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:

Rebecca said...

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

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.

QuiltNut Creations said...

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

Sara said...

Love all the points and the quilting is pretty!

Izzy said...

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

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?)

Susan said...

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

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.

Rosa said...

awesome quilt.Great job!

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.

Anonymous said...

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

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!

Toni said...

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

Rachel Slote-Brown said...

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

Katie B said...

I love this quilt! Your quilting is SO beautiful!

Leanne said...

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

Kirsten said...

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

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!!

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!

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

Heather said...

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

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.

Jacey said...

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

Erin @ Why Not Sew? Quilts said...

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

bee said...

gorgeous! love the choices for backing & binding.

Kristen said...

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

Artfulife said...

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