This quilt was a long time in the making. I fell in love with Leila's quilt when I first saw it on her blog in June of 2011. I knew I wanted to make a x and plus quilt but didn't have enough scraps at the time.
When it was my month in January 2012 to choose a block and send out fabric to my New Bee on the Block bee mates I asked them to make the x and plus block.
I also joined a few swaps for these blocks and received a total of 30 more blocks in two separate swaps.When it was my month in January 2012 to choose a block and send out fabric to my New Bee on the Block bee mates I asked them to make the x and plus block.
Then all the blocks sat in a box until the x and plus along started up on Instagram last month. It was just the incentive I needed to make another 30 blocks and get this quilt finished.
I added a thin red border and then a wider black border (thanks Katy for your suggestions) to get the quilt up to the size I wanted and give all these blocks a nice frame.
Next I backed it with what I think is the perfect fabric, seeing that these blocks came from all different postmarks in the world. It's called Postmarks and it is part of the Air Mail 1930's collection by Karen Roti for Clothworks. You can find it at Fabric.com and on Etsy from several different shops.
This quilt will be going to the Sew South Retreat with me this week. I am going to wrap it around my sewing machine and put it in my carry-on luggage. Hopefully it will keep the old Bernina safe as we travel and keep me warm and cozy in the hotel.
I quilted it with a serpentine stitch going through each plus row and then with a straight line of quilting on either side of each seam where the blocks were joined, both vertically and horizontally. I attempted to quilt it with Aurifil 40 wt. thread, but after several thread breaks and not even 1/4 of the quilt done, I switched to 50 wt. thread and had no more problems.
The final touch was the Lecien black and white stripe for the binding.
This is my fifth quilt finish of the year. Too bad it's not on my Finish-Along list. I need to get working on that list when I return from retreat.
Quilt Stats:
Name: Scrappy X and Plus Quilt
Fabric: Scraps from me, swaps and bee mates
Backing: Postmarks by Karen Roti for Clothworks
Binding: Lecien Black and White stripe
Quilted by: Me, with straight lines and Serpentine stitch using a walking foot
Thread: Pieced with Aurifil 50 wt. (and whatever the others used)
Batting: Warm and White
Quilted with Auriful 40 wt. thread color 2000 and 50 wt. thread color 2310
Size: 68.5"x 83.5"
28 comments:
I caught my breath on this one! So so perfect. May I ask what size the blocks are? I had some bee mates send mr 7" or so I think. I have 12 so far. Such inspiration!
What a beauty! And what perfect backing fabric! 5 quilts this year! You are a machine!!
It turned out sew beautiful! Congrats on the finish, I just love it!
Oh wow, its lovely!
Beautiful - the backing is perfect
It is so beautiful and I absolutely love your double borders framing it. Great finish!!
Beautiful, I love it, happy snuggling!
Lovely finish.. I love your version. The x and plus block a bit small..what size is the block? Lovely...great job
It's a perfect finish Di - the blocks are stunning and it really was a collaborative effort - I even remember lovely Hadley sending you some? The quilting is lovely and so is that backing fabric. Great job.
The frames really do pull it together but my favourite bit is the stripey binding. Love the whole damn thing!!
I see my block in your quilt :-D
Your quilt is really lovely. The quilting, the borders and the binding are all the best and I love your back too. It is such an inspiration to see it all finished.
It looks fab, and great collaborative effort from the swaps (got to love other people's scraps ;o) )
I love that backing fabric. Your quilt turned out great.
This is awesome!! I'm in a similar boat ... making those 30 extra blocks I need!
Hi! Your quilt is very beautiful! I love this pattern and you made is so wonderful! Backing is super! x Teje
You really are amazing Di! I was showing my mother-in-law and she said she LOVES quilts and wanted to learn but would never have the patience.
It looks fab and I can't wait to see it in person!
I can't wait to steal this later this week . . . er . . . uh . . . I mean admire it.
Just fabulous!!!
Wow - this looks fabulous. I have always been in two minds as to whether I like this block - but I think your quilt has swung my vote to the Likes. May have to try a block or two I think.
I love this quilt so so much xxx
Love it!
Diane you are really on a roll! 5 quilts already! WooHoo! I love the scrappiness!
Cool! What a great finish! I've really enjoyed watching you make this pretty :)
Its gorgeous. I am making my way slowly through the blocks too. I just love how yours turned out and it will have such lovely memories too.
One of my favorite quilts so far this year! I seriously want to make one of these and the backing fabric is perfect--in fact I just ordered four yards of it.
It is really a beauty.
warm regards,
Marga♥
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