Monday 3 February 2014

Top of the Lake Quilt

Way back in May last year, I was inspired to make a quilt featuring the colours of the TV show Top of the Lake.  I used the St Louis 16 Patch tutorial to make my blocks and the quilt top went together at the speed of light.  I threw in a few rogue blocks for interest and to use my fabric to maximum efficiency - they blend into the top surprisingly well,

Top of the Lake Quilt 

I basted the quilt pretty promptly, but since then it has sat and sat in my cupboard waiting to be quilted. Initially, I started quilting 1/4" off the seams, but I really didn't like how it was looking, so I ripped that quilting out.  Then I had grand ideas about tracing the pattern of the fabric on the back of the quilt using free motion quilting, but I realised that there was so much happening on the front of the quilt, the quilting wouldn't really show up anyway.

Top of the Lake Quilt 

I ended up quilting a simple diagonal crosshatch grid, using a light grey Aurifil thread (#2600) on the top, and my trusty off-white Aurifil #2021 in the bobbin.  They both just melt into the quilt leaving a great texture.  This quilting has also left the quilt beautifully drapey and soft - I can't wait to wash it and see whether it crinkles up much.

Top of the Lake Quilt 

For me, this quilt is full of unexpected fabric combinations and contrasts, with soft and pretty florals mixed with dark, graphic and challenging fabrics. For the back of the quilt, I wanted to continue this unexpectedness by clashing the front, which is full of slightly off, dirty colours, with fabric that looks like soppy sweet old-fashioned wallpaper.  I ended up with this floral stripe from Spotlight, which is so not my usual type of fabric but I love it on this quilt.

Top of the Lake Quilt

I pretty much want to put this black and white pin dot binding on every quilt!  In my original post, I described this quilt as deliberately un-pretty.  I still think it's brooding and a bit dark, but I have come round to thinking it is pretty as well.

Have you ever had a quilt grow on you as you've worked on it?

Linking up with finish it up friday at crazy mom quilts.

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17 comments:

Unknown said...

Great quilt and a great show. I could see your quilt wrapped around that poor girl.
The colours look amazing.

Sarah @ sarahquilts.com said...

I like this quilt, and I like your discussion of it too! It continually amazes me how fabrics that seem not to have anything to do with each other go together once sewn. I have curtains with a silk navy, pink and red zig zag sewn onto a really geometric orange and gray pattern. It makes no sense, but it works.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Lovely quilt, your colour choices go well together...something I struggle with !!! Linda

Leanne said...

It's lovely! I did the same quilting on my St Louis 16 Patch and it works nicely with all the different fabrics in the quilt.

Rebecca said...

Beautiful quilt and the quilting works so well.

Suze said...

It's isn't a pretty quilt - it is beautiful. I can hardly believe that you ripped out quilting not once, but twice. What I quilt pretty much stays in. I do not rip out quilting. So, you know why most of my quilts go out out to be quilted, too. One of my 2014 goals is to work of FMQ. Great job!

Kim of Milkybeer Handmade said...

Glad to know I'm not the only one who lets quilts sit around unfinished for the better part of a year. Your finished quilt is lovely!

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Gj would love it!

Gina said...

Great quilt xx

Teresa @ Aurea's Kitchen said...

The different choice of fabrics work really well together. I really enjoy the diagonal crosshatch grid.

Anonymous said...

I love that this was inspired by Top of the Lake- the broodiness you describe in this (fabulous) quilt totally comes from the (fabulous) show! I think the crosshatch quilting was a great choice.

Unknown said...

Great show and a great source of inspiration. I love the quilt and agree with Christine - I can see it wrapped around her.

CityHouseStudio said...

It's just lovely! I started a 16 patch awhile ago, but never finished -- yours makes me want to dig mine out again! Beautiful job!

Maja said...

I´m collecting fabrics for that quilt!
Yous are faboulus!

Lana said...

I love the colors of this little quilt...it's calm and inviting. Very well done...wanna sell it? LOL!

dutchcomfort said...

I’ve been a bit absent and I’m stunned to see all the wonderful projects you have been working on!

becksterc said...

Can't wait to see the 'True Detective' quilt!!