It always brightens my day when I see a community quilt from Cheryl in Dallas in my inbox. Cheryl writes:
Hi Jo!
I have been enjoying seeing the community quilts your blog readers are churning out. And a busy bunch they are. Me, I work at a much slower rate — good thing that quilting is my hobby, not a livelihood. I volunteered to finish charity tops for a friend who has a quilting business. I just finished quilt #9 and have about 16 or so more to go.
Below: Today’s lovely quilt top comes to you from Judy M. in Lynchburg, Virginia. This pattern is “Sticks & Stones” by Missouri Start Quilt Company. I have worked on several tops made by Judy previously, and she does such neat, precise work. It makes a longarmer’s heart happy.
The quilting pattern is called “Oh My Feathers” by Patricia E. Ritter and Valerie Smith. I purchased the pattern at www.urbanelementz.com. I like to pick quilting patterns that “contrast” with the quilt top itself. For example, if the top has lots of squares, rectangles, and 90 degree angles, I like to use a flowing, flowery pattern. If the quilt top is very complicated, then I go with a simple pattern like “Ancient Scrolls” that has lots of circles or “Bauhaus” that is mostly rectangles.
The quilt is 88” x 108”, which can be used as a bedspread for a queen bed.
The quilting pattern alternates flowers with feathers, and a few hearts thrown in.
My favorite part of the quilting process: when the quilt top pulls up off the floor. That means I’m half-way through, and I start thinking about the next project while I watch the longarm run back and forth.
Don’t you love how the quilt has those uneven borders? Everyone and her dog likes the unusual treatment.
I used a black binding for Sticks & Stones. I am one of those strange people who cut my binding on the bias at 2” wide. Bias is soooooooo much easier than binding cut on the straight of grain; it gives (and forgives) a lot of boo-boos.
Below, you can see the colorful backing I chose for this quilt. It is made up of a gazillion squares of various sizes. This is really a two-sided quilt!
Judy’s beautiful quilt went to the Ocala (Florida) Christian Women’s Club where it was the star item in the Club’s Quarter Auction. The ladies at the luncheon bid a quarter for the chance to have her name drawn as the winner. The purpose of the auction is not to raise money, but to provide entertainment while the attendees are encouraged in their spiritual walk with God.
Update on my health front: I am starting (yet another) chemo drug this week. I never know which of the common side-effects will show up, but I have already experienced most of these icky problems. Usually, it’s things like fatigue, low red blood cells, low white blood cells, hair loss (duh!), and I can cope with most of those with frequent naps and headscarves. So glad I’m retired and set my own schedule. My husband knows when I am feeling good because I spend time in my quilting room. It’s my happy place.
What a pretty quilt. I love the soft colors…yellow and gray and so nice together. Great work from Cheryl and Judy. I so appreciate the donations of your time, talent, and funds. The news nowadays is never good…I love seeing some good here. This quilt is definitely doing good!!
That’s a beautiful quilt, with a surprise bonus on the back. I also prefer bias binding, although I cut it a little bigger – 2.5″. As Judy points out, it is very forgiving. I like to do rounded corners on quilts for children, and bias goes around them so easily.
I absolutely love making biased binding. From start to finish; the entire process is fun for me. I also use 2.5″.
That’s a great quilt, and I love the black binding. I’ve decided in the last couple of years that I really like darker colored bindings. It just seems to say “Stop, I’m finished!” lol.
Such a nice quilt! And what a great finish! I like the colorful backing too. I haven’t done a bias binding in a very long time. I think I need to try that again.
It’s really encouraging to know that someone else cuts binding exactly as I do! If I’m very careful, the width of the binding comes out exactly the same on top and bottom, like a frame around a work of art.
A beautiful quilt – someone is going to love this one! Thank you both for all of your hard work.
Love and prayers
Cheryl, prayers for you as you go through your treatments.