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Wednesday, October 4, 2017

King Sized Difficulty and NTT

In case there was any doubt, every step in the process of making a king-sized quilt is more difficult, right down to photographing it.  Add a little wind in there, and getting a nice, smooth shot of this massive (108" x108") quilt top was next to impossible.  That being said, I love love LOVE it!


Since this quilt is going on my bed, I had to take the opinions of Mr. MQI into account, which usually doesn't happen with quilt design.  Finding a pattern that kept the larger prints intact and wasn't too fussy was key.  Just in case you missed my last post where I showed my AMH hoard, you can rest easy knowing that I had way more prints than needed, so I also decided to pull out some of the fabrics that were heavy on hot pink and fuchsia, leaving just enough to keep the quilt balanced.

I opted for a 12" block that I like to call 2-4-6.  Beyond basic patchwork, this one is about as simple as it gets, but it lets those prints shine beautifully.  Here are the block measurements, just in case you're wondering-


These are finished measurements, so you would need to cut your pieces 6.5", 4.5", and 2.5" wide x 12.5" in length.  Then I just alternated the position and direction of the strips in the quilt.  Easy peasy!

I have enough fabric to make a completely reversible quilt (plus some), and I'm working on the backing now.  I've decided to turn this monster over to my friend who is a professional longarm quilter.  Her Christmas rush is already on, and since I'm not on any sort of deadline, it will be after the first of the year.  Having someone else quilt for me is a first, and though I truly enjoy quilting my own (reasonably sized) projects, I'm not going to lie, the fact that I don't have to baste this sucker is making me do a little happy dance.

Alrighty friends!  I've been super busy sewing this week, and I know you have as well but before we party, let's check out some of the amazing projects from last week.  This set of cheery quilts is by Simply, Sarah, and I love the bright colors and fun, random piecing.


Soma at Whims and Fancies shared her crisp and pretty Squares Plus quilt.


and finally, check out the quilting on this modern beauty by Leanne at Devoted Quilter!


Okay, y'all!  Let's kick off our first Needle and Thread Thursday of October with a bang!  It's time to party!

1. You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!
2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.
3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  
4. Spread the comment love far and wide!
5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)


15 comments:

  1. I too sent a king-sized quilt to a longarmer - my first one - and was delighted it freed me up to do smaller, quicker projects. Basting bed sized comes under the unfun category.

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  2. I love your new quilt, a great pattern for some of my fabric bundles which have been sitting around for too long. As for sending quilts to my longarmer, my go-to size is any quilt larger than a lap quilt.

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  3. Kelly, it's beautiful! I don't blame you one bit for sending this one off to be quilted. I cannot wait to see the finished quilt!

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  4. Love the large, simple block design. Perfect way to show off those lovely prints.

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  5. I think it just takes awhile to get used to big quilts if you normally just make small quilts. Most of my quilts I make around 100 to 104 inches square and hand quilt them in 3 to 4 months - and no it's not the only thing I do I make other quilts while the hand quilting quilt is on the frame - you just need to get used to them

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  6. Good call on sending this one out for quilting! I've only quilted one king before and it was a royal pain...but it can be done! It's a gorgeous quilt and worth waiting on!!

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  7. Lovely design and I am glad that Mr. MQI approves. I have quilted queen size before and it definitely was a lot of work. Thank you so much for the feature and hosting this lovely linky party :)

    -Soma

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  8. I agree with you 100 times over...king-sized quilts are definitely more difficult and time consuming to work with. But your quilt came out fantastic, so Mr. MQI must be very happy. Thanks for hosting the party today.

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  9. I love the quilt! Such a simple design with a big impact. It's lovely!

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  10. That's a gorgeous quilt - its one I want to put together soon, for our bed, too - being careful not to have too many 'feminine' colors in it. Love how it turned out. I may consider using some of my prized Australian fabric stash to make it. I always make my king size quilts at 120"x120" and always have quilted myself. My neck and shoulders complain for a week or so after, but am always so glad when I'm done. Too frugal to send it away for quilting. The only exception I'll make is when I've put my "Oregon" quilt together. It has lighthouses, pieced trees and lovely fabric showcasing the features of this beautiful state, and I will want a lovely quilt job on it that I **haven't** done myself! Thank you for sharing your beautiful creations! Deb E / Oregon

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  11. Great use of your AMH! The simple block was a great choice for incorporating so many colors in a nice cohesive way.

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  12. That's a HUGE quilt. Definitely one for a longarmer. I like your simple block -- easy math -- but it ends up being so striking.

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  13. What a great way to show off and love your favorite fabrics! Good for you for a tremendous finish! So happy for you! Thank you for the link up and for sharing!

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