Saturday 1 April 2017

Oink Oink... It's The Sow's Ear Quilt!

While I was at Retreat last weekend, I was able to show off my finished
Sow's Ear Quilt.
Yes, finally it's finished... Yeee-harrr!
 This quilt started off as 40 strips of greens & yellows batiks strips... I won them in April last year at Retreat with my Patchwork group.


At that time I really didn't like batiks & the colours were not nice at all... the 'challenge' in the win was to "make something".

It took me a while to get my head around what to do with them, but settled on making a quilt... I reasoned that if I liked the end result I'd keep it, & if not, I'd find a good home for it.
I leafed through my quilt books & took inspiration from a design called Sparkling Gemstones in 'Jelly Roll Quilts', by Pam & Nicky Lintott. (great book)
Another 40 strips of nicer batiks was added, both to give me a more desirable size & also to tone down those original colours.
The back is much darker than the pic below shows it - it's much more like the sashing in the above pic.
How beautiful is the quilting?! I'm completely smitten.
My Quilting Wizard Julie has done a magnificent job, in spite of a few hiccups.

There's a LOT of sewing & cutting in this quilt, but it really wasn't hard... just took time & a good number of dvd's.
Don't have a heart attack... it doesn't start with millions of tiny rectangles & tinier sashing... it's all strip sewing & clever cutting.

This is my Sow's Ear Quilt, because I really did believe I was making a silk purse from what started as a sow's ear.
I'm actually really pleased with the result... AND I've come to really like it, in all its batik-y glory.
So for now it's staying with me.

Binding still needs to be done.
It measures 90" x 77"... that's a lotta binding!
(Upon suggestion from my buddy Maria, I will consider doing it all by machine)

So there you have it... be careful when you play Strips Poker with your patchwork friends after a few drinks... that's how this Sow's Ear Quilt came about!

27 comments:

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Wow!!!!!!

Jeanette said...

Oh wow. Looks fabulous. Love it. Hugs, xx

Kim said...

It's GORGEOUS!

KaHolly said...

It is quite beautiful! I wouldn't mind snuggling under something that pretty! Enjoy your day! XO

Maria said...

Even though you didn't like the fabrics to start with I bet you love it now...

kiwikid said...

That is a beautiful quilt Anthea, love it!!! I am a big fan of batiks but I have to admit the original colours would have been a challenge. Well done!!!

Pamela said...

This is gorgeous. Nice job!

Michelle Ridgway said...

Fabulous! Definitely a "silk purse" now Anthea. You must be thrilled with it x

The Sloan Patch said...

You've done great job...looks great!

Kaylee said...

It's really lovely Anthea, that is one massive size quilt.. Oh yes the quilting is really lovely.

Anonymous said...

Hi Anthea it's lovely well done ,you did a beautiful job of it .

Joy from Days Filled With Joy said...

Wow, that looks amazing! Well done!xx

My Sister Made Me Do It.... said...

Good Job, Anthea! It really does look like jewels!

Wendy said...

This turned out beautifully! As a fan of batiks I was hoping that you would fall in love with this quilt before you were finished with it. It is a glorious silk purse in my humble opinion. Have a blessed day.

Raewyn said...

I'm pleased to see it in all it's just about finished glory Anthea - the design is perfect for those fabrics....It's a beautiful quilt and what a journey for you!! Well done :-)

Lin said...

Stunning Anthea and I am so glad that you like now. Beautiful quilting which sets if off really well. xx

Christine said...

Wow! Thats so beautiful. Who'd have thought from the selection of colours in the jelly roll (which I would have cringed at too). Well done.

Fiona said...

fabulous finish.... that sashing was a genius choice...
Hugz

Leanne said...

Your quilt turned out beautiful Anthea. Clever girl. xx

Susan said...

I love it - I know you didn't start out liking it - but I think its definitely a silk purse now.
and that is a great pattern.

Ondrea said...

Wow! A mammoth task well worth the effort. You have done an awesome job. It looks fantastic. Well done.

Linda in Calif. said...

Oh I love it - I love the design and your way of toning down those loud yucky greens. I'm a green lover - but not those greens! That really is making a purse out of a sow's ear. Listen to Maria about the binding - it will be on in no time. You could sew it on to the back first, flip it over and use a decorative stitch on the front side.

Jeneta said...

Wow! You have completely transformed the fabric!!

Brigitte said...

I love this quilt. I have that book and a marker sticks at the pages with the pictures of this quilt.

Teri said...

I love, love, love it.....you did a wonderful job with it

Jo said...

This quilt looks lovely. It is an easy pattern. I'd keep it...

marina said...

So gorgeous Anthea the charcoal colour really pops the other brights.Love it!
Well done

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