Thursday, 9 May 2013

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

Have a great weekend, all!
By at
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41 comments:

  1. Linda9 May 2013 at 18:51

    Just wonderful! The quilting is perfect.

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  2. Bending Pins9 May 2013 at 19:15

    GORGEOUS!! I am so in love with your quilt, the colours, the quilting, everything!!! What batting did you use? Have you tried wool?

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  3. The Slow Quilter9 May 2013 at 19:19

    What a great trees and fabric, it is wonderful.

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  4. Patti9 May 2013 at 19:24

    Oh, I love this so, so much M-R! The horizontal stitching is the perfect choice, and I'm going to steal it when I get back to doing mine!!

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  5. Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts9 May 2013 at 19:32

    It looks amazing! I have to ask though, how long did all that quilting take?!?

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  6. Deb@asimplelifequilts9 May 2013 at 20:03

    Stunning! I really love this one, it must be AMAZING in person.

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  7. Jennifer Scantlebury Vienneau9 May 2013 at 20:04

    Simply love how you handled the quilting on this beauty! Just a wonderful quilt!

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  8. Anonymous9 May 2013 at 20:33

    This is really beautiful! I bought that same pattern/fabric pile, but never quite got around to making it. Seeing yours makes me want to fish it all out of my craft room and get to work, though!

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  9. MariQuilts9 May 2013 at 21:13

    So lovely....I love the back as well.

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  10. Rebecca Lynne9 May 2013 at 21:14

    Adore the hockey net... ;) I really really love the back of this quilt as much as the front. Such a great thing when you can display it either way. Beautiful!

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  11. Anonymous9 May 2013 at 21:16

    I love this quilt, the colors, quilting, the back and front designs....all great

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  12. What Comes Next?9 May 2013 at 21:32

    it looks fabulous - and the hockey net was an inspired idea! True Canadian, ehh?

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  13. Ginette9 May 2013 at 21:39

    Looks great M-R!! The quilting looks great!
    I will be at the quilt show Sunday morning with my mom. Hope to see you while we are there!

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  14. Kristy @ Quiet Play9 May 2013 at 23:13

    I love this quilt! It is just so beautiful!

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  15. Carla9 May 2013 at 23:45

    Perfect in every way. The quilting is fabulous!

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  16. Jeneta9 May 2013 at 23:49

    So beautiful! I love that there are trees that are the right way up whichever end of the quilt you are.

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  17. Kelli Fannin Quilts10 May 2013 at 00:28

    That is GORgeous! I love the colors, and the quilting. So perfect. *swoon* :)

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  18. felicity10 May 2013 at 00:33

    WOW! What a gorgeous finish!!

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  19. Nessy10 May 2013 at 01:42

    I like a lot.
    Great job.
    Hugs from Spain.

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  20. MsMidge10 May 2013 at 02:10

    Stunning!!

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  21. Janine @ Rainbow Hare10 May 2013 at 05:15

    This looks wonderful. The trees are stunning and the matchstick quilting works perfectly :)

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  22. Kerstin10 May 2013 at 08:01

    I love this, what a wonderful way to showcase the shot cottons!

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  23. ipatchandquilt10 May 2013 at 08:04

    Your quilt is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!
    I am in awe!!!
    esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo com

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  24. giddy9910 May 2013 at 08:51

    This is SO beautiful! I would like to make one of these someday!

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  25. audrey10 May 2013 at 08:56

    Oooh! SO lovely!

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  26. nicole10 May 2013 at 09:45

    It looks gorgeous! I love the matchstick quilting.

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  27. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD10 May 2013 at 10:32

    Absolutely amazing M-R and the quilting is perfect - I take it your wrist is well repaired now?! :)

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  28. Celtic Thistle10 May 2013 at 11:08

    It's beautiful M-R and your quilting is just perfect!

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  29. Judee10 May 2013 at 11:18

    Simply LOVE your quilt and all that it entails. Clever quilting!

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  30. janequiltsslowly10 May 2013 at 11:36

    Beautiful. That pattern in shot cottons is perfect.

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  31. Newbie Jen10 May 2013 at 12:04

    Gorgeous quilt! And I love the line quilting. Amazing.

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  32. Katherine10 May 2013 at 13:31

    What a joyous quilt! I adore everything about it, M-R. Your fabric choices, the quilting and that fantastic pieced backing. It's absolutely stunning.

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  33. Lucy | Charm About You10 May 2013 at 15:02

    Stunning!!

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  34. AmandaK@whatthebobbin10 May 2013 at 16:40

    The quilting is gorgeous! Horizontal was the way to go. Wish I could do that :)
    Amandak@whatthebobbin

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  35. Unknown10 May 2013 at 20:40

    that is just so freaking awesome I just don't know what else to say!

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  36. Lisa10 May 2013 at 21:24

    Oh wow M-R! You did a wonderful job on this quilt. It's stunning! I really love the horizontal quilting you decided on. Beautiful!

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  37. Rachel10 May 2013 at 22:04

    I absolutely love this quilt. You've done a great job.

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  38. Jessica11 May 2013 at 10:20

    This is AMAZING!! <3

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  39. CitricSugar16 May 2013 at 11:39

    I absolutely adore this quilt. Your matchstick quilting is the perfect choice… So lovely to see it in all its glory!

    And I would totally hang my quilts on a hockey net. Strangely enough, though, I don't have one. :-)

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  40. beaquilter20 May 2013 at 11:52

    awesome! love the trees were they FPP? love the straight quilting too, simple and nice

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  41. Sheila9 June 2013 at 07:56

    Wow I love this quilt and the quilting really makes it ,the back is super too !!

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