Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Lollipop Garden!


Challenge Reveal -

Last fall the Needlers' group organized a little challenge. We exchanged squares of 30s repros and the guidelines were to make a quilt using applique'. I chose to do machine applique' for mine.

Here is the thumbnail sketch that I did last fall in my little notebook:


I'm always surprised how like my original rough my finished projects turn out.

Here is a sketch of how I thought about quilting this. I took a photo of the design wall and just printed it up. I would make the print size larger next time. Here I did not use any of these doodles.

Instead, I decided on undulating wavy lines with red thread.

I like it - but HELP!! because of the wavy lines, I have some wavy borders. How can I minimize this? Any suggestions?


Views of the back. I used up some fun old novelty food fabrics:


And the label. I figured a circle was called for.


I finished the quilting on my Lunar Pineapple. I decided on the tea cup design (interlocking circles). I'm happy with it. I just wanted an overall textural design.


Here is part of the back, it almost looks 3-D.


And here is a fun label I made with a small fabric panel and a strip of the fabric from the front border.


Tomorrow I'm off to see Mary!!!!! I'll bring back photos of the NQA show - until then, happy sewing and let me know if you have any solutions to my wavy edges.

17 comments:

Vicki said...

What happy quilts! Love the quilting on the Lollipops!

Ann Champion said...

Your Lollipop Garden is so fun! I love the quilting you chose.
The Pineapple quilt looks wonderful all quilted..and your label is so clever! :)

Meredith said...

Have a great time. Can you block the quilt?

Mary said...

Love your 30's challenge. Needless to say I haven't started mine. Are those cheeseburgers on the back? Where do you find those fabrics! Did you ink that label? Fantastic! See you tomorrow. Get ready for some fun!!

Crispy said...

I love your garden!! So many fun fabrics in it LOL. I would recommend blocking the quilt to see if you can get it straightened out too.

Crispy

Sandra Henderson said...

Oh wow!~I love this! I've never done a challenge like this, but sure would love to one day. THis is amazing! Great job! XO

Anonymous said...

Love your lollipop quilt - colors are great and what a good way to use up scraps.

To help with wavy edges, I do a running stitch along each edge starting and ending on each side. I do this before quilting (usually machine quilting). It's done to cutdown on stretching the edges while quilting and I believe it helps. I know it takes extra time but well worth it. Don't know where I picked up this hint - but use it all the time.

Terry in So. Calif.

Barb said...

Hi Terry thanks for you suggestion, I really appreciate it. I think I can still do it. I wonder if I should undo the binding in the back and then try it. It sounds like good advice.
You do the running stitch on the machine, right?

barb

Sujata Shah said...

I love your lollipop Garden! The colors are just so happy and I love the quilting!

Janet said...

Wow, I like how the thirties fabrics pop on the red background. The design is great! I think the quilt looks distorted rather than wavy so I would try blocking it before unpicking. I love seeing your fun backs too.

QuiltSue said...

Sorry I can't help with your wavy borders, but I love Lollipop Garden.

Tonya Ricucci said...

love the lollipop quilt - so much fun. that back is such a hoot!

Lori said...

What a fantastic fun quilt!!! Thansk for showing your design process too.:) I loved seeing the penciled version.
I'm not sure what to tell you about the wave. Be sure to let us know the end results of what you try.

terry said...

Dear Barb .....

I do the running stitch by hand. I've tried it by machine and the machine pulls tooooo much and yes stretches the sides. I use a big needle and quilting thread. I usually give a slight tug on the stitches and at the end smooth them out.

I've also tried measuring the quilt down the center and tried to match the sides to this measurement. But have found that this step is unnecessary and the running stitch is enough.

If your stitches are close to the edge, you don't have to pull them out after quilting, they will be hidden by the binding.

Again, it takes a little extra time, but so worth it. Let me know if you're successful with this hint.

Terry in So. Calif.

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Both of these quilts are wonderful. The challenge one looks like one I would like to make! Hope you have a great time in Columbus.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh I LOVE lollipop garden! The colors, the fabrics, the design and the quilting! It is wonderful!

Rose Marie said...

Great quilts ....have you washed and block your quilt? If not, then go here and give this a try, this tip has worked for me a number of times now. Scroll down to the previous post to see the before and after.

http://appliqueandpatches.blogspot.com/2007/08/binding-fix.html