It's almost time for the Festival of Trees - the annual fundraiser for our local women's shelter. Every year I try and contribute in some way. Last year I quilted a Buggy Barn pieced by Margaret, and this year I offered to quilt Alice's donation.
Enter, the Frozen quilt.
Ditches were stitched, blocks were filled, and then the center panel was quilted.
My hands are sore from all the ruler work, and I may not *ever* want to stitch another snowflake.
I didn't count until I was done, but I now know there are 102 blocks in this quilt!
A jagged stipple (with mini-snowflakes) filled the blocks that wrap around the quilt corners.
After I started stitching I wished I'd gone with a funky, snowflake-ish feather instead. No time to rip, so I left it and carried on. (Not that I mind the stipple; I just think a feathery thing would have been prettier.)
The panel was the last thing I tackled. I had ditched and basted quite thoroughly, so figured it would be fine.
Because of the tight deadline, of course I stitched a small pleat in the backing behind Elsa.
Perfect. Juuuust perfect.
Well. It is now part of the quilt's character. It is small enough, and time is so short, that I decided not to worry about it too much. Alice agrees. (But the perfectionist in me is not happy...)
The flannel backing, though cute and cozy, was a royal pain in the caboose all the way through.
Much of my time was spent hanging upside down so I could check for pleats. My seam ripper came out a few times when I was ditching the blocks. Fixing even a small pleat takes more ripping than one would imagine.
But I digress.
Where was I?
Oh, yeah. The panel!
I'd decided to keep the quilting simple, leaving the faces untouched.
(It is extremely difficult for me to restrain myself, so this was a challenge!)
The hair is quilted, and the faces and clothing are outlined. There are a few contour lines in the clothing, and the trees and sky have texture.
There is a castle in the background. It is printed with no defined outlines, which makes it particularly difficult to quilt. Trying to outline it would obliterate it.
I decided to quilt the outline of the mountain behind it, and added a few snowflakes around the castle (most at the base, and a few in the sky) to secure the layers. I would have preferred more quilting, but there was no time to dream up something better.
Of course, now that it's off the frame I have more ideas. Helpful, right?
I also decided to imply distant trees in the purple-ish area, and use the jagged snowflake stipple between the tree line and the castle.
This was another labour intensive quilt-on-a-deadline. Crazy, right???
I kept trying to come up with fast designs, but even so . . . 102 blocks to fill! (and to ditch around).
Alice did a great job with her fabric and design choices, plus Frozen is hot right now (ha!), so hopefully this will raise a good chunk of change for the shelter. I can't wait to see it bound and hung at the event!
How would you manage the castle?
I have another Frozen quilt coming up, and would love to be inspired by your suggestions!
Monday Making, at Love Laugh Quilt
Fabric Tuesday, at Quilt Story
Let's Bee Social, at Sew Fresh Quilts
Needle and Thread Thursday, at My Quilt Infatuation
Try, Learn, & Grow!
Carole
P.S. I play on Instagram under my blog name, FreshofftheFrame.
Enter, the Frozen quilt.
 |
| Frozen quilt, BEFORE quilting FreshofftheFrame.com |
 |
| Filling pinwheels FreshofftheFrame.com |
My hands are sore from all the ruler work, and I may not *ever* want to stitch another snowflake.
I didn't count until I was done, but I now know there are 102 blocks in this quilt!
 |
| Snowflake (my own invention) FreshofftheFrame.com |
 |
| Snowflake (also my own invention) FreshofftheFrame.com |
A jagged stipple (with mini-snowflakes) filled the blocks that wrap around the quilt corners.
After I started stitching I wished I'd gone with a funky, snowflake-ish feather instead. No time to rip, so I left it and carried on. (Not that I mind the stipple; I just think a feathery thing would have been prettier.)
 |
| FreshofftheFrame.com |
The panel was the last thing I tackled. I had ditched and basted quite thoroughly, so figured it would be fine.
Because of the tight deadline, of course I stitched a small pleat in the backing behind Elsa.
Perfect. Juuuust perfect.
 |
| Crappity crap crap! FreshofftheFrame.com |
Well. It is now part of the quilt's character. It is small enough, and time is so short, that I decided not to worry about it too much. Alice agrees. (But the perfectionist in me is not happy...)
The flannel backing, though cute and cozy, was a royal pain in the caboose all the way through.
Much of my time was spent hanging upside down so I could check for pleats. My seam ripper came out a few times when I was ditching the blocks. Fixing even a small pleat takes more ripping than one would imagine.
But I digress.
Where was I?
Oh, yeah. The panel!
 |
| FreshofftheFrame.com |
I'd decided to keep the quilting simple, leaving the faces untouched.
(It is extremely difficult for me to restrain myself, so this was a challenge!)
The hair is quilted, and the faces and clothing are outlined. There are a few contour lines in the clothing, and the trees and sky have texture.
 |
| FreshofftheFrame.com |
There is a castle in the background. It is printed with no defined outlines, which makes it particularly difficult to quilt. Trying to outline it would obliterate it.
 |
| The creases from the quilt being rolled onto the frame are not permanent! FreshofftheFrame.com |
I decided to quilt the outline of the mountain behind it, and added a few snowflakes around the castle (most at the base, and a few in the sky) to secure the layers. I would have preferred more quilting, but there was no time to dream up something better.
Of course, now that it's off the frame I have more ideas. Helpful, right?
I also decided to imply distant trees in the purple-ish area, and use the jagged snowflake stipple between the tree line and the castle.
 |
| Frozen quilt, AFTER quilting Draped over my kitchen table for a quick photo before it went out the door! FreshofftheFrame.com |
This was another labour intensive quilt-on-a-deadline. Crazy, right???
I kept trying to come up with fast designs, but even so . . . 102 blocks to fill! (and to ditch around).
Alice did a great job with her fabric and design choices, plus Frozen is hot right now (ha!), so hopefully this will raise a good chunk of change for the shelter. I can't wait to see it bound and hung at the event!
 |
| Frozen is Fresh off the Frame! I finish everything in the dark in winter, but even with poor lighting you can tell how pretty this is! FreshofftheFrame.com |
How would you manage the castle?
I have another Frozen quilt coming up, and would love to be inspired by your suggestions!
Linking up With:
Main Crush Monday, at Cooking up QuiltsMonday Making, at Love Laugh Quilt
Fabric Tuesday, at Quilt Story
Let's Bee Social, at Sew Fresh Quilts
Needle and Thread Thursday, at My Quilt Infatuation
Try, Learn, & Grow!
Carole
P.S. I play on Instagram under my blog name, FreshofftheFrame.
YOur quilting was the perfect accent to this simple quilt!!!
ReplyDeleteAnother great job, so glad someone is entering a quilt again this year.
ReplyDeleteOh, the castle is really poorly defined in the image. I might be tempted to just go for some organic vertical lines, but that could also not work well... definitely torn on that. I like the snowflake quilting you created; those are really fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it'll make someone really happy. Since the castle is made out of ice some sharp outlines, just no curves, that's all that runs through my mind :) Not very helpful, right.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the castle. Quilting would have obliterated it. It's a stunning quilt and those snowflakes are amazing, of course I have a thing for snowflakes. It will be a great fund-raising quilt.
ReplyDeleteThis turned out beautiful! I love how you quilted the pinwheels and snowflakes. I would have no idea how to quilt the castle. My only thought would be thread painting, because then you could define the castle. But that wouldn't be very snugly.
ReplyDeleteYour quilting is beautiful and inspiring. I love visiting and reading about your thought process behind the quilting decisions you make. I agree with Jasmine about the castle - thread painting would look good, but that would be some dense stitching. Thanks for linking to MCM. :)
ReplyDeleteVery fun quilting of those snowflakes. It's not every day we get to quilt snowflakes! And the rest of your quilting choices were spot on. This is a winner!
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is stunning! Love all the details you added. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love the snowflake quilting and the way your handled the mountain - fingers crossed for a big sale!
ReplyDeleteWow - what amazing quilting. I am new to longarming and so am so inspired, and a little in awe, when I see things like this. I hope it raises a grand total for the shelter - it certainly should do.
ReplyDeleteOh you did a wonderful job on quilting this! I love all the different motifs you chose, and I think you did the right thing with leaving the castle untouched on this one.
ReplyDeleteI had to go steal my daughter's quilt out of her closet to see what I did--I did very minimal outlining on the panel, so I only went around the mountain and not the castle. It has been washed several times and is fine (warm and white batting). I really like the pinwheels in the one you did, and how they disappear into the white background, and I'm sure the quilt will make some little girl very happy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, beautiful quilt Carole! Some little girl is really going to love it and that teeny tiny pleat......doesn't matter!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done, Carole and that pleat is barely visible!! I know, I know, that perfectionist in us . . . tape her mouth shut! ;) I've found that duct tape works best! haha But seriously, this quilt is gorgeous and is sure to bring a good amount for a very worthy cause and bonus that it is sure to be loved by the purchaser. Your quilting design decisions are spot on! Congrats on a fast and fabulous finish! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, your quilting is amazing on this, love all those snowflakes, they must have take hours and hours. And now I've caught up on this post I'm even more glad it raised such a good chunk of money.
ReplyDeleteHere I am in 2024. I picked up this panel while thrifting and was surfing for quilt ideas when I came across your post. Love the design and quilting. I'm guessing the blocks are 6 1/2" unfinished? I'm inspired! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI also have this panel and am searching for a good pattern. Do you have a pattern for this? Thank you margaret peggy warfle on FB
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