Thursday, July 21, 2016

Metro Medallion Finished.

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Okay, first off - sorry about the lame presence here on the blog.  I have been so busy!  I can finally breath and hopefully will have more time to spend on here.  But, what a better way to come back to the blog than by sharing a finished quilt!?!

So, I have wanted to make a new quilt for my bed for a while.  My mom made me a beautiful quilt 5 years ago and I have loved it and used it this whole time, but I am up for a change and I decided that Sew Kind of Wonderful's pattern Metro Medallion would look amazing on my bed. I have made this pattern before using the Quick Curve Ruler - it's really an easy pattern and it got easier with each block I made. Don't be afraid of the curves!

Isn't the quilt fantastic? It is huge!  It is 102 x 104 inches which fits my bed nicely - you will see that later in the post. I definitely made the quilt larger than the pattern directions show, but that was just a matter of buying more fabric.  Who doesn't like to buy more fabric?
The fabrics used in my quilt are from several manufacturers and designers.  I just pulled colors that I like and put them together and I didn't write them down, so please don't ask me what each print is...pretty please! ;-)

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This quilt took me several months to make, but mainly because I was busy writing my second book which comes out in September - so I was pretty crazy.  It also took me a while longer because I wanted to add the squares on point in the white Metro Medallion blocks.

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I ended up changing the shape of the square on point - the original design has a diamond, but I find it easier for me to piece with squares.  So the blue polka dot fabric was a 3 1/2" square sewn along the diagonal line, trimmed and then the inside aqua fabric was a 2" square sewn along the diagonal line and trimmed. I was going to use different colors for the inside square, but changed my mind because it would have taken me a lot longer to place the colors.
As you can see the bright fabric color placement is random, but also on purpose - if that makes sense.  I always lay out my quilt blocks and play around with them to figure out the perfect placement.  I didn't pre-plan how many colors of each block I would make - so that is why I needed to play with it before I sewed the quilt top together.
 
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Originally I was going to quilt an allover design - I know, gasp! - I didn't want to spend as much time as I usually do on this quilt because it was going to be used for my bed. But then I thought a lot about it and knew that I couldn't just quilt an allover design, so I came up with this simpler quilting design.  I threw in some fun custom designs on a few of the medallions like the one above, but for the most part, the blocks were quilted with fast, free-motion fills.

I was able to quilt the fun curves in the navy blue fabric using the QCR Curvit longarm ruler - it was my first real attempt at using a curved ruler and it was fun!  I think I see more curves in my future.  Don't you love the beads in between the curved lines?  I do - the look is just perfect. 

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When all was said and done, I did have to go back and add another curved line in the navy blue fabric.  Compare this block above to the picture before this and you will see what I am talking about. Even with all of this - my crazy detailed self would love to redo this project and go to town on the quilting detail, but I am honestly happy with the results. It was a new challenge for me to limit my quilting.

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Um yes, thank you diagonal striped fabric for being the perfect fit for the finishing touch on this quilt. Don't you just love it?
Oh, and before I forget - I used Glide thread for the top and bottom and I used only one layer of 100% bleached cotton Hobbs batting.

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I love the texture on the back - you can see I tried several different designs - not all of them are perfect, but it was good practice for me since I have been traveling a lot and not quilting as much as I would like. It seriously was a lot of fun.
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I started the quilting with this block design above, but I am so glad I decided against finishing the whole quilt with this design - I would still be quilting it!

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Okay, so here is my room before Metro Medallion.  This is the quilt my mom made for me and I absolutely love it still!  The colors are exactly what I loved 5 years ago and I still love, but I just needed a change. I think we all need a change every now and again. It was also really fun going to Home Goods and buying new stuff.

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I changed out the drapes - they are a lot brighter now and the room will feel brighter.

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I also bought new pillows and new bedside lamps.  It really goes well with the quilt.

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I love the little details in the quilt top that I will be able to enjoy from now until I have a hankering for a change.  Another 5 years I am sure.

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So I made the quilt long enough to cover our deep mattress and box spring. I didn't want to worry about making a bed skirt, so a bigger quilt was the answer to that dilemma.

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This picture shows a little of the mattress, just to give you an idea of what I mean about not making a bed skirt.  The quilt, if pulled just right fits perfectly to the frame of the bed on both sides of the bed.

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So, here is my room and I absolutely love it!  It's perfect for me.

By the way - it's always this clean.  Hahaha, just kidding!

29 comments:

Helen L said...

Gorgeous!! I love your quilting, the added squares of black and aqua, and how wonderful it looks in your room. Congrats on a beautiful finish!! Hugs, H

Carol M said...

I just love how this turned out! I have the ruler and pattern...mine will have to wait until I finish the 2-3 I'm working on!
Carol Muller

HeatherK @ A Reformed Heath'n said...

Beautiful! I can't wait to make my own quilt for my bed. It's in the works but in a back burner. Love your version!

~Diana said...

Bedroom makeovers are so refreshing! And your quilt is stunning, as always!

Frances Meredith said...

Looks great with your bed.

Leeanne said...

LOVE LOVE! I love that you made it bigger and your quilting is, as ALWAYS fabulous! I love Sew Kind of Wonderful's patterns, I am on my second one, Metro Hoops, I would love to get their long arm curved ruler. Thanks for sharing! P.S your room look lovely and fresh.

Gemini Jen NZ said...

Sorry, had to wipe drool from my chin before I could type - this quilt is just delicious!! What a great call to do the fmq designs, as always your quilting totally enhances the quilt. I could stare at this for ages and not get bored. I think you will thoroughly enjoy the next five years - you've done a great update in your room. Well done! (And am looking forward to the new book!)

Pat said...

That's pretty amazing. The quilting is gorgeous.

LJ said...

Gorgeous work. The addition of the sq. in sq. was perfect. Of course, the quilting is amazing; I love studying how you go about your quilting decisions and really enjoyed you sharing many of your thought processes concerning this quilt. The "quilting to death" that you do is fabulous but this 'less quilting' is something I want to emulate; I'll never be able to do all the heavy quilting. I've saved the post to re-read and I've saved to Pinterest, too. :) Your bedroom looks so bright and happy; I love doing little things to a room to freshen things up.

Karee said...

Beautiful quilt and quilting! I have the pattern and you just provide the incentive: curvaceous beauty. Thank you for sharing this.

Teresa in Music City said...

As usual, your quilting leaves me speechless, but the color and design of the quilt is just as beautiful! I'm a big fan of SKOW, their patterns are so fresh and modern.

Kathy said...

Just stunning! The quilting makes the quilt design just pop! Wonderful inspiration for me to get busy on a SKOW project that somehow fell into the UFO pile! Thank you for sharing!

Gloria said...

As always, this quilt is perfectly gorgeous! I love the way you accessorized it in your bedroom too. Your quilting is again stunning! Seeing your work always makes me extend my vision for myself a bit farther. Thanks for sharing with us here and inspiring us to increase our skill level.

Lace Faerie said...

Stunning! Just stunning! One of my favorite patterns and your quilting is divine!

JANET said...

What a beautiful, stunning job you did on this quilt! You never cease to amaze me. Can't wait for the next one.

Havplenty said...

The quilt changes the whole mood of your bedroom. Wonderful colors, quilt and super awesome quilting.

tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Jessica said...

Definitely changes the mood of your bedroom! So cheery and brighter :).

Unknown said...

Your addition of those squares turned a great quilt into an absolutely fabulous beauty. Love the statement it makes in your bedroom, so bright and cheerful.

KaHolly said...

This is pretty gorgeous! You are truly a master!

trudie said...

Judi, what kind of batting did you use? That quilt is scrumptious.

Linda R said...

Oh Judi - I love your new quilt. I have been putting off doing a quilt with "curves" in it....but this might change my mind! Your quilting always seems so "perfect" for the design of the quilt. You really have an "eye" for this. So talented! Your mothers quilt was so pretty - but I know what you mean about change. Your quilt looks so pretty on your bed. Nice and long on the edges....got to love that (I hate bed skirts). Congrats on another amazing quilt.

Michele said...

I so absolutely love your quilt. I have the QC ruler and haven't been sure which pattern to try first. Now this one might have gone to the top of the list.

Kira said...

Well done. It's perfect. You're right. We all change over time. Style, preferences, needs. The only real question is how do you run your business and balance your family and make your own world beautiful.

Kira said...

Well done. It's perfect. You're right. We all change over time. Style, preferences, needs. The only real question is how do you run your business and balance your family and make your own world beautiful.

T Holzer said...

Your designs inside of designs are simply extraordinary! How can you even see those designs in your head??? And the black of the bed and the black of the quilt are a perfect fit!!!

emily said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kamila @ Work-With-Patches said...

BEAUTIFUL quilt with wonderful quilting! Great work :)
I love your fabrics choice and quilting motifs:) It's perfectly fits to bedroom.
Greetings from Poland
Kamila

Rebecca Grace said...

Judi, no one cares how long it takes you between posts. When you DO get around to writing a blog post, it's always worth the wait. This is my FAVORITE version of Metro Rings. I love the on-point squares you added, and the quilting is just delicious as usual. I'm glad you were able to find the time to make something special just for you!

Barb said...

The difference in the bed from then to now is amazing....what a fabulous quilt.