Sunday, September 15, 2013

Sara's Green Quilt


After a great deal of dithering on this theme, I finally decided to "go green". I picked up a quilt that I started at International Quilt Festival and slashed through it to recycle the green leaves that I had previously quilted. I went through a very old bag of scraps to reuse leftovers. I try to experiment with new techniques with each of quilt challenges. This time, I decided to try piecing the quilts on my longarm- I had just completed a quilt that was smaller than the backing so there was extra backing already pinned to the machine rollers. I put a square of batting down on top of the backing and added each piece using a ruler and straight line quilt as you go. I knew I wanted to practice ruler work and I know I needed the practice after I ended up deflecting the needle into the bobbin case and needed major repairs. (Not sure how the needle fell into the spinning bobbin but my dear husband knows a lot more about sewing machine mechanics now and my wonderful machine is doing beautiful stitches again). I added more quilting and a facing. I then decided to add paint to one of the pieces that had a white background that bothered me. So here it is, a quilt in a green color, with spring green leaves, with re-purposed and recycled fabrics (and dear husband says I shouldn't leave out that I was a greenhorn using this piecing technique)

10 comments:

  1. Love your story as well as your quilt! How fun to use the leaves and then actually piece on the longarm. I would think that would definitely take some practice. The colors and quilting are wonderful!

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  2. Sara you certainly persevered from start to finish and the result is definitely worth your effort. Your husband is a gem to solve your stitching problems. The texture you created with outline quilting added dimension too. I like your contrasting fabrics - it feels like sunlight on your plant subjects.

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  3. Dear Sara, You did persevere! Do I recognize those leaves? From our shared class at festival last year? Great use of them and a great story.

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  4. Another truly "green" work of art. I didn't know you could even piece on a long arm. Recycling job well done!! The echo quilting is so fluid and the assymetric composition works so well. Lovely !

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  5. The piece is simply beautiful and comforting as I said about another...thinking next reveal already. I love the colors and contrast and layering, but mostly I am overcome with envy for your longarm. You deserve it.

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  6. Oh my - sounds like a challenging quilt, Sara. I, too, was surprised that you can piece on a long arm. Love the colors and the echoing around the leaves. The chartreuse color really makes the whole piece pop. And kudos for your use of recyled and scrap fabrics! Well done!

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  7. Like so many others, I had NO idea that one could piece on a longarm! I'd love to witness that in action. This quilt is just beautiful, Sara! I am so impressed at your repurposing other projects and using them in a brand new quilt and in a brand new way. I can hardly wait to see this one in person, so I hope that this is one that you'll bring to Houston to show us Mavens who are going to be there.

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  8. Thank you for giving "permission" to "slash and recycle" a class project!

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  9. I love the fact that you used a UFO we have so many. I like the texture you created with the echo quilting.

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  10. What a great solution! Again using scraps in such a great way! So fun to see!!!!

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