Emerald Quilt Challenge (Pictures Galore)

I did it! I managed to finish my HST quilt top today and talked my sister into a photo session in the freezing cold. Finally a shoot outside - with all that can include. Neither her, nor me succeeded in displaying it well due to the wind.

We only found places to hang it from that wouldn't show it whole.

Or we put it upside down. (See me going "aargh".) Or it fell off all the time.

Though, once turned around and fixed, this proved a really pretty backdrop. The words read "For your and our freedom." It's part of a memorial to Polish soldiers and German anti-fascists / German-Polish friendship in the park. I think the hearts of my top are fitting.

I had spent Friday night crawling on the floor to find the right layout. I even got up after going to bed to exchange a block here and there for another. Crazy. None of my previous ideas convinced me enough but somehow I sneaked in something of them all. There's squares, chevrons, hearts I hadn't originally thought of, even meanders! It's both symmetric in design and all mixed up colour-wise. I love it! I used 14x18 squares in the end - 252 of the 288 I made. The current measurements are 1.42 m x 1.81 m (or 55 1/2 inches x 71 2/3 inches), the HSTs are 10 cm finished (just under 4").

Here are better looks at the complete layout. Shame the sun didn't play along for these.

Though I'll put it away to work on other pressing projects first, I'm soo looking forward to quilt this on the machine and by hand using the pretty pearl cotton set I bought in January. I think the layout provides me with a ton of options to make for really interesting quilting and highlights.

Here are a few more close-ups of design details which I took inside where it is warm and cosy.

I think the time-consuming squaring up really paid off! Most points are really really neat.

So, having been encouraged to do so (thanks!) I'm entering the Pantone 2013: Emerald Quilt Challenge. I hope with a ton of green (and actual emerald, too) and blues as the second colour, it fits the rules. Have I mentioned that I'm really happy with how this top in shades of my favourite colours has turned out? I doubt I'd show it off if I didn't.

Find all the other entries here.
Find the Flickr group here.

Happy sewing, friends, I hope your weekend was as fantastic as mine!


Linking to various cool link parties - Let's Get Acquainted Monday Link Up, Sew Cute Tuesday, Show & Tell Tuesday, Fabric Tuesday.