Thursday 1 September 2016

TGIFF! - We The North Since 1867

Welcome to TGIFF! I'm definitely doing the Carlton Happy dance with my finish this week. It's why I've been so quiet on the blog; besides our vacation, every spare moment was spent working on this quilt since early July.

I shared the finished We The North Since 1867 top last month. I actually designed this quilt last year, but then struggled with the motivation to start it. Fear is such a little bugger. Once I got started though, the obsession took over. Tea and Buffy the Vampire Slayer kept me company on many a late night.

I made We the North Since 1867 to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary next year.  Yeah, I know I'm a little early to be doing a sesquicentennial quilt, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I love to travel and experience other countries and cultures, but I love coming home too. I feel pretty lucky to be born in this cool country so I wanted to make something to celebrate it.

Don't let the simple design fool you; it has a lot of meaning behind it (at least for me). It has 13 values of red (mostly Konas) for the 10 provinces and three territories.

When we typically talk about Canadian culture, we often use the term 'mosaic' to describe all the nationalities that now call this place home. I wanted the central maple leaf to convey that idea as well, but I wanted more of a glass-like feel to it to remind us that it is fragile if we are not careful.


I machine appliquéd 1867, the year of Confederation, to the lower right of the maple leaf.


For the quilting, I used two colours of Aurifil thread (Red 50 wt. 2260 and Charcoal 50 wt. 2630), representing our two official languages. The quilting is the walking foot technique that I learned from Heather Lair. The spacing is 5/8" between the lines. Done on my Bernina domestic machine, the quilting alone took about 30 hours. Yes, totally crazy, but worth it.



I outlined the central maple leaf with some hand stitching and included some hand stitched partial maple leaf 'watermarks' in the background.





I also hand stitched one small red maple leaf in the upper right to represent our 'little' country in 1867 (only 4 provinces and 3.4 million people at the time).


We the North Since 1867 is done and it turned out just as I had hoped. Bliss.


For those who like to see under the covers, here's the back (it's really hard to photograph red):


Size: 34.5" x 44"

I know I say this a lot, but this is now my favourite quilt. Sorry, Happy Canada Day, Eh! I still adore you too though.

56 comments:

  1. Congratulations on this amazing finish. I just love all of the details and history you have incorporated. Just awesome. Proud Canadian !

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  2. Congratulations on this amazing finish. I just love all of the details and history you have incorporated. Just awesome. Proud Canadian !

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  3. Wow MR - this is absolutely stunning! I love the "glass like" design, the quilting is just perfect and those appliqued numbers... just wow wow wow!

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  4. So VERY beautiful! Would it be strange for someone from the states to want to make a Canada quilt if she's never even visited Canada? Yeah, I though so, too. :D

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    1. why would it be strange?
      i would love to do a stars and stripes or quilt of valor one day :)
      it's about creating something beautiful no matter where you are :)

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  5. That is the coolest! Wow! Stitching straight lines like that is no joke. It really does take for.ev.er. I love all the symbolism behind your quilt that we never would have known if not for your detailed post! Wonderful work!

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  6. Wow that's great ! I liked very much looking at all the details and reading the story behind this quilt.

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  7. This is fabulous! So much thought behind all the elements of the quilt, I think you absolutely deserve that happy dance :)

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  8. This is fabulous! So much thought behind all the elements of the quilt, I think you absolutely deserve that happy dance :)

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  9. Absolutely gorgeous! I love all the meaning you worked into it and the quilting is perfection. Are you planning/hoping to have it be part of the Canada 150 celebration somehow? It's certainly beautiful enough to be shared nation-wide!!

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  10. This quilt is absolutely stunning M-R! You definitely should be proud. Fantastic!

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  11. Gorgeous tribute! I am working on a quilt for Canada's 150th. A reveal coming soon on my blog.

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  12. What the what this is incredible work...are you thinking about putting together a pattern for it, absolutely adore great job

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  13. Beautiful! I hope you consider entering it into Quilt Canada for 2017.

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  14. Beautiful! I hope you consider entering it into Quilt Canada for 2017.

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  15. This is absolutely stunning! Love the little hand quilted leafs and everything else about this quilt! Well done!

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  16. This is so beautiful! The hand quilted motifs are such a lovely complement, and the piecing in the leaf is so cool!

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  17. I liked this on IG, but I really really love the details you've explained here. It's truly lovely and a fitting tribute to our country. and you've inspired me to plan my own Canada 150 quilt!

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  18. Um, YES! This is fantastic and what a treasure! Love your quilting; it takes the quilt to a whole new level! ! ! !

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  19. This is totally gorgeous! Love the colors and it's just awesome!

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  20. This is beautiful. I love how at first glance it's just a simple and elegant red maple leaf, but when you really start looking at the quilt, it is filled with so much quilting and historical detail. Congrats on this finish! Will you be displaying it at any special festivities next year?

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  21. This leaf is gorgeous! And with 10 shades of red - well done!

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  22. Beautiful M-R! You really knocked this one out of the park!!

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  23. This is amazing! I love your stitching!!
    Susie

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  24. Wow!! It is truly gorgeous!! You did an amazing job with it. Congratulations!!

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  25. the level of meaning and symbolism that is not obviously apparent is great to read about, so beautiful.

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  26. AMAZING!! Standing ovation for this finish. Congratulations.

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  27. Your Maple Leaf Quilt is phenomenal.

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  28. Absolutely stunning. I love it and would love to make one just like it. Of course it wouldn't be as perfect as yours looks to be. I hope you will consider making a pattern available. It is definitely a candidate for Quilt Canada 2017. Well done.

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  29. Completely stunning, M-R. Really. I love all of the extra meaning you infused into this beauty with your fabric and quilting choices.

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  30. Spectacular M-R! Lovery the back story and pleased Aurifil reposted your story. Kudos!

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  31. Spectacular M-R! Lovery the back story and pleased Aurifil reposted your story. Kudos!

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  32. Beautifully done. Using all those reds was genius. You got so much depth into that leaf!

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  33. It's stunning! Love all the symbolism too.

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  34. Wow this is an amazing quilt and a great tribute. So glad I got to see it!

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  35. Absolutely stunning. Fantastic job on designing and the making. Dont suppose you will be selling a pattern for it???

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  36. Just beautiful M-R! You have incorporated so much meaning into this quilt,it will stand the test of time for another 150 years!

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  37. Hello just beautiful, is the pattern going to be available? Please email lawford.ca@gmail.com
    Thanks Sharon

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  38. This is wonderful. You did such a wonderful job and I'm looking forward to seeing it in person one day as I'm sure I will.

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  39. I love it! You have put so much thought into the design and the quilting is perfect! Lynne.

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  40. Spectacular. I love all the detail and symbolism contributing to the amazing whole--just like Canada.

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  41. Love it..there are so many Stars and Stripes quilt but very few Canadian Maple Leaf quilts that I like. Would be delighted to get the pattern if you decide to publish it. marylyle@shaw.ca

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  42. Thank you for hosting TGIFF. I absolutely love this finish. The piecing on the maple leaf is awesome and the quilting is divine!

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  43. This is the most striking Canadian quilt I've seen M-R. Love the clean lines and the mosaic feel of it. It is going to be a very famous quilt!

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  44. This is amazing. Visually stunning- the central maple lead is gorgeous. I really like the mix of hand and machine quilting. In fact, the hand stitched red maple leaf outline representing the "little country" in 1867 did me in. You put so much thought into this project and it's just beautiful!

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  45. This is amazing. Visually stunning- the central maple lead is gorgeous. I really like the mix of hand and machine quilting. In fact, the hand stitched red maple leaf outline representing the "little country" in 1867 did me in. You put so much thought into this project and it's just beautiful!

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  46. There is so much to love about this quilt. The clean design, beautiful layers of quilting, the celebration of this amazing country we call home. Love it, congratulations on a marvelous piece.

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  47. Oh that leaf is just stunning! The shape and colors are gorgeous, and the quilting adds wonderful texture. But 30 hours of straight line quilting! I would go crazy, haha. But maybe those hours also include the hand stitching? But all worth it, this quilt is so pretty and full of wonderful details and meaning!

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  48. I too think this is an amazing quilt. I'm glad to know there are Canadian quilters making such wonderful, thoughtful works. Congrats!

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  49. This is so beautiful! Will you be releasing a pattern? I would love to make this!

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  50. This is beautiful - no wonder you are tickled with it. Happy Birthday, Canada!

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  51. I had this bookmarked and was re reading my list. I absolutely love this quilt and was wondering if you did publish a pattern for it. If so would you please send info on how I can purchase or print the pattern. It's so beautiful!!!

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