Saturday, April 25, 2015

Mark & Heidi's Wedding Ring

 It's time for the big reveal...


Last June, I invited my nephew Mark and his fiancee Heidi to a quilt design consultation party. We looked at patterns and took a field trip to the LQS. We didn't find the focus fabric we were looking for, so we jumped online and found Kate Spain's Sunnyside line. Heidi wanted blues, and Mark wanted a bit of orange (note the Syracuse hat). I happened to have a mini charm pack of Sunnyside in my stash, and we decided on the main print from that 2.5" square!


Quite a few of the other prints in the quilt are from Sunnyside, but I needed to add in more blues for the gradation. I think I traveled to five or six quilt shops until I was happy with the fabrics.


If you've visited my blog before, you know I love paper piecing. Judy Neimeyer's patterns just make me happy! I love her methodical process and perfect patterns. This was my third time making a wedding ring star and I just love it. 

It's hard for me to complete a pattern without making some modifications. This time, I designed a border to echo the curve of the rings and added some simple applique. It took some time and consultation with my friend Maria to figure out a process for adding the scalloped border with bias edging. (I love Maria! We speak the same quilting language.)


The backing fabric was Plan B. My first purchase was a white on white that was just boring. I love this more modern option. (If I find the receipt, I'll add a link to the shop.) Oh, the binding! I cut up a whole yard of fabric into 2.25" strips. Overkill. I have extra, so you'll be seeing it again! I spent a few nights on the couch watching listening to TV while I hand stitched.


I'll step back and let the machine quilting by Pat Harrison speak for itself...





The queen size bed in Pete's room is dwarfed by this massive quilt.


My brother put me in this photo for scale! The portable quilt rack is just barely big enough. We had to bring it out on the deck for photos because our ceilings aren't high enough.


Mark & Heidi's Wedding Ring
Started June 2014
Completed April 2015
Working Time: 140 hours
Size: 112" square
Machine pieced and hand appliqued by Tina Craig, Seaside Stitches
Professionally machine quilted by Pat Harrison, Ocean Waves Quilting Co.
Original border design by Tina Craig

Process blog posts:
Binding

Awards:
Ninigret Quilters, October 2015:
Best Large Pieced Quilt
NQA Certified Judges Ribbon
Vendor Choice-Bob's Featherweights

Narragansett Bay Quilters Association, April 2016:
Best of Show
1st Place Exemplary Machine Quilting- Track
1st Place Exemplary Use of Color
2nd Place Exemplary Piecing

10 comments:

Grit said...

This quilt looks amazing !!!

Rike Busch said...

What a fantastic and amazing quilt!!! I really love it.
Wish all the best to Mark and Heidi!
Greetings, Rike

margaret said...

what a beauty this is

Janet Ann said...

Absolutely Beautiful! You did a fabulous job! And the quilting is perfect!

Joan Blade Johnson said...

Sooo beautiful!

Debbie said...

This is just SO beautiful Tina! Wow. What a family heirloom you've created!

Sue SA said...

Congratulations an amazing quilt, beautifully made. It is huge!

Dee said...

Stunning quilt!

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

Wow!

TakeMeThereTotes said...

What a beautiful, magical quilt! I cannot believe you have made this pattern three times! Your blue and orange colorway sparkles. Nice quilt!