Wednesday 21 May 2014

Acacia Stars Quilt

This quilt is actually my first quilt finish of the year, but I've been waiting to post about it until now.

I am on the exhibition committee of the local guild I belong to, Capital Quilters, and as part of the fundraising for our exhibition, we are raffling this quilt off. I made it specifically as a raffle quilt and have attempted to bridge the gap between modern and traditional with this quilt, in keeping with our exhibition theme, which is "Quilting: A Modern Tradition". I especially think that Tula Pink is a fabric designer who appeals to both modern and traditional quilters - her more recent fabrics are a bit brighter but if you look at her early designs like Flutterby the colours are quite on the traditional side and even now she often includes shades which I think of as traditional (like the olive green in the Acacia collection, for example). To make this quilt, I used a bundle from Westwood Acres which included Tula Pink's Acacia collection and co-ordinating solids, and some yardage of the raccoon print for the border.

Acacia Stars Quilt 

So, anyway, star blocks are beloved by modern and traditional quilters alike, and the border is quite traditional apart from the inclusion of raccoons(!). This border was just not going to work unless I matched the raccoons in the print (which I had not done before). I used this excellent tutorial, except that I matched the prints with a straight seam, not angled seam as shown. I'm quite proud of the results and you really can't see the seams in the border unless you look really close!

I made the star blocks slightly at random - aiming mainly to have good contrast between the star and the background fabrics, and not worrying too much about the fabric combinations. This left me with a bit of a challenge when setting the arrangement of the blocks for the quilt top and I spent quite some time moving them around my design wall. Ultimately I arranged them with the backgrounds in a sort of rainbow order.

Acacia Stars Quilt 

Once I'd made the top, I handed it over to Sue Burnett and she did the wonderful quilting, using a quilting pattern that is specifically designed to go in eight pointed stars like these. A border version of the same design has been used in the border for continuity, and the whole quilt was quilted with a light purple thread that blended nicely with most fabrics.

With plenty happening on the front of the quilt, I wanted something simple for the back, and the fact that I didn't have to piece this Robert Kaufman Extra Wide fabric was a happy bonus. I knew from before I even starting sewing the top together that I wanted to use that dotty strip for the binding and it worked out really nicely. I even hand stitched the binding down - all 328" of it!

Acacia Stars Quilt

We have started selling raffle tickets for this quilt and so far I think they're selling well. I'm excited for the person who wins this quilt and making it was a nice experience (if slightly nerve-wracking - I wanted this quilt to be just right!). If any of my New Zealand readers would like to buy a raffle ticket, please let me know - they are $2 each or a book of 5 for $10. As much as I would love to sell tickets to my overseas readers, I'm a bit wary about complying with foreign gambling laws (it sounds funny, but in New Zealand raffles are covered by gambling legislation and we have made sure we are complying with local law) so I'm going to restrict sales to New Zealanders - sorry about that.

If anyone would like to come to our exhibition, here are all the details:


This will be my first time exhibiting and I'm quite excited. I'm also strangely nervous - I've gotten comfortable blogging about my quilts and showing them online but having them in a show is something quite different. Have you exhibited a quilt and how did you feel about it?

Quilt Stats
Finished Size: approx 76" by 88"
Fabric: Tula Pink's Acacia collection and co-ordinating solids
Backing: Robert Kaufman 108" wide Spot On fabric in Steel
Binding: Pixel Dot in Teal from Tula Pink's Acacia collection
Pieced by: me
Quilted by: Sue Burnett

I'll be linking up with finish it up friday at crazy mom quilts.

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16 comments:

Heather said...

How generous of you to make the whole raffle quilt - I thought those were usually done as a bee by the group. It looks fab. I wonder if I can convince the Modern Monday girls that we need an excursion to Wellington in July?

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Wow, it's a beauty. I wish I lived in NZ.; I'd buy a few tickets to that raffle. Good luck with the fundraising.

Brenda said...

This is your first time exhibiting a quilt and it's the raffle quilt you pieced entirely by yourself for the show. What a way to go! Congratulations, and now you can relax a bit and let those other guild members sell the tickets. I'd certainly buy some if I could.

Carla said...

Adrianne this is beautiful! Congrats on a lovely finish

jeifner said...

It's wonderful. The values just make the stars sparkle. Well done!

valerie boudier said...

Lovely quilt, what a pity I no longer live in NZ, I used to live in Milford

Lara said...

I'll take a book Adrianne :) it's a beauty !! Love the pieced borders. Looking forward to the exhibition too :)

dutchcomfort said...

A fabulous quilt Adrianne, you did such a great job! Love the quilting of the stars too!

I would surely buy some tickets if I could!

Beausoleil Quilts said...

What a shame I am heading to the opposite end of the Island that weekend. Good luck with the exhibition,

Amanda said...

This came out beautifully. Love the quilting! Another wonderful finish.

Cloud CouCou said...

Gorgeous! I love the raccoons peeping round the side, they're the best! I never used to be a fan of purple, but I keep seeing lovely purpley things that make me change my mind...this is one of them :)

Afton Warrick said...

The flyer is fantastic! Best wishes on a highly successful fundraiser. Congrats on your first exhibition!

Dana - Old Red Barn Co. said...

I love this quilt so much! Stunnning!

Annabella said...

Anything made with TP is always sucg great fun and I love your raccoon border :) Great finish Adrianne.

Val's Quilting Studio said...

Oh I love this quilt so very much...the colors, your border!!!

Jamie said...

Love the fabric selection! Beautiful quilt!