10 November 2010

it's getting cold

Temperatures are falling. For the first time this season I have burned some firewood this week.

The warm palette of my Cherrywood fabric was looking very tempting. My stash consisted of 6" by 9" pieces from a few scrap bags purchased some years ago. I took a leap of faith and started cutting / ripping them into strings. Playing with contrast and sewing them together. Not thinking to much, just cutting and sewing. Until I used it all. Very inspired by Gwen Marston.

"That looks a lot like Gee's Bend" was my DH's comment. Clever man! You can't live in this house and stay ignorant about quilts and quilting...

; )


I ended up with 6 strata. Arranged them on my design wall, adjusting the length of them. Cutting two of them up to become narrower rows. And just viewing them side by side. A fun process.

The size is about 45" by 60". I want to try wool batting, making it nice and warm.
Not sure about the quilting. Hand-quilting is tempting, but not so good for my shoulder ; (


Any ideas of how to quilt this on machine / by hand is welcome! A bit worried about quilting with wool batting. There's so many skills to learn!

Wish you all stay warm on a winterly wednesday!

36 comments:

dutchcomfort said...

W.O.W.! So pretty and those colours are so beautiful.

I had a quilt with woolen batting quilted at the longarm quilter. The result was a very fluffy quilt. Something I personally don’t like. I love flat quilts. But, when you’re looking for a warm quilt, woolen batting is great! it’s Handquilting woolen batting is like cutting through butter with a warm knife!

Lesly said...

I have quilted wool batting on my machine and found it no different than cotton batting to work with. It does make a slightly puffier quilt, but only slightly - nothing like the high-loft polyester of the old days. But I really like the little loft it has - and it is warmer, especially backed with flannel, yum! So go for it - you won't be sorry!

Mari said...

Så flotte farger. Blir spennede å se resultatet. Her er ny link,hvis du vil ha meg på blogglista di. Snakkes.
http://zewnice.blogspot.com/

Mary said...

Ohhhh Marit! This is absolutely stunning. I love the organic feel of it and the colors are so warm and wonderful. You did a wonderful job! You will have no problem working with the wool batting. Can't wait to see it all finished!

mjb said...

These stripes are beautiful! The colors are just as warm as the wool will feel.

Quiltefia said...

Morsomme striper!! Jeg liker så godt det litt skjeve og upresise uttrykket!! Skjønner hva du mener med å maskinquilte ull. Jeg har bare prøvd med knuter og håndquilting. Når jeg så stripene, falt kryss rett inn i tankene mine!? Litt stor grove sting, i forskjellige rødnyanser. Jeg kommer akkurat fra Katrines quiltestue. Hun har så mye fint, og er en utrolig hyggelig jente å handle med. Men det blir fort dyrt!! Gleder meg til å se resten..... AnneK:-)

Pinkadot Quilts said...

I love this so so pretty! I have to put this on the list of things to make!

liz said...

That is a truly amazing quilt. I like your leap of faith - you landed like a cat. Very special. No suggestions about quilting, although i have become partial to perle 8 cotton and big stitches. It suits a modern quilt and is also suitable for woollen batting.

elle said...

oh Gee! gorgeous. Maybe wavy verticle line?

Harmony Hopes Studio said...

Knock your socks right off. It is beautiful.

Victoria Paige @ Boutique Uniquely said...

It's beautiful! I love the contrasting colors. Fab!

Mary said...

Beautiful quilt. What a good way to use those 6x9's. I think irregular wavy lines would be how I would quilt it.

Live a Colorful Life said...

I must get out my cherrywood fabrics and play a bit. This is beautiful!

Carla said...

Once I did a quilt bat sampler project using various battings cut into strips within the small quilt. Handquilting on the wool batting was like pushing the needle through butter compared to the others...at least that's how I remember it! I like the wavy line idea too!

Clare said...

arit - this is sooo gorgeous. I can feel the warmth coming from it. Truly wonderful.

alobsiger said...

Truly beautiful, Marit! I hear that hand quilting with wool batting is very nice, needles easily. THis would be fantastic with either hand or machine quilting!

Nifty Quilts said...

Ooh, I LOVE this quilt!! The colors so rich, and the design so modern. I've used wool batting for hand-quilting because it is easier to get the needle through. But don't hurt your shoulder! Maybe a combination of hand and machine quilting, or just straight lines or circles with the machine. I think anything will be great, because the quilt is already so beautiful!

Andi said...

I LOVE this quilt!!! (All my favourite colours!)
I think loads of straight line quilting would look great! I'm sure the wool batting will quilt up nicely.
Andi x

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

It's just fantastic in all it's simplicity and glorious colours, Marit!

Anonymous said...

stunning.
i say trust your gut. every piece has a voice.

Heidi said...

Wonderful, you used the colours perfectly. You won't be cold under this quilt, the colours already give warmth

KateKwiltz said...

I LOVE THIS! It's gorgeous! Very, very rich colors, and just the right amount of variation to make it interesting. Great work!

I've never used wool batting, but I did use Thinsulate batting on a flannel (both sides) napping quilt I made for my father, who says he can't use it unless it's below freezing out -- it gets too hot!

Shelley said...

Beautiful quilt! The colorway is fabulous.

Allie said...

Yep, very Gwen Marston - I ADORE this! It looks like a lot of fun to make, as well. I think I'd machine quilt it, just because of all the seams....but NO clue how! The wool batt does fluff up, I've been told, so you could do some close quilting on it. Maybe loopy lines vertically.

Oops-Lah said...

It's absolutely beautiful! I adore it. I'm in the process of quilting a quilt with a wool batting and it's actually very easy to do. The needle just glides in and out! I can only recommend it.

Sharon said...

This is so beautiful - I LOVE it! It's very organic. The Cherrywood fabrics just glow in this one! It makes me want to go play with my C-wood scraps!

As fas as the quilting, I'd say some organic straight-ish lines. If your shoulder bothers you, maybe do most of it by machine, with some accents of the perle cotton stitching (if possible). The wool batting sounds yummy. I know whatever you choose to do will be wonderful.

Jantine said...

This is incredibly beautiful, I could look at it for hours!!!

Sujata Shah said...

The first picture looks three dimensional.. Stunning quilt needs your stunning hand quilting.. if you ask me!

Tonya Ricucci said...

gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous - love it!!! I've heard that hand quilting through wool is really easy, but I've never tried it. good luck!

Anonymous said...

LOVE it! I'm a straight stitcher myself so I of course would go that route.

I felt a quilt crafted with wool batting the other day. Perhaps about 3 inches apart in quilting and it was so soft I've been thinking about it since.

Kim Brackett said...

Amazing quilt!

Nifty Quilts said...

I just love this quilt! Just had to say it again. Have a good weekend!

Mary Keasler said...

Truly inspirational.

Quiltycat said...

Love the colors of this quilt! What is the fabrics name?
Wool batting is wonderful and confortable in quilting...you will like it!
nichi

Lauren @ Craft My Life Away said...

Hmm.. the quilt top is just gorgeous. Thinking about the actual quilting is a tough one though. Maybe because it is so geometric, I would try something more organic for the quilt lines.

I bet it is going to be soooo warm! Enjoy.

Diane said...

Those colors meld together beatiful.