freebird

Posted on | November 22, 2010 | 18 Comments

No, not THAT song!

I’ve started and finished a quilt (xmas present) out of Moda’s Freebird line, using a Moda “recipe” – Blueberry Chocolate Squares.  Although I should say that the pattern was a guideline, because I unintentionally altered it (which is a nice way of saying I screwed up). The points are supposed to come together to form a diamond in the center of the squares, and I wasn’t paying attention and ended up with triangles.  Which is okay, I still like it!

The recipient looked through my fabric stash and selected this layer cake, so I got some additional fabric for the edges and backing and voila!

I machine quilted it by stitching around the squares and the triangles, and I did a wavy pattern around the border.  The waves were a lot of fun to do – I am getting closer and closer to free motion quilting!

I also found a practical use for these old glass insulators – they hold the backing and batting in place while I pin the front!  I have to use the dining room table – there’s not enough clear floor space in my house to sandwich a quilt.

One present down – just a couple more to go!  How’s your gift-making coming along?  Or are you saner than I?

Category: quilting

Comments

18 Responses to “freebird”

  1. Vicki
    November 22nd, 2010 @ 10:50 am

    Oh, that’s just beautiful! I love the happy colors and patterns.

  2. Cookie
    November 22nd, 2010 @ 11:02 am

    It’s beautiful! You did a wonderful job!

    I think it’s so much easier to pin on a table. I’m too old to sit on the floor and hunch over for pinning.

  3. Kitten
    November 22nd, 2010 @ 11:24 am

    Pretty! I love the butterfly borders.
    I usually have to go to the quilt shop to do my sandwiching.
    Getting close, I am.

  4. Rachel
    November 22nd, 2010 @ 1:57 pm

    Ooooh, pretty! I think your ‘screw-up/modification’ worked just fine. And congrats on getting the hand of free motion quilting…I’m impressed.

    For the first year in a long time I was actually honest with myself about time restrictions and what I could reasonably get done before the holidays. So I’m about halfway toward being done my holiday crafting. Feels good to not be so stressed!

    BTW–what’s wrong with ‘that’ song? ;)

  5. Jacey
    November 22nd, 2010 @ 2:37 pm

    Your new quilt is gorgeous! I still haven’t quilted my quilt, but I’m hoping to knock it out before the end of the year. I have been knitting away at a gift for my grandmother, but I definitely feel behind with all I’d like to accomplish before the holidays.

  6. Tonni
    November 22nd, 2010 @ 2:48 pm

    Beautiful! I love the colors…. they are so “happy”!

  7. eblake
    November 22nd, 2010 @ 3:13 pm

    Ah, you got me! I actually *like* the song Freebird, but I would be entirely happy to never, ever hear Sweet Home Alabama again! True story – shortly after moving to Alabama from Indiana, I was at a bar with friends from work and talking to this guy I’d just met. Sweet Home Alabama starts playing and the crowd FREAKS OUT! There were people dancing on the tables, fist pumps all around, and the guy I was talking to decides to grab me by the waist and TURN ME UPSIDE DOWN right there in the bar! (needless to say, I weighed a good bit less then). It was quite an experience and one I’ve not completely gotten over.

  8. Lynn in Tucson
    November 22nd, 2010 @ 3:16 pm

    Elizabeth, it’s beautiful!

  9. Cassie
    November 22nd, 2010 @ 3:51 pm

    I am no saner than you, but I think you’re more productive. The quilt looks gorgeous! And I love those old glass pieces. (Insulators? Explain?)

  10. Robyn
    November 22nd, 2010 @ 7:53 pm

    Oh wow, that’s gorgeous!

    Right now I am working on teacher gifts for the daycare (2 boys have 5 teachers! Oh my!)

  11. Rue
    November 22nd, 2010 @ 7:55 pm

    Beautiful quilt!

    I have to admit that the holidays are pretty stress-free around here (at least on the crafting side). Several months ago I acknowledged that I just wasn’t going to have the time to make all of the gifts that I normally would. So now I’m having fun with alternates. There will be plenty of baking involved but a batch of cookies or candy takes way less time than even the simplest of knitted gifts.

  12. Cheryl S.
    November 23rd, 2010 @ 10:06 am

    It’s gorgeous! Your unintentional modification is great.

    No hand-made gifts this year. I’m a free bird…

  13. Bubblesknits
    November 23rd, 2010 @ 12:02 pm

    That’s probably the prettiest quilt I’ve ever seen. Seriously…between the colors and the prints and the border…absolutely beautiful!

  14. Crystal
    November 23rd, 2010 @ 2:00 pm

    Oooer, cute! Moda fabric is so adorable. My gift making is coming along. I swear, I am going to spend all of January knitting just for meeeeeeeeeeeee!

  15. j.
    November 24th, 2010 @ 9:11 am

    LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! I’m so jealous of your completed project capabilities!

  16. Erica
    November 24th, 2010 @ 9:05 pm

    It’s beautiful! Lucky recipient. =)

  17. Meg
    November 25th, 2010 @ 6:23 am

    I know that pretty quilt is going to make someone very, very happy. Happy Thanksgiving!

  18. Carrie#K
    November 29th, 2010 @ 7:10 pm

    Those are gorgeous quilts!