Friday 26 December 2014

Hadley Quilt

I finished stitching down the binding on my Hadley quilt a couple of weeks ago.

 Hadley Quilt

If you've been following the progress of this quilt, you've probably seen the front already (in this post). I'm really happy with how the front turned out - basically, for each row, I stacked five fat quarters and sliced them into four fairly even strips, creating improv curves as I did so.  I then trimmed the resulting blocks into nice even squares.  This trimming process left me with quite a few offcuts, which I used on the other side.

Hadley Quilt

For this side, I really wanted to push the retro vibe I was getting from the Hadley prints.  At first I thought I would just set the pieced strips in the cream background fabric, but they didn't look quite right so I ended up framing them with a teal shot cotton.  Technically, this side is the back but I think I like it just as much as the front (and maybe more...).

Hadley Quilt

All that negative space meant that getting the quilting right was important.  This is a pretty big quilt (70" by 84") so I wasn't that keen to tackle it myself.  Instead, Sue Burnett quilted it for me using a digital pattern we found together.  I think the figure eight design is very characteristic of Denyse Schmidt's quilts and I thought it was right just with her fabrics.

Hadley Quilt

For binding, I used the same teal shot cotton that I used to frame the strips on the back.  It's a Kaffe Fassett shot cotton and super soft.  I don't know if I would want to use it for ultra precise piecing, but it makes the most lovely, almost silky, binding, and is a delight to hand stitch through.

Hadley Quilt

Finally, I thought I should include a photo of my quilt holder for these photos.  My youngest brother held this quilt up on his own (I made another quilt the exact same size recently, and my friend Lyndy and I could barely hold it up for photos working together - 84" is 7'!).  I think he is pointing at a speck of dust he wanted me to pick off the quilt.

Quilt Stats 
Pattern: my own improv-ish design
Finished Size: 70" by 84"  
Fabric: Hadley Fat Quarter bundle designed by Denyse Schmidt for Free Spirit Fabrics
Backing: I think it is Michael Miller Cotton Couture in Soft White
Binding: Kaffe Fassett Shot Cotton in Jade
Pieced by: me
Quilted by: Sue Burnett

I will be linking up at finish it up Friday at crazy mom quilts.

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15 comments:

Rosa said...

Just fantastic!

Wishing you a fabulous Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Cassandra said...

I love the back every bit as much as the front. The negative space is designed so well. Such a beautiful quilt!

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

I really like how seriously your quilt holder is taking the job. Pointing out a spec of dust? Awesome! I think I love the backing of this the best, but it is a close call. Framing the scraps in teal offsets them so well, so it was a great choice for the binding, too!

Serena @ Sewgiving said...

You've most definitely got a double sided quilt on your hands here, it's lovely and looks like you had lots of fun with those curves :)

leanne said...

love it - fabulous colours in that bundle - love the back too and the blue binding is perfect - awesome to have such a tall quilt holder !!

Kathleen said...

Nice use of the offcuts. This really is a two-sided quilt!

Wendy @ Wendysquiltsandmore said...

It's a lovely quilt Adrienne. I'd call it double sided. I love being able to flip a quilt over for a whole different look.

Camilla said...

Love it! Like you I especially like the "back". That teal is the perfect offset!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

I really like that quilt!! Great job. and wonderful colors!!

Lorna McMahon said...

The curvy piecing is perfect for these fabrics. What a wonderful design. And I love the backing. That teal was a great call for framing those off cuts. Beautiful finish!

Carla said...

Fabulous finish. That's a lot of extra piecing for the back but it was worth it. Beautiful

Hettie's Mum said...

Wow this looks great! V. Creative. Love the back and the front! It's inspiring me to get planning on how to use my Hadley F Qs. :-)

JanineMarie said...

Fun quilt--both front and back. I often am drawn to the backs of quilts--not sure why that is. Maybe the simplicity? I think it also has something to do with how the front and back interact with each other, if that makes any sense.

Hollie @ Just a Mom who Sews said...

Both sides are great! Popped over to find out more about the 2015 finish a long. Your projects are wonderful.

Leonie said...

I love it- but especially the back! Yay for great quilt holders :) Happy new year to you Adrienne :)