I’ve finally finished the quilting on my “Basket of Flowers” quilt. The binding is done too, and it’s hanging in the family room.
The center portion of this quilt was designed by Rebecca Hoffmann, a member of a yahoo Primitive and Folk Art applique group that I belong to. Some of us did this as a group project quilt along. I’m using this as a Christmas quilt, because the branch with the bird and pears remind of that verse from the well known carol..”and a Partridge in a pear tree..” (sung just a little off key..) 
I wanted the quilt to be a bit larger, so I added several borders. The borders I selected are from another project..a Medallion Quilt Along posted by Anita (RhubarbPatch). This also gave me the opportunity to try out the quilting designs I thought I might use when I quilt the larger top.
The Large Medallion Top…..
Anita saw an antique quilt and wanted to recreate it. She drew it up in her EQ program. It looked like so much fun she decided to invite others to join her and do it up as a quilt along. She posted a new round each month, along with the instructions and step by step pics, to her blog.
This is my version. Several of us did this quilt, with each of us choosing our own center design. Anita set up a photo pool and it was fun to see how the different fabrics used made the quilt look so different. Some of our group stopped before doing the entire quilt. That’s the fun of a medallion styled quilt. You can stop whenever you want..and you have a completed top that looks great. My version measures 90″x90″.
When I pieced my version I did the piecing like was done in the past. When the quilter ran out of a fabric she substituted with something similar. I wanted that vintage look.
As you can see in this pic I used quite a few different light fabrics in the piecing, not using just one light for the piecing in that month’s round.
You can also see that I used several reds in the bricks that look like Dominos that have fallen…and several burgundys for the zig zags. To me, the variety of fabrics make the quilt more interesting…as well as giving it a more vintage look.
The quilt top is quite heavy and has a lot of small, intricate piecing. When I quilted the wall hanging I learned that quilting a pieced section as one unit made it difficult to have an even stitch length on both front and back.
The seams get in the way of doing a nice rocking stitch, but I like the look of the cables. In quite a few places I had to do a punch and stab stitch…which leaves me undecided as to how I’ll quilt the larger top.
On the one hand…I like the look and can’t think of what I’d do differently. On the other hand…the quilting will take longer and if I ever enter the quilt in a show, the judges will take points off because they want the quilting stitch to be the same size on front and back. Oh what shall I do?
Tags: applique, hand quilting, medallion quilt, piecing, quilt along
WOW! I love all the layers! great job!
Both of these are beautiful. I love the look of medallion quilts as well.
WOW! I love your quilt – it is so beautiful!
Wonderful finishes. I visited the photos you linked to and it is quite an array of medallion quilts. Your quilt is large but done very well. I like the applique centers you have on both quilts.
Both of these quilts are gorgeous and that Basket of Flowers looks so pretty under your mantle. I love the cable quilting — it’s very effective going through multiple patches, but I can understand your hesitation to do it again — it a hassle sewing through all those seams, and I dislike having to resort to stick and stab. I also love how you mixed up the prints on the second quilt — it definitely gives it a vintage look.
I would be in trouble if I ever tried to enter one of my quilts in a show — my stitches are always slightly smaller on the back than the front. I guess there is something wrong with my rocking stitch technique.
Ann, its turned out really nice.. glad to see it finished… you should show the girls on QLR… so many enjoyed watching you make it…
It looks wonderful, I love all the borders. I guess you’ll mull over the whole quilting issue and one day you’ll make that decision.
I’m speechless, love the wonderfull balance for colors and the all over look. Longing to see more! Will in Paris
I love the borders on the Basket of Flowers quilt. I made that one too , but yours is so unique! I love your larger medallion. A real beauty!
Ann they are both beautiful, so pleased for you that you have finished the Basket of Flowers, its stunning, well done, again you have created an heirloom. Your work and patience is awesome. The large medallion is superb, quilting it would be a challenge, Im sorry I cant offer any thoughts on the topic, I dont have the experience to open my mouth on this topic! Good Luck with it though, whatever you do, you will do it well
Beautiful, Anne! And just in time for Christmas too. : ) The little wall hanging looks so nice and festive! I think YOU should ENJOY your quilts!!! The piecing and quilting you have done and will do give your larger medallion style quilt a more authentic look and feel reminiscent of its antique inspiration. If you chose to enter it in a Show, regardless of judges comments, you know the how’s and why’s of the finished product. Love them and be PROUD of your work!!!
What should you do? Here’s my 2cents: forget about the judges, its your quilt. They’ll ‘live’ with it a few moments, for you its the rest of your life. Follow your heart. Your quilts are lovely, nice work.
Hi Ann, I just came to know about your blog through Martha’s “Q is for quilter” blog and I’m so glad I did.
I love Antique quilts and your blog is really a lovely inspiration
Love your Medallion quilt. It turned out really great! Mine is still waiting to be finished. I’m not sure if you recognize me, my flickr name is handcraft.
Thank you all for your comments! I’m glad I posted about my indecision on the quilting of the larger medallion. As Pam and Virginia pointed out…it’s MY quilt and if I were to put it in a show and the judges comment on the stitches on the back side…I know the how and why…it doesn’t matter.
I’ve decided to quilt it just as I planned..although it will have to wait it’s turn.
Thank you for helping me see what’s truly important.
Pratima…I remember your medallion. I loved your center and enjoyed seeing each round you added. Such a cheerful quilt!