Sunday 17 March 2013

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.

34 comments:

  1. This is STUNNING! Well done, friend ;)

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  2. Really beautiful - love the subtle heart shape formed by the HST's! Fabulous photos in the snow too!

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  3. I can't believe how stunning this has turned out. It's amazing how effective plain fabric can be when used in the right way. Congratulations.

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  4. Oh it turned out beautifully!!! Love love love! Well done on a fantastic quilt top Mareen! Can't wait to see how you quilt it!

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  5. I love how your quilt turned out! Bravo! I hope it does well in the Pantone Challenge!

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  6. I love this! The colors and design are beautiful, great job!

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  7. So so beautiful! The colours, the layout, the beautiful sharp points- its perfect!

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  8. Beautiful- I love the colours! Hope you had your thermal socks on in the snow! Good luck with the Challenge.

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  9. Great job on your challenge...and I loved seeing the pictures...it looks like a nice, cold, windy day. =)

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  10. Fabulous. I love the colours. HST's are the best!

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  11. great finish! Congrats, it is lovely!

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  12. Gorgeous quilt top!! I've made a few HST quilts. The first I did not carefully square up each block before sewing them all together and it was...frustrating at best. I learned my lesson! My current HST I'm being very diligent with squaring up each HST block and pinning where seams come together, and am very please with the results! Look forward to seeing your quilt finished!

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  13. Wow, I really, really love your quilt top. The colours are fabulous and the hearts are subtle and striking at the same time. Gorgeous!

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  14. Perfect! I love how you got those hearts in there, it is just lovely :)

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  15. This quilt looks gorgeous! I was going to say how well your points turned out (just perfect looking) and then I read that it's thanks to squaring up so carefully. Good to know! Have they announced the winners yet?

    Thanks for linking up!

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  16. Lovely! The hearts were a fun surprise too. :) I really like how they are kind of hidden at first and then emerge. I can't wait to see what you do with the hand quilting. Good luck in the competition!

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  17. It is so stunning. My points are usually not so neat. I guess I need to square off or cut more accurately.

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  18. Congratulations! It's beautiful! and I love all the photos! Good luck!

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  19. I love these colors; I can see that you do too!

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  20. Gosh it photographs well in the snow too!

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  21. This is just beautiful! I love love love all of the colors you added!

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  22. OOH! This is lovely! I love the way the colors play together!

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  23. Just beautiful! Congrats on your win.

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  24. Beautiful! Such wonderful colours and I love the hearts.

    Congrats!

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  25. Congrats on your win!! It's gorgeous!!

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  26. Such beautiful colours. Amazing quilt. Congratulations on your win.

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    1. Thank you so much, Gillian! I love this one so bad but I'm still stunned to have placed. Competition was tough, including your pretty top. :)

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  27. What an amazing quilt! The colors and layout really create some great movement. Thanks for linking up to TGIFF!

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  28. Nice design using HSTs!

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  29. Absolutely gorgeous, and congratulations!

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  30. I love the design, very pretty, congratulations.

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  31. It's beautiful! The colors are wonderful!

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