"Ambition is enthusiasm with a purpose."
~Frank Tyger
When looking ahead there seem to be so many long, time-consuming steps to finish a quilt. Between that and anxiety about our quilting, it's no wonder we set tops aside. This one is finally finished. It's a perfect size to snuggle under during this cold weather. I'm keeping it.
![]() |
The Square Deal quilt |
As I mentioned earlier I divided the quilt into three sections: the Square Deal center, the sashing, and the outer border. After simple SID around the sashing, each section was quilted with its own designs. The sashing was the simplest - just wishbones - and that finished the quilting.
![]() |
Wishbone quilting in the sashing of the Square Deal |
Binding is the next step. I pulled several fabrics and laid some under the edge of the quilt to see how they might look. I thought light blue or green would work best but chose the pink.
![]() |
Binding choices for the Square Deal quilt |
There was just enough. Only four inches overlap. How's that for using every last bit?
![]() |
Binding pinned and ready to attach to the quilt |
Here's a detail of the binding and back.
![]() |
Binding and backing for The Square Deal quilt |
Quilt Specifics
Size: 71" x 71"
Design: The Square Deal (with leftover Chinese Coin units) and Lattice
Batting: Mountain Mist Cream Rose cotton
Thread: 50 wt Gutermann light blue, Metler red, and Aurifil white cotton
Quilting: SID, FMQ curves, feathers, wishbones, and parallel lines
Approximate yardage: 13.5 yds
The quilt started with some leftover Chinese Coin strips. Well, they weren't exactly leftover. The quilt they were supposed to become looked terrible. And there were too many to waste. And I didn't want to put them in the scrap bag because "I'm going to use it up now." Haha.
The lattice border was a collection of blocks that never got sewed up. I guess they were in the Parts Department that Gwen and Freddy espouse. They all fit together beautifully {only six extras were made for this quilt and you can tell which they are because the Xs are much wider} and reinforce my opinion that everything from our own stash will work together because we each have an innate and individual sense of color and pattern.
Previous posts:
- The beginning
- Finding border blocks among the leftovers
- Choosing the sashing
- Designing the border
- More border work
- Finalizing the border
- Using the leftovers as a baby quilt
- The back for the baby quilt
- Finished Square Deal baby quilt
- Quilting on original Square Deal begins
- Quilting continues
![]() |
Resonator sculpture with Social Fabric: Percussion in the background. Both by Nevin Aladag |
The wall hanging, which at a distance appeared to be a detailed painting, is composed of precisely cut rugs and carpets. {She must have a very sharp knife.}
The museum also has a room of Alexander Calder's mobiles with several of his sculptures on the adjacent terrace. This mobile entitled Double Gong includes two mallets which makes sounds when the wind moves it. {No breezes in the museum though.}
![]() |
Sculpture and mobile by Alexander Calder |
I first enjoyed Alexander's work at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago where we found the Catmobile. {Dada dada dada dada. Who remembers that theme song?}
With all the reds and pinks, the Square Deal makes a lovely Valentine. I wish you all a Happy Valentine's this week.
Enjoy the day, Ann
![]() |
Chat-mobile by Alexander Calder, 1956. |
With all the reds and pinks, the Square Deal makes a lovely Valentine. I wish you all a Happy Valentine's this week.
Enjoy the day, Ann
30 comments:
It turned out to be a very interesting quilt with wonderful fabrics. It’s also a quilt that I would have loved to be able to actually see the quilt as opposed to just a photo. By interesting, I mean that the quilt holds my attention for a long time. Yup, just went back to see it again and I would love to see it in real life. Congratulations.
This is a brilliant use of "leftovers" and really fun to look at. I too was surprised that the pink was the perfect choice for binding - green seemed so logical!
Wonderful quilt and use of those "leftover bits" ;)))) It is so vibrant and pretty. Nice work hugs, Julierose
That is indeed a snuggle-worthy quilt. Love the wishbone quilting.
Congratulations on getting Square Deal done! It turned out wonderful. Way to go using up nearly every last bit of the pink for the binding.
We love Calder's work, too -- DH has made several mobiles and stabiles with his wood turnings. And I am SO glad you are keeping this finished quilt for yourself! It's wonderful.
A wonderful quilt! I love how you added spare parts from other things, played with it and made it all work.
This is such a gorgeous finish, and it was fun to review the links to recall your process while making this quilt. Thanks for sharing your thought process as you refine your designs. I love to learn how others go about designing and making their creations.
Great quilt!!
What a fun way to play with your parts department!! I had fun looking for the newly made lattice blocks. Enjoy your new finish, especially with some of our chilly and windy weather!
Congratulations on your finish of this beautiful quilt - I love all the colour here.
Beautiful quilt, it has so much life. I love the pink binding.
LUV, LUV, LUV!!!! I'd keep it too!
Such an interesting quilt!
It's just lovely, Ann and I too am glad to think you are keeping it. It's also the perfect quilt to prove your theory about about the fabrics we choose to purchase.
Thanks. It includes lots of fabrics from my stash. Those are always the best; memories of who we were with, where and why we purchased them on top of the print and color. I will probably put this in our quilt show next year so perhaps you'll see it there.
Thanks, Gayle. I prepped those lattice fabrics for a workshop I couldn't take. They've been resting in the parts bin for a while. Aren't we lucky to have digital cameras. Things look so different through them. Without it I'd never have chosen the pink and I love it.
Thanks, Julierose. Isn't it wonderful to find the perfect spot for leftovers. So much better to work them into something like this.
Thanks, Preeti. The wishbone quilting is so easy in a narrow area like this.
Thanks, Patty. I'm so glad this one is done as it's become a favorite already.
I'd love to see DH's mobiles. The bowls you've show are gorgeous. He is very talented; mathematical and artistic. Such a combination.
Thanks.
Thanks, Linda. I'm delighted to find the perfect place for these blocks.
What a lovely comment. Just like me. I enjoy reading how people make their art even more than the result. At least, the background story enriches the work.
Thanks, Helen. I hope you are doing well this spring after all the fires and outages.
I don't have that much of a parts department but these were the perfect border block for this quilt. Looking back, I'm unsure why I was so confident they would work. The only solids are in the red/pink center. We enjoy it nightly and race to get to this quilt first. Our new favorite.
Thanks, Maureen. These colors draw me in and make me smile.
Thanks, Kate. That pink binding was the best choice, wasn't it? Always a surprise.
Thanks. I think it has unexpected depth, perhaps because of all the made fabrics.
Thanks, Kaja. It's a happy quilt. We can always use more happiness. And isn't it great to support my theories! I could easily get a swelled head.
Post a Comment