Sunday 12 December 2021

Finally, a finish

In fact, I have another quilt coming hot on the heels of this, which I am hoping to complete before year end, but for now I am going to pause and enjoy this finish. 

This was a quilt which began life as an attempt to use up a handful of little butterfly blocks I made with shirt fabrics and floral scraps in April 2017.  It's not like me to start something and not finish, so I think maybe they came from a phase when I thought I might do the Rainbow Scrap Challenge or something similar.  They sat in a box for a while but in the middle of July 2019 out they came again, with the idea that I could combine them with some pretty florals - literally butterflies in a garden.  Hah!  What I remember is that my early attempts produced some very unimpressive examples of visual mush.  Eventually, though I came up with this loose version of a Trip Around the World and things started to click into place.  

I like that this is off-centre (there's a thing) and that I have disrupted the pattern enough to keep myself entertained but not so much that you can't see what it is.  I love some of the fabrics in this, including the red birds and the dark blue floral that create the clearest lines
but also the blue pansy shirt and some of the more extravagant florals.

Here's the back.
I began this in September 2019 and finished the piecing on November 14th the same year.  I started quilting it some time this summer, but for some reason failed to make a note of exactly when.  I finished it on December 8th.

It is made mostly from shirting, and even most of the florals are shirt, but the dark blue and red bird fabrics are organic quilting cottons.  It has organic cotton batting and was quilted with perle no. 8, from stash.  

13 comments:

Quilting Babcia said...

The dark blue fabric is the zinger that pulls everything together in this great quilt. That plus the asymmetrical trip around the world design makes you want to study every bit more closely. Great finish!

Robin said...

What a sweet quilt. The little butterflies are such a nice touch. I'm glad you got it finished, now you can enjoy it over the winter. The back is a quilt by itself. So nice.

Quiltdivajulie said...

VERY nice - I like the disrupted scrappy trips reference.

Janie said...

I agree with Robin, the back 'is a quilt by itself,' and beautiful in design and color.
And the front, 'butterflies on the loose'? a relaxed interpretation of butterflies and Trip Around the World.
What better way to take a trip around the world than from flower to flower?
Great finish Kaja.

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

Oh, what a beautiful finish, you should definitely pause to enjoy this finish! I really like the way the vertical stripes help disrupt the pattern and looking for the butterfly pieces in the top is a fun I Spy game.

How do you plan your binding for quilts? Do you often set aside fabric after the top and backing are pieced or is it something you look for after the quilting is complete?

cspoonquilt said...

Fantastic finish. I love the way you added the vertical pink strips and wiggled things around a bit as you say 'to make it more interesting'. It's hard to go wrong with a pink and blue color scheme to> Happy Holidays!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

A great finish! It looks quite big? I love the off-centre Trip Around the World effect.

O'Quilts said...

Wonderful!!!! Love the colors and the improv

Sandy Panagos said...

Great finish! The blues pop, but those thin pink strips gave it so much character. Love it.

Julierose said...

Lovely off-centered Trip quilt! Nice finish!! Don't you love it when everything comes together? Hugs, Julierose

Kim said...

There is so much visual interest in this quilt, Kaja. As ever, you have mastered yet another improv quilt. Such pretty colours and fabrics. And...then there is the fabulous back; two quilts in one, really. A beautiful finish!

patty a. said...

Congratulations on another finish! It turned out beautiful. That dark blue fabric does keep the design from being mushy; it give just enough of a hint of a Trip Around the World design like you said. That is exciting that you may have another one done shortly!

Mystic Quilter said...

Great finish Kaja - the off centre setting is perfect, I love the look!
The back also is a treasure, lovely mix of fabrics.