TGIFF! - Seeing The Forest

Welcome to this week's TGIFF!, where every quilt finish deserves a celebration!

I'm very happy to be sharing my Seeing The Forest quilt. This started out at as a fat eighth bundle of Westminster shot cottons and Helen Howes' Twelve Trees pattern that I got from Mad About Patchwork.

I'm not great at sticking with a pattern though so I added in four more trees, and flipped half of them so they looked like a reflection of the top eight. I'm such a rebel.

Figuring out what to do quilting-wise was a challenge. This is the first time that I wanted the quilting to work for both the front and the back.

I considered free motion quilting leaves on the trees, all over leaf pattern, irregular spirals in the backgrounds of the blocks, wishbones in the sashing, etc.

It came down to vertical or horizontal matchstick quilting (kind of like bark?). I went with horizontal and I'm so glad I did. I LOVE the effect on both sides of the quilt and what's more, I actually loved doing the quilting. I used a Sulky variegated thread that went from burgundy to plum.

The quilting lines are spaced anywhere for 1/8" to 1/3" apart. I was worried that the tight quilting might make the quilt too stiff. Nope, the shot cottons handle it beautifully.

The full reveal:

What? You don't hang your quilts on a hockey net?

Seeing The Forest - Back

Quiltography: "Seeing The Forest," by Michèle-Renée Charbonneau, Ottawa, 40" by 59", 2013.

Maxing and relaxing on the steps

Now for my favourite part of TGIFF!; seeing what you've done! Link up a recent quilt finish, tour and enjoy our blogmates' creations.

1. Jess	2. I QUILT FOR FUN	3. making rebecca lynne
4. Amanda @ Fabric Engineer	5. Alyce @ Blossom Heart Quilts	6. Michelle @ Squeek Crafts
7. Kate @katiemaequilts	8. Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation	9. The Bird Quilt
10. Christa Quilts	11. Ms Midge	12. Janine @ Rainbow Hare
13. Anna @ Quilting Along the Grain	14. Kerstin@sunset sewing	15. Lauren aka Giddy99
16. Audrey @ Hot Pink Quilts	17. Quilted Pillow With Hidden Zipper Tute	18. Teacher Gift Book Covers
19. Celtic Thistle Stitches	20. judee	21. Elaine
22. Jen (Quilter in the Closet)	23. Fiber Artist Journey	24. Katherine
25. AmandaK@whatthebobbin	26. Lucy @ Charm About You	27. Pippa@Pippa's Patch
28. Eva-Bambi-Johanson	29. Danielle @ Sparrow Wings	30. Finlay's Stars
31. Alie @ Alie Makes	32. vexa	33. Ginette @ the Quilting Princess
34. Linh @ Calling All Stitchers	35. Not finished, but getting there...	36. Jenniffier bee blocks
37. Rachel@liketosew.blogspot.com	38. Esther @ ipatchandquilt	39. 3 done, oodles to do
40. Mareenchen @ Aquamareen Crafting	41. Jess @ Quilty Habit	42. Chevron Quilt
43. Ellen @ Peace and Plastic

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

Have a great weekend, all!