Friday, March 9, 2012

Sixteen Sparkles

Finally, a Sparkle wrap-up! I was such a keener at first, cranking out sparkles left right and center, and then totally stalled out as I waited for my batting to arrive in the mail. I think I might be the last Sparkler to finish! But here it is, and I'm so happy with the result. I think this may possibly be the worst day possible for taking photos, a very dreary west coast day, so I did my best with indoor shots. Beware of photo overload!

{Shows the full deal, but not really the quilting details at all}

{A different view, shows quilting a bit better}


This was my first time using free motion quilting on a large project. I saw this loopy quilting design on Stitched in Color and decided to go with it. Quilted in rows, as opposed to all-over-no-stopping, I liked it in that it gave me a break after each row! And believe me, I needed breaks! It got better as I went, and overall I was shocked at how fast the whole thing was finished, and how much thread I used!! But then I got to wondering whether I actually used more thread than when straight line quilting, or if my bobbin just ran out faster because of the speed of FMQ? I don't know!

{Ahhhhhh, loops!}

The backing is Michael Miller Antiquity Quatrefoils in "Breeze". It is blue-ish, and doesn't totally go with the blue on the front, but overall it ended up appearing quite neutral and I'm happy with that choice. The binding is just a generic dot print from my local fabric store, nothing printed on the selvedge of this one.

{Dots!}

{My chair....this is where I sit to bind all of my quilts!}

Thanks to Jeni and Megan for hosting this fun quilt along!



sew many ways



Eat, Grow, Sew at Blue Bird Sews

Fresh Poppy Design

27 comments:

1 Rebecca said...

LOVE it! And beautiful job on the quilting - I'll have to try that!

2 Svetlana said...

Oh, Heather, this is just such an adorable quilt. Love your loopy quilting, too. You did such a good job, it looks fantastic.I like your choice of backing, too.

3 QuiltNut Creations said...

I love the fabrics you used in this. Great quilting; I have the same chair :)

4 Sara said...

Love all the points and the quilting is pretty!

5 Izzy said...

Beautiful quilt and I love the loops! I might have to give this a try.

6 Kimberly said...

Yep, it's a wet one today! Love your loops! You've inspired me to give it a whirl! (And any news on those spring break plans?)

7 Susan said...

The loopy quilting looks great! And the spotted binding is perfect- I love a spotty binding !!

8 What Comes Next? said...

lovely West Coast weather - and it's going to get worst before it gets better, I hear. Love how your sparkle quilt has turned out - your quilting is perfect on it - way to go! I'm always amazed at how quickly I go through bobbins with FM - I think it is because it goes so fast.

9 Rosa said...

awesome quilt.Great job!

10 felicity said...

I loooove this one! I think the quilting you chose is perfect. I think you went through bobbins faster for both reasons: you're going faster AND you're putting in more stitches than just straight-line quilting (those loops add up!). Love it.

11
Anonymous said...

your sparkles are so pretty! :) the quilting is beautiful too :D

12 CityHouseStudio said...

Heather, your quilting is just perfect! It looks so pretty!
I'm definitely going to try these rows of loops on my next quilt!

13 Toni said...

Great quilt, Heather! I really love the quilting you did. I'm definitely going to try that sometime soon!

14 Rachel Slote-Brown said...

Great quilt. Love the quilting.
Congrats on the finish.

15 Katie B said...

I love this quilt! Your quilting is SO beautiful!

16 Leanne said...

I really love the quilting you did on this lovely quilt!

17 Kirsten said...

Love the loopy quilting - I may try that next time too!

18 Debbie said...

oh Heather, it looks fantastic! I really like the vertical loops (when I did it I went horizontal), and I really like the quatrefoil backing AND the gray dotted binding. Just a really lovely finish! Congrats!!

19 twelfthzodiac said...

Love those loops! Loops are on my fmq to do list as well.
I can safely say that you are not the last Sparkler. I may need a light to get going again - and I was a keener in the beginning too!

20 Teje Karjalainen said...

Again so beautiful quilt! Those fabrics are wonderful and really great for this pattern! I forgot to say in my earlier comment that I love the see lots of photos!
x Teje

21 Heather said...

Wow! That is gorgeous! Love the quilting! :)

22 Jenelle said...

This is beautiful and the FMQ is perfect for it. :) I love the binding and the backing fabric too! It seems perfect for it.

23 Jacey said...

Your loops look lovely! I love your binding choice, too.

24 Erin @ Why Not Sew? Quilts said...

Heather, the quilting is just beautiful!!! I love the backing fabric too. Great quilt!

25 bee said...

gorgeous! love the choices for backing & binding.

26 Kristen said...

Whoot whoot! Beautifully finished quilt. I love the loopy quilting pattern! I need to tuck that idea away for later!

27 Artfulife said...

I love it! Great colors too :) & the quilting is the icing on the cake.