said...

Thanks, LeeAnn. I agree; the quilting matches the feel of the top.

Ann said...

Thanks, Em. It is interesting to see how differently large and small quilts behave.