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Saturday, December 19, 2015

Quilt It Wright - Part V The Finished Quilt

Quilt It Wright 

My improv quilt process inspired by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright

Part I HERE Inspiration
Part II HERE Piecing the top
Part III HERE Quilting
Part IV HERE Faced Binding


50" x 60"
The top is all Oakshott cottons
Batting is two layers of Hobbs black wool / poly blend
Quilting threads are Aurifil
2610 Light Blue Grey 28wt
2715 Robins Egg 28 wt
4140 Wedgewood Blue 40 wt
2784 Dark Navy 40 wt
Bobbin thread Aurifil 2600 Dove 50 wt


Why did I add the green in the middle?  
Well, one reason is that I've learned it's good to have a place in your quilt for the eyes to stop and focus, something not overwhelming, but a small pop.  
I may have intended in the beginning to add more greens to the whole piece. 
Or maybe I had no reason, except that the color was blended in with the blues and I liked it.

My helper

Fallingwater
What I noticed about Fallingwater is the sweep of the eye.  You look up and center, with the chimneys, then your eyes sweep right, down and left.  


I attempted to do the same with the movement in the quilt
Center up, right, down, left


I loved putting together this quilt, I had the idea in mind for many months before I could start, and once I did start not everything went according to my plan.  The beauty of inspiration and improv is that you can change your plans along the way and make something even more beautiful than what you originally imagined.

Thank you for following along on my process of bringing to life 
Quilt It Wright




Friday, December 18, 2015

Quilt It Wright - Part IV Faced Binding

Documenting the process of Quilt It Wright
My improv inspiration quilt

Part IV The Binding and searching for a name

Part I HERE Inspiration
Part II HERE Piecing
Part III HERE Quilting

My inspiration Fallingwater and the architect Frank Lloyd Wright

I finished squaring ( you can find tutorials and videos on line on squaring your quilt, try different methods and use what works for you and your quilt).  While I was quilting I decided I would like to try faced binding on this quilt.  Faced binding folds to the back of the quilt, so you don't see the binding, there won't be a frame on the edges, the quilt will just end.
Faced binding is single layer binding, so it more appropriate for a quilt that will hang rather than one that will be used and washed often.


I googled, read tutorials, watched you tube videos, I chose elements from a few different tutorials to make my own hybrid process.
Cut the binding fabric 2 1/4" single layer
Side bindings cut 1 1/2" shorter than the length of quilt
Bottom & Top Binding cut 2" longer than width of quilt

Press 1/4" fold on the side of the binding that will not be attached to the front of the quilt (this will be your stitch edge for the back of the quilt) Don't worry if it doesn't stay pressed over, the fold was made so you have a good seam line to press again later after the binding is attached.

Attach side bindings to front of quilt, RST, 1/4" seam allowance first
Press binding toward outside of quilt and add 1/8" top stitch on the top of the quilt
I cut away approximately 1" square of batting in the corners, leaving the top and bottom fabric in place, to reduce bulk in the corners




Attach the top and bottom binding pieces in the same manner, pressing toward the outside and adding a top stitch.
Next fold over the binding all the way to the back of the quilt and press.
You should have a nice crisp edge



I used Clover Clips to hold the binding in place and keep the edges from wanting to fold back to the front


You can re -press your 1/4" seam on the edge of the binding that is not attached to the quilt at this point so you have a crisp line for hand stitching.
Pin in place to hand sew down along the back of the quilt.  People who know me know I am not a fan of hand sewing (I machine stitch my regular binding on quilts), I have issues with pain in my hands and hand sewing is a contributor.  For faced binding there was no way to get around the hand sewing.  I took my time and did sections with breaks in between.



I had some trouble with the corners, not sure exactly how to get the folded edges to look nice.  Next time I'll spend more time in this area and real through more tips
You can't have enough clips in my opinion



Finished - no binding showing on the front of the quilt and a crisp edge for hanging.
I think this was the perfect finish for this particular quilt.

While I was quilting I worked on the name for this quilt.  I wanted to incorporate something of Frank Lloyd Wright in the name.  Most of the time the quilt name will come to me while quilting, there is a lot of time to think while you are quilting.  I was not having an easy time with the right name for this quilt - it evolved.
Quilt Wright was one
Wright Quilting was another
Neither was the perfect name and I think I was completely finished and had been calling it Quilt Wright in a couple of posts and emails, because I just couldn't come up with anything else.
One day it struck me that the name should be
Quilt It Wright
and that is the one that stuck and was perfect (to me)



Next - full photos of the finished quilt
Part V HERE The Finished Quilt