Saturday, April 13, 2013

Harmony top

Lori shared such a charming antique doll quilt on her blog this week.  I loved it right away.  It had such marvelous variety of fabrics and whimsical piecing.  It really struck me as a project a child could have made learning to sew.  Lori decided a few days later to host a quiltalong to reproduce this little quilt and I could not resist. 
 It was fun to pull fabrics from my stash.  I decided to size the hst's a bit larger than Lori's instructions. I took care to carefully study the color combinations and orientation of the hst's and I copied it as closely as I could with what I had at home. 
 I found myself wondering if this end result was what the maker had in mind.  If somehow some of the pieces got turned around and the maker - loathe to take stitches out - just kept on going  :0)  Sometimes when making a reproduction I want to "fix" what I perceive as "mistakes" however, then in my eyes the finish inevitably loses the charm of the original.   I am eager to handquilt this little top and throw it in the wash - hoping to capture the worn, used look of the original.  But...  I don't want to lose momentum on this big quilt I am handquilting.
 I debated for a while how to quilt the border of this quilt.  I wanted to echo quilt the vine but after consideration decided that quilting would be too dense compared to the center.  I took it to my guild meeting and liked the idea a friend suggested to do clamshells in the border.  In the end I decided it could be difficult to mark them and execute the corners so I opted for boring old diagonal lines.  It is going quickly and I hope to finish before the annual outdoor quilt show in late May. 
Although lines seem boring - they are fun to quilt  :0)  No pesky seams to go through.
 
So the little Harmony top will have to wait.  I do need to remember it though, when I get this bigger quilt finished.  I love to participate in Lori's quiltalongs but I've only actually finished one of the quilts...

Happy Quilting!!

18 comments:

Karen said...

I like the fabrics you selected for the little sew-along. Especially the rusty red.

Cathy said...

Janet I love your Harmony quilt. Your quilting is fabulous on the border of your quilt. Hugs, Cathy

Lori said...

Diagonal quilting may be ho-hum, but they sure look good on a quilt!
Your version of harmony is so sweet!! I marked mine for quilting and got it basted yesterday. Going to do ho-hum cross hatching! So effective though!!

Carrie P. said...

sweet little quilt. I just saw another blogger had made it.
I don't think there is anything boring about your straight line quilting on the border. I think it looks great.

Every Stitch said...

You have done a great job on Lori's little quilt. I was very tempted to give it a go as it is a beauty with it's little oddities...but too busy right now. I love your fabric selection - you have reproduced it so well!
Your hand quilting is lovely - I am a big fan of lines in a border - looks perfect behind the vine there.
Hilda

Anonymous said...

I love how your Harmonty top turned out! Can't wait to see it finished :).

Jane in Cumbria said...

What a lovely little quilt. I also think that the old way of putting in pieces 'wrong' looks more charming. It is so modern to want everything just right. Your quilting is looking great!

*karendianne. said...

Harmony is lovely!!! I like the pretty line quilting myself. :)

Crispy said...

It is a sweet little quilt. I too would have a hard time leaving the errors in it LOL.

I think the diagonal lines work well in the border. Clam shells may have clashed with the inner stitching IMHO :0)

Crispy

MARCIE said...

Such a cute little primitive type quilt! And your Corn and Beans turned out so fabulous! Nice border as well. You always do such a wonderful job with everything!

Dixie Howard said...

Your version of Lori's quilt is darling. Really love your appliqued border on the corn and beans quilt - what a nice finish. So pleased to see that you are hand quilting this one.

Barb said...

what an inspiring post! I love Lori's little quilt along. You did a remarkable job reproducing it. I'm so glad you kept in the quirks.
Your hand quilting is look incredible! I actually prefer straight line quilting to curved any day. After I do a feathered wreath, I "treat" myself to some straight lines.

Janet O. said...

Very nice replica of "Harmony".
Your hand quilting is beautiful--I think the straight lines in the border are a nice juxtaposition to the curvy vine. : )

Linda in NC said...

You did a terrific job of reproducing Harmony; great fabric choices evoke the original.

I love your current hand quilting project with the play between piecing and applique, curved lines and straight lines. Not to mention the lovely, lovely scrappiness of the center!

Kyle said...

What you used from your stash was perfect for your little Harmony quilt. Great interpretation. Your straight line quilting lets the appliqué be the star.

Barbara J said...

Lovely little Harmony and all scrappy too! Really love all these little quilts Lori comes up with.

Miriam said...

I love your version of Harmony! You have used a great selection of fabrics.

Your quilting is beautiful!! I love the applique border too.

Jeanne said...

Your little Harmony quilt turned out so cute! Love the hand quilting on your other project, too.