If you've been visiting for a while, you may remember that I pieced this table runner last spring (but who's counting the months it's been curing in my closet, right?). I got inspired to complete it by the dangling carrot of EQ7 and 'generous fabric packs' offered up by the crew at Fat Quarterly and their "Win It to Be In It" contest. They are looking for completed projects from any issue of FQ mag and I believe this was in the very first issue!
The pattern is called Flying Fish Table runner and it was designed by the incomparable John, of Quilt Dad. He's been ever so sweet to comment on my Flickr photos, too!
The fabrics are mostly from Japan. B went there on business about 10 years ago and I arranged for the wife of his Japanese colleague to purchase $50 of 'authentic Japanese' fabric for me. There has never been a project that inspired me to use them - they are just so special and I knew that I had to make something for myself with them. The minute I saw John's table runner, I knew it would be perfect. I paired the prints with Kona Ash.
Quilting was tough to decide. I ripped out a lot of attempts. Finally I came to the conclusion that simple would be best. Many of the fabrics (including the border) featured dragonflies, so I took advantage of the larger pieced areas to embroider (Sashiko-style) some dragonflies. The rest of the geese are stitched in the ditch and a simple running stitch fills the borders. The hand work is done with Perle 8 (Valdani and Prescencia) cotton. I have to thank my pal Dianne for donating the 'Fusiboo' batting for this project while we were on retreat. [Side note: the batting initially fused really well by following manufacturers directions, but did not stay fused at all after manipulating the quilt around my machine for quilting]
Even if this goes no where in the Fat Quarterly contest, I feel like a winner just to have completed it! Does anyone else get stuck after finishing a quilt top? I am just so impatient to move on to the next thing - I am terrible at finishing the bigger stuff!
I've linked this post to my pal Lynne's blog, Lily's Quilts. She's got a fun new monthly feature where you link to your fav project of the past month. I chose this one (but I do love this one too) just because it's been languishing for so long and now it's DONE! yahoo.
Click on the button to see what everyone else loved working on in March!
31 comments:
Lovely! Your quilted dragon flies are perfect!
You've done a great job! These are great prints, and I love the dragonflies!
:-}pokey
I'm so glad that you were able to finish it. The dragonfly quilting is a really nice touch. Good luck!
Fantastic Japanese prints and they are treated just perfectly in this runner! Well done! I love it!
The embroidered dragonflies are perfection!!!
Looks fab K I am trilled you are enjoying it. Looking forward to QBTB in April!
Jo
Well, THAT'S a wonderful finish!! Clearly, curing was good for this project!
That tablerunner looks great! Love the fabrics.
Great finish Krista the dragon flies work beautifully!! I bet this looks stunning on your dinning table!! if i were voting you would totally win a fat quarterly prize :0)
The dragon fly quilting is fantastic!
Wow, is very very nice, well done!
Krista this is just perfect - a delicious blend of fabrics and those quilted dragonflies are just super - well done
It's beautiful, Krista, and well worth the wait! Sounds like you've had a wonderful vacation.-)
It’s gorgoues Krista! A winner!
I collect quilt-tops, cause I almost always get stuck after finishing. I dislike the basting part and I only like straight line machine quilting or handquilting. Or I need to take the quilts to a long arm quilter.
I hope you win. This is very nice and the dragonfly embroidery makes it special.
I just love this...and those dragon flies...awesome!
You are so super talented. That's the only thing I can say. You know who to contact next time you need fabric from japan!
The quilting is beautiful. I just so love big stitch quilting and this is the perfect design for the fabric.
Beautiful Krista - I like the way you finally decided to quilt it. Lovely
Okay, another case of me thinking I commented then realizing I didn't!
This is so cool. I love that you used the japanese fabrics and were able to combine all of them into the design. And those handstitched dragonflies are awesome!
Once again, just love this and the wonderful stitching on it. And I'm liking the Easterly heading you've got going on up there. Aren't Amber and Ayumi just the sweetest, nicest people - oh and those romantic love stories!
That looks stunning Krista, really beautiful! And now you can enjoy looking at it on your table, hurray!
I love the dragonfly stitching! Looks great!
Gorgeous fabrics and I really love your sashiko dragonflies!
I love the dragonflies....it's so pretty.
I love flying geese. This is beautiful and your quilted dragonflies are so cute. Jxo
Oooh, I like what you did with the flying geese.. this is one block I haven't tackled yet! I'm also loving the dragonflies.. sometimes it just takes a bit of staring to finally figure out that final touch that brings a project to completion!
Those FAbrics are GORGEOUS!1
Perfect little runner I love the extra stitiching to. Nice job krista
oh, I love the dragonfly quilting.
Amazing job with amazing fabrics. And the quilting just is the cherry on the top of this beauty. Just lovely.
Wow!! You did an incredible job!! LOVE IT and the dragonflies are the icing on the cake!! WOW!!
P
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