Monday 2 January 2017

Winter Sun

Now, this may seem a bit out of season, but I think it only makes it more welcome:

machine pieced flower quilt

A bit of history first. Last year I made a storm-at-sea bed quilt for my brother- and sister-in-law, and used the scraps from it to make a small wallhanging to match:

winter landscape quilt

This winter "landscape" has been on their living-room wall since, and every time time I saw it in person or in Skype I thought they need something more summerly for a change. What with one thing and another, I only got round to making it in December, in time to make it a New Year's Day gift. My sister-in-law loves sunflowers, and what could be more summerly than that?

It's machine curve piecing, one of my favorite techniques that works so brilliantly with oversized flowers (if you haven't tried curve piecing yet, check out my butterfly block tutorial and pattern - it's really easy!). Here is the finished top:

pieced flower quilt

In case anybody still needs proof that quilting texture is responsible for about half of a quilt's appeal ;)) I used very simple quilting on the flower - pebbles for the middle and "vein" curves for the petals.

pieced flower quilt

pieced flower quilt

At the last moment I decided to play with my beautiful variegated YLI threads on the black background, where they would be more prominent, and added a kind of "halo" around the petals. The rest of the background is quilted with the same pattern in black, which is almost completely invisible.

pieced flower quilt

I really enjoyed working on this bright project, it really seemed to add sunshine to the room when it was on the design wall. I hope it will add some light and warmth to its new home, too.

pieced flower quilt

Linking up to Main Crush Monday at Cooking up Quilts
Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts


21 comments:

  1. This is gorgeous! I thought it was appliqued, but it's curved piecing...stunning. I still have your butterfly pattern in my mind to try for a comfort quilt...I even wrote it in my planner. An awesome job on the quilting as well.

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  2. Lovely piece! The variegated thread really shines against the black.

    I think 2017 will be my year for curved piecing. I tried my first drunkard's path this fall and then started piecing big, full circles. It's really kind of fun! You're right that big flowers just lend themselves to this technique.

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  3. Your quilt is show-worthy! And, you are so right about the quilting adding so much to the appeal of this piece. It's spectacular.

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  4. This is stunning! I will check out your tutorial, yes! :)

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  5. Wow love those quilts!!! Especially the sunflower!!!!!

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  6. This is really beautiful and the quilting definitely adds so much! I really like the variegated thread on the black. Stunning Olena!

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  7. I love sunflowers and this one is fantastic !!!

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  8. Gorgeous! I love everything about it and the "halo" certainly adds more texture to the beautiful fabric.

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  9. So beautiful. I love the colors and the quilting.

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  10. Gorgeous - such a beautiful thing to create in the middle of winter!

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  11. This piece is stunning! Now I will definitely have to learn how to do curved piecing. And I agree, quilting makes the quilt just come alive. Your quilting is beautiful!

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  12. I agree with every one! It is beautiful! Who wouldn't want a warm ray of sunshine during the long winter? Your technique is so interesting too! Beautiful work, the quilting is perfect, spot on...the best!

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  13. beautifully done. Thanks so much for sharing the sun.

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  14. Beautiful sunflower there you made! Lovely combination of yellow which I find difficult to pick up in Irish shops. Maybe I have to travel further! Nice quilting too!

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  15. You do wonderful quilting and really adds dimension!

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  16. This is a gorgeous quilt. One of my favorite parts of quilting is to watch how quilting takes a quilt to the next level. Your quiting did that and then some!

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  17. I wish you had patterns!!!!!!!!!

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  18. It's never late to read so beautiful article about my fantastic sunflower gift from my sister in law :) It does not matter it's winter or summer this sunflower always warms us and looks perfectly in our room.

    Lena, thank you so much one more time!

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    Replies
    1. Enjoy! It was real fun and I think I'll make you more sunflower decor to match - sone day...

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  19. Nagyon - nagyon tetszik!
    Csodás!

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