Saturday, April 21, 2012

Red - Ta Da!

Red

Here is Red. Finished, washed and at her cottage home. Red will hang out with the comfortable leather sofa for cuddling in after a day at the beach or in the garden.

Red

This quilt began with a bunch of Oakshott shot cottons. I pulled the warmer colours from my ColourBox and cut a bunch of strips. I made these blocks with no real plan. I laid out some of the strips on my table and when I liked what I saw I sewed some together. Then I laid out some more. I need to have the pile of strips to do this, it is not my process to work with drawings and coloured pencils or computer images, although I know that works for some.

Red

You can see the shimmer of the shot cottons in this photo. They are woven with a different warp and weft thread which provides the depth of colour and interest to the solid fabrics.

Once I had three blocks of shimmering shot cottons I pieced them with putty coloured Essex linen/cotton blend. The size was determined by how much of the linen was on hand. I found a piece of putty coloured Kona cotton for the back too. I guess you would say that the pattern is my own. You can read more about the process of making Red to this point here.

Red

This picture is of the quilting before I added the binding. I quilted the coloured panels in very dense straightish lines using a red/purple variegated Sulky thread, which I also used in the bobbin to add just a bit of colour to the plain back. Then I quilted the solid part in straightish lines using a putty coloured Valdani thread.

Red - back detail

You can see the quilting on this shot of the back after washing. All the negative space made me worry that my lines would tip to one side, so first I drew guidelines about 3" apart with my hera marker. I quilted the guidelines first and then went back and added more lines until I was happy with the effect.

Red

Here is an indoor picture, after washing and travelling. You can see that the different density of quilting on the coloured panels gives the outside edge a bit of a flare. But since people are not flat, I am not worried at all.

Red

Here is the quilting out in good outdoor light. The texture added to the negative space from the wash and dry is one of my favourite parts.

Red

Red is posing for the artsy shots in the field (you can see the 200 year (or something like that) old Oak tree behind her). I bound her with Essex linen in putty. I am thrilled with the impact created by that little bit of bright lipstick red binding. Red continues to have the sassy, unpredictable nature that sums up red for me.

Red

Red looks good lying horizontal too. She is about 48" by 65" after washing and drying.

Red

And one last shot. She likes the deck, which is good, as it is a great place to stargaze as it gets really very dark here away from the city. The nights here are chilly enough, even in the summer, that a quilt is necessary for star watching - and it is worth staying awake and bundling up, the milky way is easy to see and meteor showers are spectacular.

I almost forgot, Red is my first finish in this quarter of Rhonda at Quilter in the Gap's Finish-A-Long!

I am out to garden today - it looks like it will be a sunny day, and then I go back to the city tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend.

ps. I am linking this finish up to Fabric Tuesday over at Quilt Story, where you can find other wonderful projects. The button is over on the right of this blog.

Best,

Leanne

41 comments:

Poppyprint said...

I love how much you love this quilt. It's the greatest feeling to complete a project that means so much - congratulations on a beautiful quilt and enjoy your last day in paradise (sun!!!).

Alisa said...

It's beautiful! Red is my favourite colour! I find, like your quilt, that it's a beautiful colour in small bits. The reds look fabulous with the linen. Beautiful quilting too. So glad you love it!

Shevvy said...

I like playing with real fabric too - I can't really plan them beforehand.

Loved the comment about Red having the bit of a flare - and people not being flat. Too true love!

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

I loved it the first time Red appeared on your blog and I love it even more now - it is simply gorgeous!!

Erin @ Billy Button Design said...

Don't the colours really complement each other and the quilting is right up my alley! love it!

Sarah said...

Still doing crazily amazing things with solids, leanne! Red really is awe-inspiring! Love her and it's lovely that you clearly love her too. Like your comment that her flare is okay 'cos people aren't flat! LOL!

Kati said...

I really, really love how this came out. Do you mind if I use your idea? I've been thinking of making a quilt for a family member and this design would be perfect. Great work!

Jenny said...

Love that..and love how your quilted it, it really gives it structure and texture...if that makes sense ;o)

Meg said...

This is really stunning! I love the warm shades all together, so striking against the Putty. And that bit of red binding--perfect!

Annaliese said...

gorgeous... its simple, sleek and looks so snuggly with that quilting. Brava!

Debbie said...

There really is so much to love about RED! The awesomeness that is shot cotton. And I totally love your quilting in both directions. AND the red in the binding.....very very nice!! (great photos too!)

Toni said...

This came out so beautifully, Leanne! I love how you chose to quilt it and you plans for its use sound fabulous, too!

Sarah @ FairyFace Designs said...

Really love how this finished up Leanne, it is very beautiful. Love the coloured strip in the binding!

Katy Cameron said...

Oh she's absolutely fab! Love the combination of Oakshotts in the coloured panels, plus the nice, neutral background for them, and the quilting looks great :o)

Donna said...

Beautiful!

Svetlana said...

Leanne, what a beauty this Red is. I love all the details you put in, and your description and plans for it made me feel like I'm right there getting ready to stargaze with you.

Rachel said...

It's fabulous, Leanne! Those Oakshott cottons are gorgeous!

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Oh it is absolutely gorgeous Leanne - wonderful and worthy photo-shoot too xxx

Annabella said...

Oh Leanne, I know I sound like a broken record but it actually gives me a lump in my throat - it is so beautiful. I really do think you are one of the most talented quilters `out there` and I just love Red so much. I have to make my bestie a blue quilt and would like to use Oakshott cottons and this will certainly be an inspiration.

MariQuilts said...

I love all the fabulous pictures you took of this beautiful quilt...I just love it.

Judith, Belfast said...

Wow! Red is stunning, and what a wonderful story she has to tell! Beautiful! Jxo

Catherine said...

Oh, I really love your quilt - and the fantastic quilting.

Little Opal said...

That is such a beautiful quilt! I really like that you quilted the colour block areas in a different direction.

Little Island Quilting said...

Superb quilt. Love the colours, the quilting everything. And I agree...no computers, no colouring drawings...just be inspired with the fabrics you have to hand and go for it!

Patti said...

Your amazing photos of "Red" makes me love it even more. I noticed the red in the binding right off and it gives it such a great finishing touch. Another beauty, Leanne!

two hippos said...

"Red" is gorgeous!

felicity said...

I truly love the additional texture the quilting provides this quilt. It's so beautiful Leanne!

Marg said...

Red is wonderful Leanne, I love the simplicity of it and the quilting is absolutely perfect. The texture it adds completes it. The flash of red on the binding is perfect too. I quite often like to have one piece of the binding stand our from the rest.
Congratulations on a truly beautiful quilt.

Ella said...

That quilt is spectacularly lovely! It's simple, beautiful...I could keep going on and on.
Faboo job!

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

I love this. Did you pre-wash the Oakshotts? I have not cut into mine yet and wondered about the bleed.
This quilt is stunning and the quilting is really beautiful.

Rhonda the Rambler said...

You take the most beautiful pictures. Gorgeous quilt but no surprise there.

Catherine said...

what a fantastic finish: it looks amazing. And thanks for the star gazing imagery, sounds lovely

Canadian Abroad said...

You never fail to amaze me and I wish I could conjure up quilts the way you can. This is stunning.

Anne said...

I've been enjoying everyone's projects with oakshott, and this is no different.

Except that it is. Because it is so INCREDIBLE. I absolutely love this. I scour flickr and quilt blogs, so this is no small thing when I say that this is by far, my favorite quilt I have seen this year.

Absolutely stunning. I love everything about it!

The Thompsons said...

Beautiful, Beautiful! Love the lined quilting as well.

Judith said...

It is utterly gorgeous. I have worked with Oakshott for the past two years and know how wonderful these fabrics are.

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Beautiful!! I just love the quilting and that touch of red in the binding. :)

tusen said...

She's a real beauty, I love everything about her - the colours and how they are combined in the red rectangles, the amount of negative space, the quilting and the touch of red in the binding. And the photos on the sunny deck make her shine :)

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

Red is stunning, I love everything about her! Wow!!!

prsd4tim2 said...

Congratulations on a lovely finish. Red is beautiful!

Kelly said...

I love this quilt - it's so yummy and serene. I've pinned it to my "Quilty Goodness" board on Pinterest (with proper credit, of course!). Feel free to follow me if you'd like: http://pinterest.com/lipglass/quilty-goodness/