Monday, November 03, 2008

what a bunch of squares

This is the quilt that I was working on with the pieced binding. I didn't want to give away too many sneak peeks before the quilt was finished.
It was inspired by Denyse Schmidt's Lazy Gal quilt. This is the third quilt in this style that I have made. The first one is on my bed. The second (quilt top only) I swapped for fabric with Jacquie.

This just may be my favorite one of this style yet. There is no pattern for this...it's just free pieced. First I made the colored blocks, then I added white borders to make the blocks 16.5". I joined all 12 blocks together, then I added white borders (4.5" cut) around the edges of the quilt to make the squares pop. The quilt measures 57" x 73".

The white fabric is bleached muslin that I bought it at JoAnn's ($1/yard with a coupon.) When I first starting working with it I thought it was a little thin, but now I'm sold on this fabric. It's lightweight but strong. I love that it IS thinner, because it makes the quilting process so much easier-there are fewer bumps (where the seams join) to quilt over. And it doesn't fray like crazy, which is another huge plus in my book.
For the back I used solids with a strip of frog fabric that came from Carolyn. The solid green fabric was from a duvet cover set I bought at IKEA. The grey came from Mill End Textiles in Fargo. It's a PERFECT grey. Isn't that frog fabric fabulous??? It's from Alexander Henry. I love it. Thanks Carolyn!
I stippled the whole quilt in white serger thread (which happens to be 100% polyester-but I don't mind-I'm not a cotton thread purist). I like to use serger thread at times, especially if I don't want the quilting to look thready and stand out. It's a thinner thread, so it blends in, which is exactly what I was looking for.

I LOVE mixing designer fabric with lots of solids.
It's a great way to get a lot of bang for your buck.
Because let's face it, when you make a lot of quilts, that really matters.

I love a pieced binding...
and here it is all folded up. I haven't washed this one yet.
That's on the agenda for today!

I'm keeping this one.

86 comments:

Michelle said...

Love it - that frog fabric is to die for!

Anonymous said...

So pretty -- I love the color of this one.

Ashley said...

oooohhhhh.... pretty pretty pretty!

Michaela said...

Go Green!! and Gray.. You could almost call it double G quilt.:)
No no I am just kidding.
I love it. I have to agree about muslin from JoAnn's. I also like it because after I wash it it creates softer quilt.

nettie said...

i think this is my favorite quilt of yours yet! It is awesome! i love the colors grey and green together! it's fantastic

QuiltNut Creations said...

i love the quilt but i LOVE the back of it! another fabulous finish!

Mama Urchin said...

So the quilt cupboard is now at 46?

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful quilt! I am so envious of your skill.

Katherine said...

Green never looked so gorgeous! I absolutely love this quilt from it's bold design right down to its pieced binding. Wow!

Amanda Jean said...

mama urchin,

this one was in the quilt cupboard photo...it's the eighth one down on the left hand stack.

aj

MegRNC said...

LOVE this quilt!!!

Marie' said...

I like the back just as much as the front.

Tamara Lund D.C. said...

I love this quilt. I agree with Katherine Green never looked so good. It is motivating me to finish the one I have going. I have 12 black and white with red blocks.
Thanks

Tine said...

Another stunning quilt! I like the idea of mixing the designer fabric with lots of solids. Thanks for sharing that!! I don't make a lot of quilts, but designer fabrics cost app. $22 pr metre here.... -unless you are lucky and find a great sale!! So a little does need to go a long way sometimes ;-) I will keep this tip of yours in mind when I go fabric shopping!

Dawn N. said...

I love it! I love simple quilts that show off great fabrics. And the froggy fabric is definitely a highlight!

Anonymous said...

Love the green and grey together. I would have never thought they'd be so complementary. As usual, a beautiful piece. You inspire me to try new quilting designs and color combinations!

Anina said...

Absolutely awesome! I love the green and the grey and the FROGS!

Molly said...

I totally love this quilt! I am dying to make one of this style of my own. Thanks for the inspirations!

MichelleB said...

Another beautiful quilt! I love it. What is the measurement of the king quilt on your bed? I think I need to attempt a quilt for our bed.

Unknown said...

Beauty! Glad your keeping it :)

Jane said...

You really need to stop inspiring me. I work so much slower than you and I still have the QUilt ALong quilts to actually stipple and bind!
I LOVE the colors and the whole design. I really want to make it to add to my Amanda-inspired quilt cupboard! Maybe someday I can have one like yours!!

Robin said...

Mmmm... so lovely!

Philigry said...

i am glad you are keepint this one! i love the green.

Bee said...

Love this quilt. I think I will try the bleached muslin fabric. Thanks for the suggestion.

Karen said...

You've got another beauty;) I've done pieced borders on the last 2 quilts that I've done and I love them.

Selina said...

It is divine! I want it!

Anonymous said...

beautiful as usual and I love the grey for the backing.

Alana Jo said...

Beautiful work.

Katie Jean said...

Oh, it's gorgeous. Although you make the most beautiful quilts, I'd have to say this might be my favorite of yours so far!

sulu-design said...

Love, love, love! Love the simplicity, love the mix of pattern and solid, love the mix of green and gray... yet another masterpiece from the master!

audreypawdrey said...

This is beautiful! Great job on this one, and I would definitely keep it too.:)

Billye said...

OOOOHHHHH!!! Just gorgeous!!! Thanks so much for sharing!

Billye

Georgia said...

Yet another one of your quilts that I *LOVE*. The combination of green and grey and white is so fresh and lovely. The back is brilliant too.
Oh! I finally finished a quilt that I have been working on forever - using your hourglass tutorial. Here it is - http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgiamcdonald/2962991032/?addedcomment=1#comment72157608624202680

Amy Jo said...

Gorgeous.

Lina said...

Love the green and grey combination, another fine specimen!

Anonymous said...

That is one mighty fine quilt. I absolutely love it.
I'm knee deep in doll quilts and a queen-sized quilt I'm making for my son's singing teacher in lieu of paying for his lessons. *sigh*
I'm saving this to my favourites. The summer holidays are coming in a couple of months and this looks like the perfect sort of quilt for my bed.

Unknown said...

I love your quilt as usual. What batting did you use inside?
Do you prewash fabric etc?

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Love it! I have some blocks sitting here, you've inspired me to get them finished! love the green!

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Another gorgeous quilt Amandajean! Love monochromatic quilts - the solids and prints are lovely! The pieced binding finishes it off perfectly!

Mandalin said...

Green has always been my favourite colour, so this quilt of yours is just... so... perfect. It gives me hope that I will make a quilt for me... me... me!!!.

Dandelion Quilts said...

That green and white is so fresh and charming. I would keep it too!

Alissa said...

I LOVE IT. Seriously. I LOVE IT. And I find that to be the most fun way to make a quilt... just have fun making it block by block without thinking about math! Really - it's so beautiful.

sarah, rsm said...

i love it, and the orange one on your own bed ~ beauties both!

Linda said...

Love that frog fabric! Too cute!

susan said...

That's gorgeous. I'm constantly amazed at how quickly you work. :-)

Willow Grove - Kez said...

I love the colour green. The quilt is gorgeous. Where do I find the pattern for it. I would love to have a go at making one. The frog print is cute too.

lera said...

I am LOVING this quilt. I love that shade of green. So beautiful.

Amanda Jean said...

kerri,

there is no pattern. i just made it up as I went.

aj

pratima said...

So pretty!! Love the combination of green and grey.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I found your blog last week and have kept coming back every day since!

I absolutley love that quilt! I've had something similar in mind for a while now, and when I see yours I really think I'll go for it! Just need to find the right background fabric :-) Thanks for all the inspiration!

Hannah said...

I love the colour combinations! Such a pretty quilt. It's going to make a great addition to your cupboard!

Vicki W said...

What a pretty quilt. I love the green and grey color combo. I have also used serger thread for quilting. As a longarmer I have heard a lot of people warn against using serger thread but I have a few quilts done with serger threads that have been washed a lot and they hold up great.

Louise said...

Yes you definitely had to keep this one!! I love the idea of the plains with the fancier fabrics and you have just made me realise how I can put together a quilt I had in mind for a random bit of fabric. Thanks again - I think I'm about 30 quilts behind you now ;) !

Sherry said...

I love this one. Glad you are keeping it for yourself! I think pieced bindings are a fun finish. Great job! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Simply stunning!! I love this quilt!! It's soothing but still strong! You are an artist!! Enjoy your quilt(or give it to me) Libby

Christy said...

extremely cool!!!

Shanna said...

I love this quilt!! The greens are beautiful and when set off by the white...just wonderful! The frog fabric is very unique and I love it! Another beautiful job...can't wait to try this method! Thank you for the inspiration!

Anonymous said...

Its pieces like this that make me want to get brave enough to try a quilt!

jan said...

Love the quilt! Your ability to combine colors and fabrics is extraordinary!

dutchcomfort said...

Gorgeous quilt and quilting, fabrics, WOW!

Jilly's Space said...

I LOVE this quilt!!

anne said...

Love it love it love it, I am a green kinda gal. How do you make those blocks a tutorial please please please please. Happy Stitching

kat \ Taylor Made designs said...

love the colours – Love the gray, and love the froggy fabric. I agree with you, definitely a keeper :)

Anonymous said...

It. Is. Gorgeous. I love all those greens, with the bit of gray. Fabulous.

Anonymous said...

Oh, just fabulous! I love the green and gray combo and the simplicity of the back. It's just gorgeous!

Bum Atom said...

how so you get such traffic, I love the blankets but there is more too it, How do you do it? Do you listen, is that it 65comments wow

Anonymous said...

It's gorgeous! I love the colours!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I really enjoy your site!!!! So much inspiration & so many beautiful quilts. Thank you for sharing & may you continue to be blessed with so many fans!!!
Ms. Brenda (no blog)

Rebekah said...

I think this is my most favorite quilt of yours! I haven't used my DS quilt book lately...I need to pull that out again :)

Vanessa said...

found a comment by you on my blog from ages ago. though i'd stop by and see what you were up to. love the quilts! they are amazing!

Val said...

Oh this is just beautiful. I just don't know how you do it all!

Annie Pazoo said...

I am in love. The whole thing is wonderful.

Roxanne said...

LOVE the green - this is gorgeous! I think you would be crazy NOT to keep this for yourself.

Mama Spark said...

What a great and simple quilt! I wonder what it would look like using brights and black instead of white?

Anonymous said...

saw this one on flickr the other day and favorited it right away. i'd keep it, too, if i'd made it!

beki said...

You should keep it - it's wonderful!

Paula said...

Can I just say I LOVE THIS QUILT! And that I just might have to copy it! I love that it's off...that it's supposed to be...and you only have to square up the big squares! *novice quilter warning here*...I can square up the big squares!
Paula

Danielle said...

I just found your blog...what an inspiration! Thank you for the time and effort you put into sharing your work. What do you use (machine wise) for your quilting?

Anonymous said...

So pretty, I love the frogfabric.

Amanda Jean said...

danielle,

I use a JUKI TL-98Q for quilting and piecing my quilts. I LOVE my sewing machine and would highly recommend it.

aj

deeds102 said...

What type of sewing machine do you recommend for a beginner? tips? list of materials to start? love your blog.

Chara Michele said...

I love that quilt! The colors are so perfect!

Amanda Jean said...

michelleb,

I made my king size a little too small. It was 90" x 102". I wish it would have made it a little bit bigger. I forgot about shrinkage after washing. but it is barely big enough.

the pieced blocks were 18.5" unfinished. the plain white borders on the sides (only) of the quilt were 6".

aj

Anonymous said...

Wonderful quilt! I just love your color combos.

Jenny said...

I love this quilt!! I'm so jealous that you have Mill End Textiles close by. I use to live in Minnesota and I found fabulous inexpensive fabric there! I need a Mill End fix......no luck in Pennsylvania!

Agata said...

Hi

I love this quilt. I am trying to figure out which fabric you are using. Can you please take a look at the link below and tell me which on it is?

Thanks
Agata
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/category.jsp?_DARGS=/joann/catalog/supercatleftnav.jsp.15_A&_DAV=catName&_dynSessConf=-2749764116188527104&narrowSelection=true&categoryExpand=true&categoryfullPath=All+Products////product+home////fabric////muslin&CATID=cat2555&supercatId=cat2699&lftsuperCatName=muslin&subCatName=muslin