mystery quilt

Over on Bonnie Hunters blog there is a mystery quilt happening.

I am not doing the mystery this year although I am following with interest the progress of others.

I am doing my own little mystery here.

This is some of the fabric that I am using.

Stay tuned for progress.

The Wedding Quilt

It was my privilege recently to make a wedding quilt for a very special couple.

Here are the beautiful couple

The bride is from India so I primarily used the fabric line from Leesa Chandler called

 " Passage to India"

There are 9 Mariners Compass blocks which will always point you home

There are red and gold log cabin blocks.

These reflect the colours worn by the bride and groom.

The red blocks have a red centre that reflects the fire in the hearth.

The gold blocks have a gold centre that is the light that guides you home.

Together they represent the home that you create together.

This jewel print is used in several borders. The tear drop shape is commonly used for wedding and special occasion jewellery and decoration.

You will see the  gold border teams beautifully with the green and shows with harmony with which the Indian and Australian cultures merge.

 The border fabric was inspired by designs of 17th century Indian porcelain. It is found in the henna design worn by the groom and also in the decoration of the bride's sari.

The Quilt has double hearts quilted into the corners

    

and stylised lotuses into other panels.

The lotus can represent beauty, eternity, prosperity and fertility in Hindu.

The label is edged in purple, a favourite colour of the bride and groom and has the seven Hindu marriage blessings.

May you always be blessed with an abundance of comforts and resources, and always be helpful to one another in all aspects

May you be strong and complement each other, mentally, spiritually, and physically.

May you be blessed with prosperity and riches in all ways

May you have eternal love and trust together

May you be blessed with a happy family life and children

May you live in harmony together- staying true to your promises to your selves and one another

May you always remain best friends

The quilt contains all our love and best wishes for a long and happy marriage.

A pleasing finish

This top had been in the cupboard for about 10 years.

I used it as a teaching sample for an advanced patchwork class.

The stitching was by hand.

 Grandmother's Fan

Tumbling blocks

  Drunkards Path variation

Reverse appliqué butterfly and flowers ( my design)

Double Wedding ring

Flying Swallows

I machine quilted the top, firstly with the walking foot and then free motion quilting.

I traced the design onto Golden Threads paper

Layered as many squares as I needed, free motion stitched through the layers without cotton in the needle and that gave me the perforated designs ready to pin onto the squares and quilt through. The paper was then torn away.

Here is a closer look at one of the finished quilted squares.

I was not very happy with the quilting in the border. I had not pinned the border properly and there was some puckering on the back but it looks fine from the front.

This was the last quilt that I had basted ready to quilt so that feels like a good accomplishment.

I do have some more tops finished that are yet to be basted, so after I have finished three more charity quilts I will get the next tops basted.

My goal is to get caught up on the tops waiting to be machine quilted and then to keep up with my quilting in the future.