Mariner's Compass - DONE!

Drum Roll, please!

 This is it! The 5th and last entry on this 'long-term' project, first shared with you in 2011. I've put links below if you want the full background before reading the finale!

 May 2011

July 2011

 January 2012

 March 2015

You may recall that I purchased the packet of reproduction fabrics, c. 1840, in 2007. They sat in lovely stacks for a few years before being put to use!

I made a concerted effort to stick with the hand quilting over the winter and that made a big difference. I set a goal to have it done this year; to use it on my bed this fall.  Or else!

I had decided early on that I would put my name on the front of the quilt. The two outermost bottom corner 6" blocks are plain with that in mind.
Deciding how I wanted to do that took some time but I'm happy that I didn't rush it. I wanted it to be just the right thing.

I knew I wanted to repeat the circle of the central Mariner's Compass and small blue circles in the corners of the checkerboard, seen in the view above.

                       I found this design in Antique Quilting Designs by Roberta Benvin.

It was used as the center quilting motif in a feathered wreath on the plain setting blocks of a c. 1840 Double Nine Patch quilt; a circle and the required four places defined to embroider my information. 

 That fit well with the date of the reproduction fabric I used as well as the frame style layout.

Bingo!

I enlarged the design and slipped it under the corner over a light box to trace.

.

I combined embroidery with complimentary quilting.  I used double strand blue thread for the chain-stitched circle and to outline leaf shapes.

 The data itself required using a single thread.

The label on the back contains a few more details but the basics are on the front for all to see. I don't want someone have to 'discover' it by accident in 100 years....or  worse yet, NOT discover it!

At last I was ready for the  final step. Binding.

I had run out of the mottled neutral background which probably would have been my choice if I'd had enough so I'd been carrying around a piece to get a good coordinating tone. I wanted the binding to be understated letting the sharp triangle 'pennants' stand out.

I found a large print that had the right 'tone' and I thought it would work when folded 'skinny' and be interesting. I made yards and yards of it, starting sewing it on and didn't like it.


 Rip. Rip. Rip.




I didn't want to get stuck this close to the end! Luckily, a fabric that came with the original fabric line worked and I had enough of it.

The last few stitches - Had to record them!

TA -DA!

Facts:

Size:86" W x 94" L

Hours to hand quilt: 140

Batt: wool

Original Design

I hope you are all well and enjoying your quilting adventures. I have been AWOL from writing this blog for some time and hope to be much more regular now. I have acquired quite a few new 'old' quilts I'd like to share with you and have finished lots of smaller projects, too.

 Please check back and send your comments to keep me honest.

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Progress - Mariner's Compass Medallion

Lately I've  been working on a very long term project. I am hand quilting what may very possibly be my last large bed quilt. I am determined to continue even though it got to 88 today in Phoenix and it has wool batting! I work in the early part of the day or in the evening. And of course, I skip some days.

When I finished my 'stint' today I threw it down on the floor to admire it - always fun to see progress - and noticed that the light was perfect for for a few shots that capture the quilting.

I didn't crop this photo so you can get an idea of the size of the project


After quilting 1/4" from seams on the Mariner's Compass I did concentric circles, gradually increasing outward over that whole section, including the Flying Geese. I started with single parallel lines in the blue setting corners but it just didn't seem to be enough - so I doubled them.

The cable shows nicely in this one. You can see I have it placed it over two plain borders.

Here is a section of the back. I wanted you to see how I am quilting the hourglass block border.
 It is the section with triangles next to the toile where the straight lines alternate directions.

Here's the front showing the hourglass blocks.

 I didn't want to just outline along the seams and this, though not very visible, does quilt the area down with a consistency I like. I like to do designs that ignore the piecing.

Simple X's in the checkerboard borders.

I begin to think about my possible quilting designs even as I am piecing the top but I don't mark the entire quilt or really make many decisions until I am ready to quilt. I sketch out ideas, start in the middle and frequently get new ideas as I work. 

I am keeping track of my time on this one, just for fun. I use a small spiral notebook...here's one page

Hours so far: 103

Medallion - Drum Roll Please!

At last....the top is done!!

87 x 96

I've labored over this one (as you know if you follow my blog regularly). I felt like giving up for awhile. I just had to let it sit, again and I learned that was for the best. If you don't feel like working on something, give yourself a break. Let it simmer.
I came back to it with a fresh attitude having spent time thinking about all the possibilities...(you know, at 3 a.m.) and lo and behold....one day I was ready to move forward.

The most recent hang up was what to do for the border between the blue strip and the outer points. I tried all kinds of things and ended up using the medium tone prints from the collection in rectangles of various lengths. I didn't want another plain 'slab' border and this seems to be subtle enough while still being scrappy.

This is how much of the mottled tan I have left.  I thought I had enough pieced points made but had neglected to add in that final border (this math...aargh!) so I decided not to put them at the top edge. I could have found something close I'm sure.... but then decided it was a good accident. I did another row of rectangles and think it is a better plan. Those points would not have shown behind the pillows anyway. This quilt is designed for use on a bed...not a wall.





I will be curving the two bottom corners so they won't drag on the floor.

Now - to baste and think about quilting. I may get a long-arm quilter to baste it for me. I've never done that but I think it would be a great time (and back) saver and I would not be dealing with the safety pins as I quilt.



I'm using a wool batt for the first time and am eager to see how I like it; working with it, sleeping under it, washing it. Just in time, too, as the temps are beginning to feel like fall. I lap quilt (no hoop) and I can imagine a quilt on my lap - which was not the case over the past summer!

More history on the medallion setting style at womenfolk

Previous posts about this project:  1   2   3   4

Now What?

:)

August Inspiration

August already. I hate when this happens.
Summer goes zooming by. Back-to-school ads begin to appear, the Minnesota State Fair looms at the end of the month and I even saw a couple of sumac leaves starting to turn red on my walk yesterday.
As you may know, I set monthly goals for my quilt related life all through the year but somehow the 'end of summer' makes me panic. But this year, the London Olympics are helping to motivate me.

The dedication and hard work the athletes exhibit - long term - is really amazing to me. I do not compare my life or achievements to the athletes stories but I am inspired by people who have goals in any field and are willing to work hard to achieve them...thus.... I have given myself  a virtual 'kick in the behind' to apply more energy and focus on my goals.

I usually bite off more than I can chew and may have done it again for August - but I thought I'd try sharing my list with all of you in hopes that promising to post the results at the end of the month will be motivational!
Thankfully, a gold medal is not at stake!

So here's what I am going to do:

    Finish my Scottie top - crib size

Finish my Mariner's Compass top - full size              

    (friends are doubtful!)

Finish my Amish Bars - just the outer border to hand quilt 

And in my spare time....

    Play with denim.

 Watch for my report on September 1.

Mariner's Compass - A Ghost of Quilt Years Past

I wish you are a very happy, healthy and productive new year!! Thank you for your interest in my blog and for your comments and ideas this past year. I do appreciate you all so much and look forward to sharing our passion for a variety of quilting topics in 2012.


I talked about goals in my last post so I better get moving!  The party's over - the cookies are gone...it's time to get  back to work.

And speaking of work - here's a 'work-in-progress' from 2011.  Does it look familiar?

At the very end of December I pushed myself to get back to this before the stroke of midnight.











I finalized the plan for my the outer border. It will be 'tall' triangles. I like this shape because it echoes the sharp points seen in the central compass. The measurements of this final border will determine the size needed for the 'coping' border between it and the checkerboard.


To make my template I tried different angles on graph paper and when I liked the proportion ( a 4" base) I glued it to a heavier cardboard, let it dry overnight, and then cut it out. I used a awl to poke a hole at the intersections of the seams. I later found that I was able to eyeball the placement without marking it.

I glued a small piece of fine sandpaper to the back when I found it was slipping a bit as I traced. (A few small squares would have worked just as well!)
I keep saying I learn something with every project - and it's true.

 


I wanted to use a wide variety of the beautiful prints from the Regency Collection by Anita Shakelford  and Marcus Bros.  This meant I had to trace the prints individually and cut them out with scissors.








But I was able to be more efficient with the alternate tan triangle by cutting a 6.5" strip ......

......and drawing a pencil line on each side of the template.

Then I used an acrylic ruler (with good light at just the right angle) and rotary cut on the pencil lines.

It's going well and now I regret dragging my feet so much...but this year I will finish the top, sandwich it with the wool batting I've been saving and get started on the hand quilting.


You have my word on it!

To read earlier posts on this project click:

 Part 1   Part 2    Part 3

Medallion Update - Almost there!

I first posted about my medallion project last May. Click here if you'd like to go back and see that first post.  Also, see July for the first update.

I  have now added the red coping strips and another round of checkerboard squares.  I appliqued circles in the four corners of that border to bring in the compass center shape, bringing it to 63" x 73".

I was so excited about the vertical hombre stripe I added to get to a rectangle but it kind of bugs me now - I may applique circles across it.....

I think I’ll be adding two 6” borders  all around to give me my finished size.
Now I have some thinking to do - I want to use large enough pieces to feature some of the interesting prints in the collection. I’m leaning toward the final border being triangles. I'd like to get the top completed relatively soon.....

Meanwhile, here’s a small medallion I did last year. It's hanging on the wall in my kitchen/dinette.

36" x 36"

The center appliqué block is a Lori Smith pattern. I just kept going around it with different borders or frames – my first taste of the dreaded 'MEDALLION MATH'…and quite a challenge when I decided I had to have the pinwheel round 'on point'.

HAND QUILTED

Even with some previous experience, my bed size medallion is not proving to be that much simpler. The planning holds me up – there are so many options and no one ‘right’ way which is both the good and the bad news!

COMING SOON: TWO NEW (OLD) TOPS

Mariner's Compass Medallion - Update I

My Mariner's Compass medallion project has progressed. I promised I would get that next frame on before June ended and I did it....surprising what you can do if you put everything else aside for a day or two to fulfill a promise!
I finished making the hourglass blocks and added them to all sides.

I want a rectangular quilt so I added a 5" strip to the top and bottom only - I had a nice stripe in my stash.

 

















Time for the first 'fitting'.  Have you ever designed a bed quilt on your vertical design wall  and ended up with a quilt that didn't enhance the bed as much as the wall?  This quilt is being made for double bed so the bed is my design wall. This section now covers the width of the top.

Now it's back to my original notes (see my first post on this project in May) to review the blocks I wanted to incorporate in the borders and do the math....aargh. I have determined the finished size now so I can plan the width of the remaining borders - remembering, this time, that the quilting will take up at least 2" and washing takes up a bit more. I want it long enough to tuck pillows under at the top.

I've lain awake a couple of nights now with these thoughts running wild through my head. I think I have a plan! I'm cutting and sewing.....Watch for Update II soon.

 In the meantime, I'll post the method I used to make my hourglass blocks.

Next: EASY Hourglass Construction

My Mariner's Compass Medallion - Part I

I’ve been fussing with this project on and off (mostly off) since I bought the lovely kit of fabrics (Judy Rothermel’s Regency Collection) at the New England Quilt Museum during the 2007 AQSG seminar. I’ve had it even longer than I realized!
 The neat stacks were so appealing… nicely folded in color groups with pretty ribbons around them….it seemed a shame to mess them up! So I let them sit for some time just as they were!
Eventually I took off the ribbons and unfolded them for pre-washing and pressing. I do pre-wash fabrics to be used in my quilts. I’d like to know ahead of time if a fabric is going to bleed and ruin the quilt the first time it’s washed. …. and I do love pressing them. It gives me a chance to really ‘see’ and appreciate each piece.

I decided to come up with my own design rather than follow the simple pattern included in the kit. I quickly realized this was not going to be a ‘Quilt in a Day’.

I decided on the medallion style. I love the British framed quilts and since the fabric line represents the early 1800’s I chose the Mariner’s Compass for the center. This block has been around a long long time. In fact, the first known Mariner’s Compass quilt was made in England in 1726. Judy Mathieson, a recognized expert on this design, notes that the Mariner's Compass is seen in “a large proportion of existing quilts from the Atlantic coast area”. The connection to the sea was very important to them.

The process slowed down as I researched variations and sizes of the Mariner’s Compass patterns and played around with fabrics and placement. I ended up making templates and hand piecing the block.

Somehow, even with all that effort, it turned out smaller than expected - just 13"

 

I surrounded it with Flying Geese and set it on point with the blue print to enlarge the central focus.

I studied examples of this style from my own library as well as the internet. I was focusing on the types of frames or borders seen most often. I sketched my favorites and made notes in my Project Book.

 I added a checkboard border

 . . . then a plain border composed of a few different brown prints.
At this point it measures 41" square





I've laid down some Hourglass blocks as my proposed next frame. I think I like it.....


I'll need to make a few more.

  

Doing my own thing is so satisfying on one level and yet can be so frustrating! So many decisions to be made along the way slows things down. Besides, I like to have many quilting projects going at once. I like variety. Sometimes I am in the mood to sit at my machine, other times I want to hand quilt or embroider. There are so many pleasures to be had with this wonderful ‘art'….or 'craft'. (that’s a can of worms I won’t open today) It’s not my style to see one project through without being distracted by another….unless there is a deadline! I say this to prepare you for a bit of a wait for Part II. The goal is double bed size, wool batt and hand quilted.


Maybe you will nudge me occasionally with, “How’s that Medallion Project coming?

Coming Next: Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy - Picnic Quilts