Tuesday 25 February 2014

Quilted and bound - Simon is finished

 Just to recap - this quilt was made using a Dutch reproduction pattern called "Simon" in one of my favourite quilt books - the Quiltmania book 'Promenade in a Dutch Garden'. The colours and the combination of chintz and little prints really appealed to me. The quilt was started in September 2013, pieced using the EPP method as well as some needleturn applique, and it measures about 60" by 72" ( 1.5m by 1.8m). The colours are truer in the photos below - daylight helps!
The backing fabric is aged muslin



I quilted on my domestic machine - largely walking stitch in the ditch between every triangle. That might sound a lot of work but it was pretty straight forward - going in rows horizontally, vertically and then diagonally. I also free motion quilted around all the applique pieces and inside the outer border diamonds. For my liking that was enough quilting - and on this quilt it is all about the fabric and colours rather than the quilting.

Note the 'invisible binding' - more on that in a mo...

Quilting around the applique added lots of dimension
I mentioned on an earlier post that I would try binding in the traditional Dutch way - as described in the book. The instructions for this were brief but pretty clear. Unfortunately they didn't include illustrations of the process  - so I am hoping that I got it right. If anyone knows better please let me know! Anyway, this is what I did...
After quilting I trimmed the quilt edges.

Then I cut four strips 1 1/2" wide of backing fabric, cut on the straight grain. Two of these measured the same length as the sides of the quilt top. The other two were the same length as the top and bottom of the quilt plus 1/2" (seam allowance to tuck). The strips get sewn on individually (I did that by machine) and then all layers turned entirely to the back. Make any sense?
Here is the back - in the process of hand hemming the last binding strip to the back. The corners are tricky - bit bulky to manage - but it makes such a firm straight edging - I do love the finish and how it hangs.


 Here is the front - see - no binding visible!

I found a spot at home for the quilt - seems to go nicely with the old walnut table.

38 comments:

  1. Just beautiful Hilda. Going in Sydney quilt show?

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  2. Congratulations on a stunning finish! I love the dutch chintz fabrics.

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  3. Congratulations on finishing your beautiful quilt!! It's absolutely gorgeous!! The quilting is perfect, any more would have been too much. Thanks for telling us about the Dutch binding, it really does give the quilt a crisp look.

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  4. Congratulations !!! Your quilt looks absolutely fantastic.

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  5. The center section is my favorite part.

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  6. Lovely! I've heard about the Dutch binding treatment but have never known how it was done. Very clean looking edge.

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  7. Wonderful quilt! a automatic heirloom!

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  8. It is gorgeous! It looks stunning, love your fabric choices and your work is just so beautiful! Have Petra and An seen it?

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  9. What a marvelous quilt , and thank you for the extended detailed foto's about the machine quilting. I have hardly tried it , but with all the tops lying around here, you give me courage to give machine quilting a real chance... Will in Paris

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  10. that is an interesting way to bind - i like the way it looks on the front of the quilting - your quilting seems just perfect to me.

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  11. Love this quilt, your fabrics, your quilting, and the binding method. The binding gives the quilt such a clean look from the front. Thanks for sharing all the pictures. I am going to try binding a quilt this way.

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  12. Beautiful quilt, it does look good in the dinning room. Great job on the binding, I am surprised it is made of the background lighter fabric, it does not show at all on the front, nice technique.

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  13. Your quilt is beautiful. And the type of quilting does fit the quilt. Your fabrics are the stars. The Dutch binding is a new technique for me. It's a great idea for those designs that don't need another design element showing.

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  14. Wow--it's just beautiful! I'm intrigued by the Dutch binding and will have to give it a try--always looking for a new challenge. Congratulations on a great finish!

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  15. Oh Hilda, You have done it again. Another beautiful quilt and your photographs really show it well.
    It looks so beautiful hanging on your wall.

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  16. Wow Hilda it looks wonderful! Your quilting perfectly accents without over powering. The Dutch binding looks very nice - it was interesting to see your process. A gorgeous finish!

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  17. Hilda - it is gorgeous and I absolutely love it. I agree with you about the quilting because the focus should be on the fabrics and the lovely piecing. As for the binding it is also called a facing. I love binding quilts that will be displayed in this way because it is a nice clean finish. Simon looks exquisite hanging on the wall. Promenade is on my wish list of books to add to my library and your quilt just makes me more eager to have it!

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  18. It is very beautiful! It looks amazing! Good job.

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  19. I just love this quilt, so beautiful hanging on the wall. Such and interesting way to do the binding. It make a perfect finish on this one.

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  20. Great job Hilda! It is lovely to see it pieced and quilted and hanging on the wall.

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  21. Congratulations on finishing such a gorgeous quilt! And it looks wonderful on your dining room wall! Perfect!

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  22. Beautiful! Love your top and the binding looks great!

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  23. Incredibly wonderful - the fabrics and the way the corners. echo the center. Should you ever tire of it, my dining room table would be happy to share space with it LOL!

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  24. Did you use a wool batting? It looks wonderful and I agree with how you quilted it! It looks wonderful on the wall next to that beautiful walnut.table.

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  25. What a magnificent quilt - it looks beautiful hanging on the wall.

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  26. Hilda! That is amazing! The quilt really is such a lovely piece of art!!

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  27. Such a stunning finish!
    This quilt is truly beautiful Hilda!

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  28. Simon is magnificent Hilda and I fully understand how you have made the binding. I think it finishes it off beautifully. Would love to see it in real life. Well done.

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  29. Congratulations Hilda! Looks fabulous!!

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  30. Gorgeous! Well done, congrats and perfect finish with the binding

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  31. Well done it is stunning and I do like the binding.

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  32. Simon has really become a beautiful quilt!
    Would like to have on the wall himself
    Beautiful Dutch fabrics used, there you can enjoy.

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  33. This is just sublime! Everything about it is to my particular taste - it's as though you were making it for me! It looks wonderful on that wall - what a beautiful thing to have made! xCathy (p.s. if interested - Giveaway at mine).

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  34. Lovely, lovely finish! Just stunning on the wall too.
    Beautiful use of fabrics. Thanks for showing your binding technique for this one.

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  35. Wow!!! Belated congratulations on such a beautiful finish, can't believe I missed this post. You have certainly found the perfect place to hang it. Thanks for demonstrating the invisible binding, very interesting.

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  36. Can you tell me how big the finished hour glass blocks are supposed to be according to the pattern instructions? Your quilt is beautiful!

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  37. Did you use a square piece set on point or a diamond template to do your light pieces in your dark outer border? Your quilt is beautiful and your color choices are amazing. I have some of the India Chintz fabrics, but was unable to acquire all of them. Thank you for your response.

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