Thursday, September 11, 2014

Long Live the King!!

Because I'm not making another one!

After being away for 5 days, I hustled this week and finished King George!

These shots were taken outside on this gloomy afternoon.  Here is the backing.  You can hardly see where I pieced the three sections.

I thought I might have to go to the launderette but I washed it at home.   In the dryer after washing.

I did check it after washing to make sure that all the markings came out - ha ha, let's not even go there!  You must use CLOROX 2 in the wash when you use the Crayola markers.   Looks good

I had to pull it out and regroup it about every 7-10 mins.  It took a long long time to dry.

In the Family Room - no flash

Here you can really see the texture.  One of the things that made machine quilting on a home machine possible is that I never turned the quilt - all the quilting is vertical.

Miss Lady Hummer came to check things out during the shoot and have a nip.  I used canned goods to hold the quilt on the deck rail.

Yesterday coco was so annoyed at how much time I was spending on this quilt she had a sit in.....okay a lay on....

I actually spend a lot of time and thought on selecting bindings.   At one point this week I thought "I HAVE TO BUY SOMETHING JUST RIGHT".... am I really that insane?

If I can't find something acceptable in this closet, there is no hope.  The problem is I buy mostly FQs or 1/2 yards which aren't large enough for a king sized quilt.

I put a brown print with little blue berries on the sides, a tone on tone brown for the bottom and zippy red, blue and black print for the top.  I like to do old fashion binding on scrap quilts...especially ones that use so many repros, hence the non mitered corners.

Here is my label

On the bed to show the extra wide size - I'm going to so love having the extra this winter. (don't judge my mint green carpeting, it's getting replaced soon).s

with the pillows.  I think I have to make some pretty pillowcases.  I bought the toile' valences on ebay...cheap)

The eye level view of the quilting texture is really good.

Thanks for all your encouragement and interest.  It was a real challenge.  I am thrilled with the results; a finished king sized quilt made all by myself.

p.s.  thanks 9-patch swappers for sending your packages - deadline is firm at October 1st.  They all look really great!

48 comments:

Diane said...

The quilt is wonderful! You should be pleased. You did a wonderful job on it. I'll mail my blocks on Monday. They've been done for ages I just haven't gotten to the post office. Thanks again for hosting!

Pinkadot Quilts said...

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Congratulations for wrangling that thing under your machine, the gentle curves set off the nine patches nicely! Great solution using the multiple bindings, I think it adds a lot of interest and the label is great. You should be so proud!

Ann said...

It is a quilt fit for Queen Barb! Beautiful quilt and quilting.

Lori said...

Hip! Hip! Hooray! It looks fantastic! Such a huge quilt and a huge accomplishment!!

Ginger Scott said...

King George looks awesome! The multiple bindings are the perfect touch for a scrappy quilt. It is hard to believe how quickly you finished it! My nine-patch blocks will be in the mail tomorrow. Happy Quilting!

Kyle said...

What a fantastic finish. I think your scrappy binding was a great solution. The quilt looks wonderful on your bed and I love being able to see the texture of the quilting. Love seeing your resource closet and how you've even included an American Girl doll!

Maureen said...

Gorgeous! Your quilting really takes it to another level. Love the red dryer!

Roxanne said...

Wow! WOW! W.O.W. King George deserves 3 wows and so do you!

O'Quilts said...

King George quite taken care of by Queen Barb. Splendid, my dear...so splendid. U r a whiz!

Janet O. said...

WONDERFUL!! Do you bust a few buttons every time you look at it? Love this quilt--quite an accomplishment!

Anonymous said...

This is gorgeous! I so love this quilt, the pattern, the fabrics, the quilting! And genius idea for quilting it in sections on your home machine. Love, love, love it!

Dawn said...

Fabulous accomplishment. What a special quilt! Obviously Coco agrees.

Linda O said...

Absolutely beautiful!! I have loved watching your progress quilting this masterpiece! Very well done! Thank you for sharing your process!

Rachaeldaisy said...

Wow!! Your quilt is absolutely beautiful. I love everything about it!! The mixed bindings are a brilliant idea. Did you plan to match all the backing panels because you are right that you can't see the seams. Its great to see lots of wonderful photos too. Coco looks right at home lying on it.

Sue said...

Barb, it's looking absolutely fabulous and can see why Cocoa has fallen for it too.
Good job done. X

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness Barb!! It is fantastic!! I can't even imagine machine quilting a small quilt. What a great way to use the 9 patches.....I've been thinking about what to do with mine when I get them!!

antique quilter said...

beautiful! well done. I love that you are able to wash the quilt at home, love the red washer and dryer!!!!!
Amazed that you quilted it yourself, you are inspiring me to start machine quilting again.
Kathie

Barbara said...

Wow! I just love this quilt and the cable quilting looks fantastic. You are in inspiration :)

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Great job and great quilt! I did a extra large double Irish Chain for my bed and drying it in the dryer is not an easy task. It kept rolling into a tight ball so I would readjust. I finally draped it over the dining room table for the rest of the day. I love love the vertical cables. Great idea of domestic machine quilting!

QuiltSue said...

what a great quilt. You should be very proud of yourself, even if you are a tiny bit relieved that it's done. Question is, what are you going to make next?

Cynthia@wabisabiquilts said...

It's been awe inspiring to watch you progress through this quilt. I love the scrappiness and the cable quilting. It looks fantastic - congratulations!

Amy said...

Well done! George will keep you toasty this Winter, for sure. Now you need some Martha pillow cases. Wonder if there is fabric out there...

Sujata Shah said...

Barb, this post is just the one I needed to read this week. I saw it on fb last night but Nilesh was hogging the computer... I wanted to see the pictures on the big screen. WOW! It looks amazing! You are so inspiring.. My only complain.... Mint carpet? How could you? Yes, I am so judging your taste.. hahaha.. I laughed when I read that.
Love the binding..scrappy and fabulous! Congratulations on the finish.. It looks great on the bed! Have your arms and shoulders recovered yet?

OTquilter said...

Wow! King George looks great. Congratulations! I'm with Amy on the Martha pillow slips!

Karen said...

I can see the quilting very well in the one photo. It looks very good. A finish you can be very proud of.
I did not know about needing to use Clorox 2 to get the Crayola Markers out. I have never used Crayola Markers for quilting design marking. Is this something you would do again? I am going to have to purchase a set and try it.

Cheryl said...

I am so impressed! Did you wash it before binding....which I think is so cool with all four sides different!

Chantal said...

Your quilt is stunning. What a wonderful design for the quilt. So good that you did not have to wrestle the quilt in different directions. Beautiful!

Thimbleanna said...

Wow Barb. Just Wow. What a wonderful quilt. I used to see those fabrics with Washington and Lincoln on them and wonder how I'd ever use them and ... this is just over the top. I LOVE it! How fun to have that quilt on your bed. Congratulations -- what a Beautiful finish!!!!

Browndirtcottage said...

Simple M-a-r-v-e-l-o-u-s!!!!! I think that ole saying " no pain no gain " fits perfectly with King George!!! What a gain!!!

I too recently went through the binding struggle. I usually do have a struggle. If I've gone through such thoughtful lengths in creating the rest of the quilt why in the world would I just throw any ole binding on just to get it finished. I've had completed hand quilted quilts go MONTHS in my search for the right binding. Like you I have a massive stash of fat quarters and can usually find the perfect binding right there in my stash….but not a piece big enough. I had a blogger recently tell me to just close my eyes and 'pick one'!! She also stated she was soooo glad she didn't have to agonize over hers like I did mine!! Oh REALLY??? hhumnnp!!! (ha)
I think your method on the binding was spot on. I've not tried this form of binding yet, but have a top that might benefit from this style…..we'll see.

Anyway, I LOVE it! The fabrics/colors are unique and unusual……I.LIKE.THAT.

LONG LIVE KING GEORGE!!!!!

Jan said...

{{Clapping!}} So impressive!! Good idea about keeping the quilting in one direction. It looks great!

Janet said...

You did it!! Your king sized quilt made entirely by you looks incredible! I just love the texture - the cables are marvelous!

Beth said...

Long live the King! Really is a quilt fit for a king.! The quilting is amazing. I just love seeing it all finished and on your bed. What an amazing job!

Every Stitch said...

Congratulations on a huge quilting achievement! Now you can quilt absolutely anything :)

Ruth said...

Excellent job on a wonderful quilt! You can be very proud of yourself! Can't wait to get the 9-patches!

Robin said...

That is a fascinating quilt. I'm sure it was a labor of love.

pandchintz said...

Congratulations Barb!! That was a mammoth task and it looks fabulous. Great pattern matching on the backing too - I couldn't see any joins! I'm sure it will keep you cosy and warm all Winter.

Anonymous said...

Hail, King George! Beautiful job, Barb! I love the care you took with details to make it even more extraordinary, such as the "seamless" backing. It'll make you smile every time you walk into your bedroom with the satisfaction of a job well done. :)
Mona in TX

Jan said...

So very wonderful; I truly love it.

Anonymous said...

Hi Barb: It looks fabulous, but I've come to expect nothing less! In this same time period, I made a 16" x 19" doll quilt!!! Aren't I special!!!! You have inspired me, though, to finish a flannel quilt TODAY!
Norma

Scrapspj said...

You did a beautiful job Barb. What a lesson in perseverance. The quilting came out great!

The Rabbit Factory said...

Great idea for the machine quilting...your quilt looks amazing!

fiberchick said...

This is just gorgeous and I love the texture of the quilting!!!

Carrie P. said...

Simply amazing!!! It is gorgeous and you should be very proud. I really do like the quilting design you used. It is perfect. Congratulations!

audrey said...

This is such a fabulous quilt! Your quilting looks amazing with it. Love how big this quilt is--the style definitely carries the 'weight' of that very well.:)

Nifty Quilts said...

Big congratulations to you!!! Patience, perseverance, diligence and beauty. That's what this quilt shows about you. Brilliant idea to baste it half at a time, and to quilt it vertically. I'll remember those tips. Fabulous finish! Hope you'll be hanging it in a show for all to see soon.

Karen said...

With so many comments, you really don't need mine, but congrats Barb on a wonderful quilt!

Meredith said...

Lovely and so is the quilting. No judging on anything from me. I would have to ask for no judging back in the fabric buying category as I buy the opposite of you. It was a really bad habit I have stopped myself from doing. I usually make large quilts so many times I buy enough of a fabric for a queen backing. my justification is that I can use it as a border on a quilt, backing or use a fat quarter in a scrappy quilt. I stopped doing it. There are some reproduction fabrics where I bought the entire bolt because I knew that red (for a king size appliqué quilt design in my head) I was not going to be able to find again. I also thought I was the only one who had the thought I can't find anything acceptable I need to go buy (fill in the blank amount of fabric). Since we moved and I saw my quilt studio packed -that was an eye opener about what I owned. The backing fabric you used is awesome. Way to go with the label you are always so good about doing that. I have said it before but you are adventerous with the wash out products. That is a goal of mine inspired by you.

Rose Marie said...

Simply gorgeous! Do you prewash your fabrics before cutting? I seldom have to wash my quilt twice when I use the Crayola Washable markers. Thanks for the tip about Clorax2, in case it is needed.