Thursday, February 14, 2008

Another Finish

I finished this top last year, but it was at the machine quilter's for a while; and I finally finished hand sewing the binding yesterday morning. This is a pattern called Crows in the Pumpkin Patch by The Quilted Cardinal. Koleen, the owner, has a series of patterns with crazy pieced borders and crazy piecing in some element in the quilt. They are a fabulous way to use up lots of scraps.

Orange is my least favorite color in the color wheel, and I only had a very few of these rusty oranges, orangey yellows, and warm browns used in the quilt. So my good friends Koleen and Sherry helped me out with a couple bags of scraps, the pumpkin fabric in the bottom half of the pumpkins, and I bought some fat eighths to supplement.

I fused the crows in each block and blanket stitched them by machine. I've enjoyed my Elnas and Janome sewing machines over the years, but none of them made a blanket stitch that I really liked. My Bernina makes a beautiful blanket stitch, and I want to put it on everything. I'd like to make an appliqued quilt, all done with this blanket stitch.

Koleen also machine quilts for me, and I love the quilting on this quilt. She introduced me to variegated threads, and I have become quite enamored of them. They add another dimension to the surface design that really appeals to me.


I've done several of Koleen's crazy pieced patterns, most of which are a seasonal theme, so I'll add them when those holidays roll around.
















Credit where credit is due:
Crows in the Pumpkin Patch quilt design by Koleen Painchaud, The Quilted Cardinal

3 comments:

Pat at Bell Creek Quilts said...

Sue, Happy Valentine's Day. What a wonderful way to spend the day...all snug in your house. hope your neighbor's power comes on soon. We actually saw the sun yesterday but more snow today in WI. I really like your pumpkins and crows quilt. I'll have to remember that border to use up some scraps. and no, we have no idea of where the water came from...the mystery continues....

Teresa said...

Hi Sue,, This has been the longest winter. Our driveway & parking area is like a skating rink. And our roads almost as bad. I've been craving lots of sunshine & 80 degrees! Your pumpkin quilt is great, I just looked at the pattern site & really like her work. Take care of yourself!

~Joan said...

Sue,

Unlike you, I put a little orange in most of my scrap quilts because I just like it so much! This pumpkin and your cardinal quilt both turned out so stunningly beautiful. What a great job, and two great quilts. I'll have to check out that book.

~Joan