Friday 10 February 2017

First finish of the year

First finish of 2017 - hooray.  If I'd applied myself more diligently this might have scraped in at the end of 2016, but I didn't.  That's the way it goes sometimes.

This had a working title of Circles, but given that I've used this for at least three quilts recently it needs a better title, so I am calling it At the Edge. This is taken from a quote by A.S. Byatt, in an interview on The Art of Fiction for the Paris Review.  You can read it here and it's well worth the visit. It's a long piece and the section on language and colour is quite a long way through it, so I guess if you didn't want to read it all you could just scan through for the relevant section.  Anyway, she says "I think the names of colors are at the edge between where language fails and where it’s at its most powerful".  I like this a lot in itself but it seems particularly appropriate given that I started this piece with a desire to use the colour definitions from Webster's.

Crumbs - that's the most long-winded justification I've ever written for a quilt name!  

As is the way of these things it's making a half-hearted attempt to snow right now, so I was faced with the thorny old problem of how to get a picture.  This is the best I can do right now 
Here's the back.
And a slightly closer view, just because I like the patterns the quilting has made on the back.
A little bit of binding.
And here it is on a bed.  I should point out that this is an extremely large bed, so the quilt would come down the sides on a standard double.
The details:

Size 85" x 70"
Pieced entirely from Oakshott shot cottons and Kaffe Fassett striped fabrics. Binding: more of the stripes.
Wadding is wool, probably Hobbs Tuscany Wool, though I honestly don't remember.
Quilted using a selection of Sulky 12 variegated cotton threads - I just used what I already had, which turned out to be quite a lot.
I started piecing this on 13th January 2016, finished on 1st April 2016.  Started quilting on 16th October 2016, finished today, 10th February 2017.

Linking up with TGIFF, this week over at Lisa in Port Hope, Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop, Whoop and NinaMarie for Off the Wall Friday

38 comments:

NADINE said...

Oh, how beautiful ! Congratulations ! :)

In stitches,
Nadine

Ariane said...

This quilt is gorgeous!!!! Congrats on beautifully finished quilt!

Julierose said...

Lovely finish on this one...nice rich colors --congratulations ;))) hugs, Julierose

TheItinerantChemist said...

I love this, there's a beautiful simplicity to circles.

Libby in TN said...

Beautiful finish! My favorite.

France Nadeau ❅ inspiration imagination creation said...

Stunning! Both front and back. I love that you used different sizes for your circles. It creates so much interest. Your stripes of smaller circles are definitely what I now think of as your "signature style". :-)
Pinned

Quiltdivajulie said...

Spectacular -- I can only imagine the textures in person. Truly wonderful!

Monica said...

Between the wool and the shot cottons I bet this feels amazing. And I love the quilting design from the back too! Beautiful finish! An auspicious start for 2017.

Rachel said...

Lovely! Congrats on a very pretty finish!

Catherine said...

Stunning - the quilting is wonderful too.

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

What a beautiful finish and I appreciated all the detail on the name of the quilt. The quilting adds such a beautiful extra texture to it. :)

Susan Lenz said...

This is a beautiful piece! Truly stunning!

patty a. said...

Congratulations on your first finish and quite a finish it is! Absolutely beautiful!

liniecat said...

Stunning - nowt else to say - just Stunning!

Ann said...

So many things to say about this beautiful quilt. Fabulous combinations of colors front and back. Love the layout and the quilting. I'll be back to look at this frequently. Congratulations.

Norma Schlager said...

Great use of color and circles! A wonderful quilt.

Mystic Quilter said...

I have loved this quilt since you began the first few blocks, the two fabric lines go together so very well.
Congratulations on finishing such a beautiful quilt. By the way, love the hanging set up!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

A beautiful quilt! So rich looking and heaps of lovely quilted texture!

Sandi said...

Lovely finish, congratulations.

Kat said...

It's GORGEOUS! I love those colors and the design you chose is perfect.

Angie in SoCal said...

What a wonderful, colorful quilt. Love how you quilted it.

9658 Textiles said...

I am so glad you quilt slowly :)

Cathy said...

Oh, this is gorgeous! I love all that hand quilted texture, and the circles, and the colors, and the words, and everything else about it. Congrats on this finish. And a fun way to name a quilt too!

Lisa in Port Hope said...

Such a beautiful bright quilt and well worth the wait I day. Thank you for linking with TGIFF!

JanineMarie said...

Fascinating piece about the relationship between color and language. (To think how that gets more complex between languages--it boggles my mind. And how would one ever describe those color-shifting shot cottons?) Thanks for sharing that and how it relates to the name of your quilt and your printed color definitions. I've said this before, but I love to see your finishes because they include the back, too. This one really shows off the dense, lovely quilting.

Soma @ inkTorrents.com said...

What a wonderful inspiration for the name, I love the quote. The quilt is really stunning! Beautiful colours and quilting. I wish you had posted a couple of close up photos of your pretty hand quilting, I love to see the colourful threads you use :)

-Soma

Lois said...

Awesome. Can't say much more.

Janice Holton said...

Fascinating colorful design and quilting. I really love how it shows up on the back. Just beautiful! Hooray for the year's first finish!

Stephie said...

Bloody hell Kaja, four months to quilt, that's going some on a quilt this size with everything else you've been working! How often were you quilting at any given time? Just curious cos I'm trying to 'plan' the quilt the quilt in on my sister's one. This is superb, and I don't think you have justify a title at all, it's wonderful to hear how it came about, and really apt. I love this one, the colours, fabrics, desig... But most of all it looks so snuggly and I just want to curl up under it! Xx

Stephie said...

Ps, I can't type on my phone, haha!

Kathleen said...

I am in awe of your hand quilting! This is a big quilt!! and beautiful.

Linda M said...

Beautiful! I love the stripes and circle combination.

GranthamLynn said...

Beautiful. I love the strips and circles too!

Unknown said...

Beautiful!

LA Paylor said...

wow, I better muscle my way in to make a comment! so many comments. Applause! Standing ovation. It's magnificent! I sent link to friends.LeeAnna

Cut&Alter said...

Just stunning - love it all!!!

audrey said...

Oh I just love this quilt so much. It's very rich and full of great texture! Kudo's to you for all the hours involved.:)

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Wow - what a gorgeous quilt, and hand quilted too! And here I am still slowly making the blocks. Love the quilting pattern you chose, and I am glad to enjoy this journey with you.