Echino quilt

My Echino quilt is back from the long-arm quilter, and has been bound, washed and dried.

 

I'm really thrilled with how the quilting came out on this quilt.  I had in mind that I wanted a kind of damask pattern quilted on this one, and I spent quite a bit of time trying to find the right thing.

Did you know that you can find long-arm quilting patterns online, and if they are compatible with your long-arm quilter's machine, they can download and stitch the pattern you've chosen?  Obviously, whether you can do this will depend on on the kind of machine your long-arm quilter has, and whether they are willing to use patterns you've found online.  That said, it's definitely worth asking the question if there's a quilting design you'd just love to have on your quilt.

 

The design on this quilt is called Coral Nested and I found it on a website recommended by Sue Burnett, who did the quilting on this quilt (I quite like this website for patterns as well).  She has a pretty big range of patterns already to hand, but I had such a clear vision for this quilt and nothing she already had was quite right.  I think a good long-arm quilter will take the time to listen to your plans for the quilt and help you find the right quilting design (or work out the right custom quilting).

 

After I finished the binding on this quilt, I ran it through the washing machine and then hung it on the line to dry.  I have usually avoided putting minky backed quilts through the dryer, but this one got rained on and had to have a trip through the dryer as well.  It's definitely well crinkled but otherwise seems to have come through just fine.

I really really want to make another of these quilts for myself - so much so that I've already ordered (and received) more polka dot minky for the back!

Have you ever had a quilt quilted using a quilting design you found online?  Did you know that's a thing?  Any great website recommendations?  

Quilt Stats 

Pattern: simple 8" finished patchwork squares 

Finished Size: approx 56" by 64"  

Fabric: Acacia in Purple, Airplanes in Blue, Birds in Hot Pink, Buck in Hot Pink, Cherry in Black, Cockatiel in Yellow, Dot - Grape, Glasses in Aqua, Insects in Black, Maruco Chartreuse, Peacocks in Blue, Rhino in Black, Scooters in Purple, all Echino fabrics

Backing: black and white polka dot minky

Binding: Moda Bella solid in Shocking Pink 

Pieced by: me

Quilted by: Sue Burnett