Throw Back Thursday

This week's version of Throw Back Thursday is the quilt I made a few years ago from the Sue Spargo pattern named Crimson Tweed. It was gorgeous and perfect but I needed the quilt to be a bit larger so I added the checckerboard to the left and made the bottom row and bottom border wider so that the overall dimensions fit the size I needed.

I also simplified the vine border. Instead of making the little stems for each berry, I just used rick rack and let the berries float next to it. I used wool for the berries and leaves and they are not perfect but they did improve the more I made them.

O kept these blocks very close to the original (or tried to at least) but I used some machine stitching in place of some of the hand stitching. I love hand stitching but I also really enjoy machine quilting with colorful threads to add texture and detail.

This block was not part of the original design. The pattern had a pomegranite here and I chose to replace it with a pineapple. I simply pieced a checkerboard unit, cut it to the shape and then appliqued it. The greenery on the sides is velvet which is fun to work with if you like a challenge. And the leaves on top are wool. I did hand stitch the details on this block.

This tree is cut from one piece of felted wool and the balls are different types of wool. It was fun to mimic the round shapers in the background quilting. I hadn't tried that before.

This block is made according to the pattern. The star in the middle is velvet and the berries and leaves are wool. I also hand stitched these leaves.

I really enjoyed the process of making this quilt and photographing it. It's fun to pull out every year and enjoy it over and over again. And besides, I had a really helpful photography assistant...

What would I do without him running back and forth in front of the quilt? He's sleeping at my feet right now. He is my constant little companion!

Enjoy every stitch!
Diane