Wednesday, July 24, 2013

vintage modern swoon quilt :: finished

Warning: Long winded blog post to follow....  If you are interested in my thoughts on the Swoon pattern, read on.  Otherwise, feel free to just scan through the pictures.  ;)
 

I'll say it again, I am thee worst at naming quilts.  This quilt is getting called the "Vintage Modern Swoon Quilt", since it was made from the Vintage Modern fabric line by Bonnie & Camille and the pattern is called Swoon, by Thimble Blossoms.  It could also be called "Erin & Tom's Wedding Quilt" since I made this quilt as a wedding gift for my college bestie & her husband.
 

Let's see, what do I want to say about this quilt....  It measures 80" x 80", so it's kind of huge.  It's the largest quilt I have made so far.  Sadly, it is not quite large enough for a queen size bed.  I know because I tested it out on my own bed.  ;)  I had contemplated making more blocks & making the quilt larger to fit on a full or queen bed, but in the end I decided that didn't make a whole lot of sense for my friends.  I thought it would be best to make them more of a "throw" quilt.  However, 80" x 80" is a helluva "throw" size quilt.  Each block measures 24" finished, so if I had done 2 blocks across, the quilt would have been about 55" wide.  Then, you have shrinkage from the quilting and washing, so I wasn't sure that it would be wide enough.  Plus, I wasn't in love with the look of the quilt being 2 blocks across & 3 blocks down.  So in the end, I decided to just go with the pattern as written and did a 3 x 3 block layout, with final measurements of 80" x 80".  The quilt is in the wash as I type.  Once it is washed & dried, I am going to measure again & see what the "final"dimensions are.  In the past I have found my quilts to shrink about 5% from quilting + washing & drying, so I usually try to account for that when making a quilt.  (I don't pre-wash my fabrics, because I think the sizing helps when cutting & sewing and also because I'm just plain too lazy to pre-wash and then have to press them.  Plus, I like using pre-cuts & fat quarters.)


This is also the first time I have made a square quilt.  It seems that quite a few of the patterns I have seen lately are square.  When I started making this quilt, I thought that was no big deal.  It turns out, for some reason it bothers me.  Maybe it's just me.  I think I just prefer the look & functionality of a rectangular quilt.  I think if I was snuggling up on the couch watching TV or reading a book, I would be somewhat annoyed by the extra width of the quilt.  Hopefully my friends are less picky than me...


I know this post is probably coming off quite negative.  Don't get me wrong - I like the fabrics and I thought the pattern was really fun and fairly quick & easy to make.  (Non-directional prints work best and can be chain pieced, which makes it even quicker.)  I think I learned quite a bit about what I personally like best when making a quilt, and I'm glad for that.  


After choosing the beige colored background fabric (which I am still so glad I did), I had thought I would use the same beige fabric for backing & binding.  However, once I had the quilt top pieced, I just felt that there was a 'wow' factor missing and that the quilt needed something more.  So I went with the matching red fabric for the backing & then also as the binding.  (Since I machine stitch my binding, I like to match the binding & backing so you can't see my binding stitches as much.)  I think the red binding really frames the quilt well and I'm so happy with that choice.  



I used the long arm at my LQS and quilted a pantograph called "Oh My Feathers".  I was a bit nervous about the quilting motif and thought about doing something more abstract, but I think the feather design turned out really well.  It's always amazing to me just how much impact the quilting has.  

Photo taken by my Uncle John - I love how the quilting stands out in this picture
I wish I was going to be giving this quilt to Erin & Tom in person, but I will be 34 weeks pregnant at the time of their wedding.  The wedding is in California, and I live in Iowa, so I've decided to stay home just in case.  I was 6 days "overdue" with my daughter, so I'm not sure how likely it is that I would go into labor out there, but I guess better safe than sorry.... 


More about this quilt here, here, here, here, here, and here (in order of newest to oldest posts).  


Quilt Stats:
 Fabric:  Quilt top - Vintage Modern by Bonnie & Camille for Moda & coordinating beige background fabric, also Moda
                Batting - Hobbs Heirloom
                Backing - Red Moda fabric
                Binding - Red Moda fabric

Pattern: Swoon by Thimble Blossoms 
Dimensions: 80" x 80"  
Started quilt top: May 2nd, 2013 
Finished quilt top: July 13th, 2013 
Quilted: on long arm at Quilt-N-Kaboodle by me, with help from Kim Barrett  
Made for: Erin Steenblock & Tom Chia for their wedding on August 10th, 2013

-V

Linking up to Needle and Thread Thursday.
Linking up to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.
Linking up to Finish It Up Friday hosted by Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mom Quilts.
Linking up to Confessions Of A Fabric Addict.  

Linking up to Richard & Tanya Quilts.  

27 comments:

  1. This is a really gorgeous quilt. I just love your color palette. The beige background with the red backing certainly does have a big WOW factor!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

      :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  2. Your Swoon is fabulous! The quilting is perfect for all the right angles on the front. Red was a great decision! Your friends are so lucky.

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  3. What a lovely swoon! Love the colors and the fabuloes quilting! Yust a beauty!

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  4. It's beautiful, such gorgeous colours and the quilting is wonderful. I love Swoon quilts but have been too lazy to make one as there seems to be a lot of pressing.

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  5. Oh Swoon - how I love thee. Your friends are quite lucky, I wouldn't be able to give this up! Congrats on your pregnancy by the way!

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  6. I've been loving seeing this swoon come together, it looks gorgeous! The quilting is perfect and i love the red back and binding! Your friends are sure to love it!

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  7. Very nice Swoon, Valerie. I am sure your bestie will love it! Gorgeous everything about it.... And a great post, too. Convinced me to become your newest follower through Bloglovin'!

    Lorna:)
    http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com

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  8. Oh, yeah... PS. Hope you don't mind if I share this on my facebook page at http://facebook.com/sewfreshquilts
    With a link back to your blog post!
    Lorna:)

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  9. What a gorgeous quilt! Your FMQ is spectacular and perfect for the quilt. I will be now following along as I can't wait to see what you do next!

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  10. Very pretty and I love the red binding. I have grown to like square quilts and your quilting is very pretty.

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  11. Lovely all these blocs together! Like your quilting. Gorgeous!

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  12. I like your fabric choice and I love your quilting! That look awesome! I prefer rectangle over a square as well :-)

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  13. That pantograph was perfect for this quilt. It's so sweet and romantic without being overly frilly, terrific for a modern look. And the size being too large for a throw quilt - hey! newlyweds want to snuggle together on the sofa, right? It needs to be big for both of them. :D So glad you shared at TGIFF!

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  14. This is beautiful. The quilting does have a wonderful extra impact, but you also picked the perfect quilting design to compliment the quilt. I, too, love the red back. Perfect choice!

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  15. Your quilt is lovely, the red binding really sets it off. I am sure your friend and her new husband will love it, what a shame you cannot hand it over in person.

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  16. The red backing fabric was such a great choice and does add that 'wow', and I don't think anyone could fail to love being given that quilt whatever it's shape and size!!! :)

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  17. Beautiful Swoon quilt! Everyone here is absolutely right - the red is perfect for the quilt and your quilting is stunning. Great job and a wonderful wedding gift.

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  18. Love the quilting design you picked. Very fitting. I am partial to a rectangular quilt too and I don't know why. I think it is the functionality, but this will cover the top of the bed nicely.I like to match the binding to the back also, and that red is just fab. Really pops.

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  19. That is an awesome swoon! You did great! Congratulations on the finish!!!
    Esther
    esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo dot com
    ipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com

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  20. Congratulations the quilt is fabulous. 80"square will sit on the top of the Queen size bed - it doesn't have to go over the sides. I am sure you friends will be delighted. I have worked with this fabric and I love it too. Well done. Thanks for sharing Marie (mlismore@optusnet.com.au)

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  21. Lovely quilt! I have this quilt pattern and I keep waiting to find just the right fabric combination. Your choices are great...love the grey background color.

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  22. Beautiful quilt! I agree, the colour choices are great on the grey background. Really like the red backing and you did an awesome job of the quilting. I kind of agree with you on the square quilts.

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  23. You did a fabulous job, Valerie. I have watched you bloom into a great quilter. You put a lot of thought into everything you do. I love having you as a sounding board. Your talent and great ideas are endless.

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  24. Love the quilting on your quilt! It's gorgeous!
    Carol

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