I'm so happy I could finish the neutrals quilt in time for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival, as well as listing it as a Sew-n-Tell Friday finish! Heartiest of thanks to everyone who gave me advice on the design and assembly of this quilt. The name of this quilt is Dunes - obvious, but too fitting to resist.
The quilt is going to my friend, Marcia, who moved to the U.S. to take up a new position. I miss her terribly. This is a belated housewarming present for her; it's small - only about 55" square - but I think it will be nice on her lap while she reads her murder mysteries. Marcia does research in mathematics disability; I chose the "math facts" fabric specially to honour her work. She doesn't know it's coming - I hope she will be surprised in a good way!
As you can see, I chose a tone-on-tone red for the back. When I asked for help in a previous post, there were so many different colour suggestions! I know each of them would have looked great with this quilt, since the hallmark of neutrals is that they go with anything! I had the fabric in my stash already, with no prior claim on it, and I decided to be economical, for a change.
I used a King Tut thread variegated in neutrals for the quilting. I'm not mad about the fact that the quilting shows through on the back, but what can you do? I really dislike the nylon thread option, and I could find nothing that would be mute on both the front and back. I think the quilting is decent, so it doesn't look as tacky as it might otherwise (I hope).
I chose a red and violet stripe for the binding, which I adore! I think it looks great against the neutral front!
I hope you don't mind closeups of some of the blocks. Since I'm giving it away, I like to have some photos to remind me of it once it's gone.
All through the process I talked about how I felt neutral about this quilt, and how I appreciated it intellectually but not emotionally. Guess what - now that it's all done and washed, I'm in love with it! I hope I can bear to send it on its way south of the border!
64 comments:
TO DIE FOR. I love love love love love this quilt, the colours, the backing the quilting.
Yet again Lesly you have come up trumps with another lovely quilt. Marcia I sure will be thrilled with it.
Lovely quilt! My colour palate is at the other end of the scale but I really like this one! I;m sure your freind will love it...if you can give it up!
I am in awe that you finished this quilt so quickly. It's beautiful. (BTW, "Dunes" isn't obvious to me at all.)
Lesly, that is a wonderful quilt! The red is the perfect color for the back, and I love the neutral thread on the back - it shows off your very unique and beautiful quilting style! Now I want to go off and try some FMQ myself!! Lucky friend!!
You have encouraged me heartily!!! Great quilting! Funny how we quilters can have love/hate relationships with our quilts, only to love, love, love...with only a vague idea of why we were unhappy with it! The red back is perfect!
Blessings,
KT
Wonderful modern design. Perfect for a researcher I would think. I imagine that this will be treasured forever.
Oh this quilt is just lovely! I love the calm colors and the pop of color with the binding. Just perfect! Your friend is very lucky to have such a great friend as you!
Lesly, I can't tell you how much I adore this quilt! Those math fabrics, the modern feel of the block style, the neutral front,the pop of color on the back, the fun binding, your awesome FMQ all make for one incredible quilt!!!! So glad you showed closeup pictures. I like how you can see the quilting lines as well. Incredibly brilliant all the way around!!!!
This is the kind of quilt you would never tire of having in your home. The colors are soothing without being drab and the pattern is wonderful!
I would love to know the name of the math fabric if you don't mind.
it looks fabulous. quilting looks great too! What friend would not love getting this.
This really did turn out great--glad you could persevere through the doubts! Your friend will treasure it.
Oh I really love this quilt! So nice colors and the pattern is gorgeous!
Glad to see this all finished, Lesly. And a great finish!
It is stunning in it's neutrality. Love it.
I love this one
I love the way this turned out! Gorgeous.
i think it looks great. that binding is so wonderful!
Lesly, I love the picture of the quilt hanging out in the tree and I especially love the binding fabric. I'm sure the recipient of this quilt is going to love it!
I know you didn't like the colors very much but it looks amazing!
Very unique quilt. I know your friend will be thrilled. Isn't it funny how when a quilt is causing us problems we're not sure we like it, but after it's finished that's all forgotten and we love it?
What an elegant quilt, and what a lucky friend. Well done.
Thanks for sharing. Regards, Sue
I love it, and I really like the red backing. Your quilting looks very nice, so I wouldn't worry that it shows on the back.
love the browns!!! fab!
Great job! Love how the colors all compliment each other.
Your friend is going to love it. I liked your quilting on the back, it looks good.
This is marvelous - love the colors, the quilting, the design. Excellent!
I love the modern feel of the quilt. Cityscapes and sand dunes all wrapped together. Your color choices were spot on. Love this one.
I've been following you put this together and it's great to see how it's turned out. It looks fantastic, and the backing colour is fab. I voted for dark blue, but the red is way, way better!
It's beautiful! I love the colors and the design, and the photo of your dog!
It's a very beautiful and sophisticated look!
this is so pretty, this looks great.
What a wonderful example of sticking with a colour palette. You have added so much interest while keeping with the neutral theme. Love the binding. It adds a bit of wildness.
love the design!
margaret
www.quiltsoflove.blogspot.com
This is a great quilt. I love wonky quilts. Nicely done
What a beautiful and thoughtful gift for your friend. She is going to absolutely love it! Great job! :o)
Lovely quilt,congratulations:)
I'm not really a neutral sort of girl bu treally like this and that you've used such a bright backing and binding. Love the contrast of those together. Great job I'm sure she will love it!
I loved neutrals and I think you did a wonderful job
This is one of my favorite quilts in the show so far! (I've viewed about 80.) You did a great job with the contrast in neutrals, and the striped border is a huge leap, but absolutely perfect.
MMmmmm... lovely! The colours are so soothing and I love the little waves you've quilted all over!
Your quilt is great! I love how soothing and gentle it is. Good luck shipping it off :)
The red is so rich and spectacular! What a great choice! I'm sure your friend will love it.
Love it...good job on that machine quilting.
Your quilt is gorgeous!
This is a beautiful quilt. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I like it!!!
LOVE this modern style - and I adore the quilting showing on the red!
Very modern. What a wonderful gift!
This is just awesome. I love that you went with the sashing that we all discussed during WIP, and I especially love the surprise of colour in the binding and the backing. It looks stunning!!
The binding is perfect! So unexpected. Is the math facts fabric still available. This is a really awesome quilt. Your friend will adore it!
Why would we mind the close-ups, quite the contrary!? It is as lovely a job as it is thoughtful of you. Well done!
I really like that the quilting shows up on the red backing. I always like when the eye has something to follow. It's a fabulous quilt. Thanks for showing all of the angles.
Such a sophisticated statement!
I love it!
~MaggieB
Striking quilt. Interesting design, fabrics, colors. You did a fantastic job.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Hi Lesly,
Your neutrals quilt is wonderful!
Thank you for dropping by at my entry Zoran's Memories and leaving such a nice comment.
Greetings from the Netherlands!
Gorgeous!
Hi Lesly! Your neutral quilt is scrumptious!
i love bright colored quilts, but i do love this muted look too! you did a wonderful job on it. the quilting looks fabulous!
Beautiful! I really love the shapes you came up with. They're very striking.
what a fun quilt - - and the quilting is super too!
I really love your quilt and your style. The binding was perfect. Grogeous.
what an interesting version of the traditional logcabin, it is very effective in the neutrals. You did a great job with chosing colors to give interest-hard to do with neutrals.
Come see my antique quilt entries
http://utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com
http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com
It's a great quilt with a very modern style! I don't usually sew with neutral fabrics, but I may have to give it a try!
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