I pieced these beautiful French General selvages onto muslin last month on retreat, then added some mitred borders and finally quilted the pillow front onto fusible Pellon fleece. The quilting is just straight lines of Aurifil 12 wt, sewn with a 100/14 topstitch needle.
Some selvages are ones I've saved, some I cut from my delicious fat quarter stack of Petite Odile and others were donated by my friend Sandi. I think French General makes the most beautiful selvage in the business! I just love the pastry scallop print/dots on the opposite side of the yardage from the white (with words) selvage. I've used it many times as a border.
You can get a good idea of the quilting thread weight here
There is a concealed zipper on the back, done the same way as in my Dresden Pillow pattern. One day I'll tackle an invisible zipper on a pillow....I managed one on a new skirt I made yesterday! Very exciting indeed and as soon as I get some photos I will share that with you.
It's a quiet holiday for me; it's the first year in about 12 that we've not attended the local parade as a family. The kids are doing their thing with friends and B is off racing in an epic 7-day stage race through the mountains of Vancouver Island, down the coast and then up to Whistler. It's a mountain bike race, mostly on amazing single track trails. Racers from 29 countries came to compete (including a reported 100 Mexicans!). It's so hot, many riders suffered electrolyte imbalances, dehydration and likely some heat stroke. He didn't eat enough, so the last hour of 3.5 hours racing was tough yesterday. Today was mostly shaded and he ate and drank more: he had a great day. We'll be in Whistler to welcome him to the finish line on Saturday.
If you're a Canadian at home or abroad (ahem, Susan), Happy Day!!
Remember to add my blog to a new reader today. I've got a Bloglovin' button up there on the left. Apparently Google Reader is shutting down, but I haven't actually seen any evidence of that. Is this whole hoopla a scam, I wonder?
21 comments:
Happy Canada Day Krista! We are having a quiet one too. Did not go downtown to the celebrations like we often do. The kids have been occupied outside all afternoon playing with water and it's been quite relaxing. Too hot for me though!!
It's beautiful, Krista! Happy Canada day!
Lovely finish, perfect for a cozy spot in the garden. I really like the 12wt quilting - adds a really interesting line for the eye. Happy Canada Day - just celebrated down at Granville Island!
Happy Canada day my dear.
Love the cushionl. Happy Canada Day
Happy belated Canada Day, Krista!!
By 'scorcher', do you mean about 25C? :P Love the cushion. Hope you had a great day :)
Love the pillow, the quilting is lovely!
It's been a scorcher here in Portland too and a bit humid. Hope you're staying cool.
Happy Canada Day!
Aah lovely! The heavy thread creates a lovely feature, doesn't it?
Happy belated Canada Day to you, and best of luck to your hubs in his race!
Happy Canada Day for yesterday x
Good for you for staying in where it is cool. Silly me spent the day in the garden!
The pillow is lovely and I love the look of the 12 wt thread.
Love the quilting on your pillow! I too am wondering if this Google shut down isn't a scam ;-) Good luck to your husband during his race.
Lovely pillow! Happy Canada day late. Today we have the scorcher, and are waiting for the predicted thunderstorm to fix it.
Happy Canada Day Krista! How hot is a Vancouver scorcher? This Aussie wants to know! My cousins wife is from Vancouver Island and she's never said it gets hot like us. But she hasn't lived here many summers yet!
Oh forgot to say, your the second person I've seen use Aurifil 12 wt on their machine for quilting in recent weeks (Lucy Charm About You was first). I'm definitely going to try it. It looks great!
I hope you had a good week peacefully sewing your pillow together. It is lovely!
Happy belated Canada Day!! :o)
This is just beautiful! Of course, the selvages made my heart beat just a little faster...
That cushion would have fit perfectly in the Provencal gite I was just staying in, guess those French General peeps are onto something!
Lovely cushion - I really love how the quilting pops. I must get around to trying these Aurafil threads that everyone else is already using to such great effects.
And a big congrats to B on the bike event - what a challenge. The eating and drinking and magnesium pills are a big thing. I know someone in this house who messed it up and cramped up so badly he fell off his bike. Silly men!
Lovely cushion - I really love how the quilting pops. I must get around to trying these Aurafil threads that everyone else is already using to such great effects.
And a big congrats to B on the bike event - what a challenge. The eating and drinking and magnesium pills are a big thing. I know someone in this house who messed it up and cramped up so badly he fell off his bike. Silly men!
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