Finished Quilt top

[Keaniebean]

I have finally finished this quilt top, which has taken me far too many hours, days, months and yes I will even say years to complete. This is going to be a Christmas pressie for my mum, although I am struggling with the thought of parting from it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52845896@N04/4992809143/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52845896@N ... otostream/



I haven't quilted it yet, and i have a horrible sinking feeling that it is not going to fit through my sewing machine as it's a whopping 2.5 metres square. I have looked at long arm quilting services and it could cost around £300, but this kind of puts the no spend Christmas idea out of the window, which is what I was aiming for.

This hasn't been a no spend item but I have used lots of fabric I already had and swapped quite a bit too. I will have to buy new fabric for the backing and binding, but I certainly couldn't have bought a new one as cheaply as I have made this one.

But I am really pleased I have finally finished the top at least.

[pelmetman]

I absolutely love it. Well done you.

Sue

[Susie]

I left a comment on your blog (I'm not stalking you!) so at the risk of repeating myself, this is absolutely brilliant, well done!!!!!

I bet this isn't what you want to hear, but... if the worst comes to the worst, could you quilt it by hand? Or machine quilt the edge bits and hand quilt the middle? (I know that might not look perfect. But I think it would be difficult to make such a lovely quilt look bad whatever you did, and £300, gosh).

[NaturalBlue]

Your quilt is beautiful and I'm sure however you finish it your mum will be thrilled! I've done quite a bit of quilting and I've done the finishing a couple of ways... If you want a pattern, hand quilting can look amazing - I've recently completed a quilt with butterfly quilting, I used a Childs stencil and a water soluble pen to draw the outlines and hand sewed over it, a quick rub with cold water gets rid of the pen lines - I also used metallic embroidery thread to give it that special look
If you want to quilt in straight lines, with careful folding and feeding it is possible to get even big quilt through a household machine, try folding it and passing it through first!
As you say there is professional long arm quilting - it is expensive but it's possible to get it significantly cheaper tab £300, maybe try http://www.quiltroom.co.uk I've used them and would recommend their service.
Failing all else a combination of techniques can look amazing too
I hope this helps, I'd be really interested to see it quilted too, I'm certain it will be loved for many years.
Good luck x

[Keaniebean]

Thanks for the replies.
Susie as far as hand quilting goes . I struggle to sew a button on and make it look good, so that won't really be an option. I certainly wouldn't risk spoiling hundreds of hours of work with my seriously CR^P hand sewing.

Natural Blue, thanks for the link to The Quilt Room. This would work out between £140 to £165, but that is just for the quilting. The basting is £60 and the binding is £65, which I'm not sure if I want to tackle either, so that is £265 in total.

I probably will do it myself as it is just so much money, but I'm pooping me pants at the thought of messing it all up.

[Thomzo]

Wow, that is absolutely lovely.

Rather than fully quilting it, have you thought about just putting a couple of stitches at the corner of each large diamond? You would end up with large square blocks rather than delicate quilting but it would be a lot easier than trying to feed such a big item through a machine. I'm sure even you could do it by hand, you could even try adding a small button at each point, that'd give you lots of practice at sewing on buttons and give it a modern touch.

Zoe

[Big Al]

As a fellow quilter I have to say how amazing that is. It's very easy to " sew bits of cloth together" but it is only when you start to quilt that you realise how much effort and precision goes into a quilt. I'm doing a gingham quilt at the moment and it's turning out to be a real Pain in the arse but it will not beat me....

I'm still struggling with the idea of mixed fabric designs going together but your quilt really makes it look well.

Once again well done and you've still got 3and a half months till Christmas

[Keaniebean]

I'm going to have a go at the little quilt I made which is a much smaller cot bed size one and not nearly as intricate a design. I think once i have done that it will give me a better gauge as to how well i would manage a much bigger one. i intend to use a childs stencil and wasable marker pen for that one, so i'll let you know how it goes.

[123sologne]

What an amazing piece of work!! I can just imagine the hours, days, months and years this work could have taken!! I applaud your patience in doing it!

[bonniethomas06]

Wow Keanie, I am totally blown away. It is just stunning, I am soooo envious .

It is nice for a half-job like me to see a quilt actually finished, I suppose the key is just perseverance? Must get back to my 3 inch squares...

Seriously though, can't you just make your mum a bath bomb and keep the quilt for yourself? I just couldn't part with it!

Well done

[MuddyWitch]

Stunning!

MW

[snapdragon]

That's amazing !! absolutely beautiful

[Green Aura]

That's stunning kb! I'll be your mum if you like

[Keaniebean]

Thanks everyone, it's nice to have others comment on it. Only me and my husband have seen it so far. Usually I bounce things off my mum, but obviously couldn't this time.
Green aura, I'd love to have you as my mum

[Big Al]

I'm going to have a go at the little quilt I made which is a much smaller cot bed size one and not nearly as intricate a design. I think once i have done that it will give me a better gauge as to how well i would manage a much bigger one. i intend to use a childs stencil and wasable marker pen for that one, so i'll let you know how it goes.

Don't forget when you use your quilting hoop to keep the quilt fabrics loose in the hoop rather than tight as if you were going to embroider it.