In 2005 (just NINE years ago) I attended a purple fabric swap put together by another member of Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association. There were about ten of us who got together to swap piles of purple charms.
As with most new fabric in my life that purple stack of fabric sat around for a while. Then I found a pattern I wanted to try in a book on nickel quilts. I love the effect of how this came out with lights and darks and how it has the scrappy feel as a result of the fabrics from everyone.
So I finished the quilt top and the quilt top sat in a pile because I was in the era of when I couldn't free motion quilt. Once I learned to free motion quilt (Thank you Leah Day!) I decided to quilt all over using a meandering or large stippling pattern. I'm not sure that the photo shows it well, but I love the purple variegated thread I used.
I didn't have time to find a border fabric and get a border attached in time to show the quilt in my guild quilt show in May 2013... so again it sat. Fast forward to last month and I finally found myself some purple fabric to use as a binding. I've embraced the process of using the machine to attach the binding, shown on the A Quilt is Nice Machine Binding Tutorial. I always hated how I finished quilting and was adding the binding and that step TOOK FOREVER. Machine binding really speeds up the process! (More on that in a future post.)
Edit: Pattern is called Streak of Lightning in the book More Nickel Quilts by Pat Speth.
Lorna McMahon
Congratulations on such a fabulous purple finish, Sarah! Yes, I agree. Quilting and binding by machine - finishing every step of the process yourself is such a wonderful feeling. Well done!
sarah
Post authorThank you! It's addicting. I just want to be surrounded by completed quilts.
Ruth
Love purple, though I have a severe shortage of it on hand Your quilt looks great!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Ruth. Purple is my favorite color. I think you should definitely do something about your purple shortage. ;-)
Laura B
Yummy quilt! Love it.
sarah
Post authorThanks! :-)
amy karlak
Where can I find this pattern?
sarah
Post authorThe pattern is called Streak of Lightning in the book More Nickel Quilts by Pat Speth. I've added a link to it in my post.