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!

41 comments:

  1. Just wonderful! The quilting is perfect.

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  2. 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. What a great trees and fabric, it is wonderful.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  13. 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. I love this quilt! It is just so beautiful!

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  15. Perfect in every way. The quilting is fabulous!

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

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  18. WOW! What a gorgeous finish!!

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

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

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

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

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

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  24. It looks gorgeous! I love the matchstick quilting.

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

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

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

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  28. Beautiful. That pattern in shot cottons is perfect.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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