I finished my quilt, and I’ve titled it Juxtaposition. Every quilt teaches me something, and this one taught me to try again, to not get discouraged, to discover new ways of doing things.
This photo of the quilt, shows less of the texture–the quilting–and more of the color and pattern. I love the pattern.
It is Facets, from Anne of SpringLeaf Studios and as a lovely part of this quilt, she will be offering one pattern for a giveaway. (UPDATE: Giveaway is closed.) I only did one of the several versions of this pattern; mine was the simplest, but all of her directions are clearly written and easy-to-follow.
The easy punch of the graphic design drew me to this, and I knew that the fabric I chose, Charleston Farmhouse, would be a perfect fit. I just didn’t anticipate the difficulty of quilting that central square, but it didn’t take away my fondness for this pattern. I’m already planning to make it again, using the blocks idea shown on the front of the pattern.
I wrote about the frustration I experienced in quilting this, but sitting in my hotel room one morning (we were away at a conference), I realized that if I didn’t tackle and finish, this quilt, I probably would pitch it in the thrift store bag.
(original quilting)
So I drew up two ideas for the center; both were generated by a comment of a reader who said that my ferns in my original design were facing the wrong direction. I thought a long time about what she said, and as I drew, took in her ideas. I let my husband and my quilter friend Beth vote on the one they liked, and I went to town. I used a blue marking pen to assist me, but didn’t trace the leaves, as I still wanted that organic look to the quilting.
After I finished, I had my quilt in one hand, camera in the other, walking around the hotel looking for places to take its picture. This shot was taken in full sun, laying on the grass in the late afternoon and the texture of the quilting really pops. I used a faced binding again on this quilt, and I like how it looks.
It was lovely to come home with a finished quilt. This is quilt #121 on my 200 Quilts Index.
It is also part of the Third Quarter Finish-A-Long, and I’m happy to say I finished one more quilt on my list!
And also today, my tutorial on Y-seams posted at Leanne’s blog here, if you need a little help in that direction.
To win a copy of this pattern (it’s a downloadable PDF), tell me about the hardest quilt you ever made, that really challenged you, but one that stuck with until the end. Are you glad you finished it? Do you hate the quilt? Love it for what it taught you? Gave it away as soon as you could?
Leave a comment and I’ll pick a winner on Thursday evening.
Drawing is now closed. Thanks for participating.
OccasionalPiece--Quilt! 
It’s hard to say what the hardest quilt was. Perhaps the one that took the longest was my hexagon flower basket. 2 years and 3 months to hand piece 8,374 hexagons. It’s folded up in a trunk : )
That looks fabulous. It does look challenging, but you did a great job following through and finishing it.
I think my hardest quilt was a feathered star, but I still love it. Those set in seams were so much fun. ;-(
First let me tell you that I have ADD and take Adderall. No joke. Lol! Sooooo, any project that lasts for than a week is like some mental triathalon torture!
My Amish with a Twist 2. Google it, it flippin awesome!! 76 blocks, no die cutting but all rotary cut, 3/8 and 5/8 fractions, a gazillion fabrics and everything MUST be on a knats ass or it won’t fit. Get the picture?
Well its done!! Ready for my longarm! Took me FOUR months to finish the top.
OMG. But its perfect and amazing! Love it.
But I will never ever do another one lololol!
Amie
The hardest quilt I made was a drunkard’s path – all those curves!
I finished it but I’d never make one again!!!
The hardest one was a 3,648 pc beauty. I sewed until it was done. It really did turn out beautiful!
I sat down to do a quilt in a weekend, by Sunday I was so stressed, its still not binded but my granson loves it for it was for him and he uses it, it already has a stain, which I tell myself, I will do more quilting and bind this month ………..
Last year I made my version of Bonnie Hunter’s Easy Street. Mine is Not So Easy Street. I tore out, and tore out, then tore out again. But I finished and it is done and gorgeous!!!
How did you transfer your pattern to the top? My hardest quilt was my Wallander one, the maths involved in half rectangle triangles if they weren’t a regular x=2y shape was ridiculous. So I ended up paper piecing all 94 blocks 😉
The hardest quilt I’ve ever made was Indian Orange Peel, and it was a bitch. It took me 18 months and I didn’t love making it by the end but I did love the quilt when it was done. I have to say I like both versions of your ferns but I see how having them come out from the center pulls your eye along the quilt and makes it dynamic, good job.
The hardest quilt I worked on was a kaleidoscope block quilt. My daughter asked me to make a two-color quilt for her using this pattern. I did not sew corner triangles. Instead, I used kite-shaped pieces and triangles. It was difficult to cut and then line up the pieces so the seams matched and the blocks were the correct size. But I kept at it and then got to use the longarm of a friend to quilt it myself.
I think the hardest quilt I have made is the Flower Garden applique that I have nearly finished quilting (does it still count?) Until I started on this quilt I had only done small amounts of applique, apart from the sashings this quilt is all applique. I stuffed up trimming some of the blocks by trimming them to the finished size instead of the unfinished size, which meant I had to make the other blocks slightly larger so that the outer borders would still fit. Once it was all together, I loved it, then I had it basted and started quilting it which made me start hating it, now that I have nearly finished the quilting I’m in love with it again. I won’t be giving this one away, it will hang in our hallway so I can admire it everyday 🙂 I think there is another applique quilt in my future but not in the next year or so.
I love how your quilting adds to the texture of the quilt, it allows the pattern of the quilt design to be seen. Did you find that your quilting was better as you got near the end of the quilting?
That’s easy. We had a color challenge at my guild. We each picked two crayons and then had to make a quilt no bigger than 40 inches around. I picked teal and rust, it was so hard to find rust in fabrics. I did stick with it, and it’s not my favorite thing I have ever made, however I do use it as a end table cover, so I must not hate it.
Mine was a Sunshine and Shadows quilt that was made in purple florals. It is one of my favorites and everyone who sees it enjoys it. I want to do another one in another fabric but haven’t found the right fabric yet.
The quilt that was the most difficult for me was the Swoon pattern by Camille Roskelley, I hadn’t sewn many half square triangles prior to making this quilt & I had NEVER made a flying geese block, both of which contributed to my issues with piecing this quilt. I then quilted it myself on my sewing machine & it gave me lots of grief being the largest quilt I have ever made. It was SO worth it in the end & I was so happy that I persevered with it. Your quilt is gorgeous, thanks for the chance to win.
Elizabeth, your Juxtaposition quilt is amazing! I love your quilting design especially in that center square. I’m also amazed that you can quilt in a hotel room 😉 Congrats to Anne as well on her pattern.
The fern and camellia medallion you stitched in the center of your quilt is wonderful! You came up with a really great design; it references the quilt design, and the other quilting, but stands as its own design feature, too. The background grid and radiating lines are great. I’m so lazy about stitching in my loose threads, but I can see how it makes such a clean finish, here. (I’m so proud to think I had a tiny part in your design and its creation!) This quilt really deserves a place of honor!
I really love the picture of the quilt on the big tree, it is a lovely quilt and finish.
What a wonderful finish!! I’m certainly glad you stuck with it and amazed you could quilt in a hotel room. Seriously, is this what you did? Thanks for promoting my pattern . . . I really appreciate it.
Found your blog by googling Charleston Farmhouse quilts. Your quilt is beautiful! And you finished it in a hotel room… as in brought your machine on a trip so you could sew? You’re a gal after my own heart 🙂
The quilting you did on this is just wonderful. PS I’m so happy to have found both your blogs!