bohemian like you quilt reveal

 If this quilt were a song it would be

bohemian like you

by the Dandy Warhols.

I will pass on the over used term boho chic much in the way I do the term  shabby chic.

Generally speaking my quilts gather a life

which is not pre-determined.

The seed for this quilt was a simple glimpse of my own stacked quilts.

I fell in love with the blue, white and natural colourway.

I also blame my visit to Libertys 

for totally bringing me back to my arts and crafts 

state of mind.

  Although I am known for hand piecing quilts

I am not averse to a bit of machine action....

but don't worry I made up for it with a

marathon of hand quilting!

  I love how the gingham binding

creates a 3D looking double helix pattern,

discovered by accident when trying out binding fabrics.

This quilt has a real vintage/alpine/Liberty feel to it.

It is all about texture 

and is really not like a quilt as we know them.

The heavy quilting has given the fabrics stability....

which makes it feel like a turkish rug!

Vital stats:

Size~50" x 60" (the perfect size for lounging)

Strip~ widths approx 1.5" 

lengths various

Number of strips 40

Fabrics~ mix of stash fabrics inc my favourite Joel Dewberry herringbone 

also fabrics gifted to me from Deborah simply miss luella

and from my pal Lisa jumble and jelly

thank you girls.

Backing~ vintage terylene type fabric of an indeterminable age.

Binding~ another stash fabric of unknowness.

Quilting~ hand quilted with almost 3 balls of number 8 perle cotton.

Rows approx half an inch apart.

120 rows equals 6000 inches of hand quilting!!!!!

Time taken to hand quilt ~ approx 60 days.

Cause I like you,
Yeah I like you.
And I'm feeling so Bohemian like you,
Yeah I like you,
Yeah I like you,
And I feel wahoo, wahoo, wahoo! 

ps. I love you.

reverse applique quilt label

 

  There's nothing like starting a new year off

with a new skill.

This is my first attempt at needle turn applique.

I'm so pleased

as I have wanted to make this type of label for so long.

It really was very easy.

Simply draw your shape on the back of your background fabric (the gingham)

cut out the shape leaving a 1/4 inch for the under turn.

Next snip up to the line of your shape,

pin on your second fabric and start sewing.

I used the stitch I use for binding.
Find my label tutorial  here

woo hoo!

linking up with I Have to say 
show and tell Tuesday

hand quilting to the max

 I have finally crossed the finish line of my hand quilting marathon.

My constant companion,

falling in love with every stitch.

In an effort to reduce wonkiness

I quilted in one direction

turning the quilt after every line.

When the bulk of rolled up quilt became large and an effort to handle

I began sewing two lines at a time

hence the two needles above.

Last night I finished the last strip with three needles (Mary)

Thoughts soon turn to binding don't they?

This is how I 'audition' fabrics.

Generally I find the right binding 

but this quilt with it's crazy backing got me stumped..

Without really thinking I bought the middle fabric

2 metres as well!!!

I don't think its right.

I'm not 100% convinced

but I think I prefer the

choice below.

This quilt is by no means perfect.

It's been another learning project.

The backing is wonky through hand quilting

and the whole quilt has a curved attitude

because I sewed all the strips one way 

and didn't alternate....add to that a gingham binding on the bias...

Oh my dear quilt I do all these things....

cause I like you,
Yeah I like you.
And I'm feeling so Bohemian like you.
Yeah I like you.
Yeah I like you
And I feel wahoo, wahoo, wahoo!*

* Dandy Warhols