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Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Cottage CQ...Finishing and Finished!

The last few days have been spent doing all the detailed steps of finishing my crazy quilt.
I did my very best to keep things square and true...I still have a ways to go to get this all perfect, but I'll keep trying on my next quilt.

Meanwhile, here are the steps I took, once the embellishment on the front was totally completed....

First I appliqued a narrow border onto the front.
Sharon Schamber's great technique for ironing my folded edge helped me prepare my border pieces: I cut a piece of freezer paper 1/4" narrower than the border, ironed it to the back of the fabric, and then had a perfect edge for ironing exactly 1/4" at the fold. Then I simply removed the freezer paper and re-ironed my fold.
***Note***Sharon Schamber has a superlative set of free video tutorials on all aspects of quilt construction here. Any level of quilter will improve from watching these, I promise you.


Next I used all my rulers to make sure my borders were pinned on straight, had good 90 degree corners, that my quilt measured the same top and bottom, and left and right.
This is a good time NOT to be rushed.


Once the border was hand appliqued on, I couched on the row of cording along the inner edge.


Now to the "false back". Normally I use drapery lining--a spongey, somewhat loosely woven flannel--for my batting and a piece of muslin over it, basting those layers into place. This time I just used a piece of cotton quilt batting. I wanted something with slightly more body, and didn't feel I needed the muslin layer.
Here I am basting it into place, being careful not to let my stitches show through on the front. The extra basting you see in that one area is where all the rocks and lucky glass are on the front of the quilt. This extra basting will give that area needed extra support.


The "fancy back" is a lovely silk brocade...I am attaching it with buttons right over the "false back".


Next I basted the edges of all the layers together, before adding my French facing. I didn't want the various edges of the layers sliding around under my presser foot while I was machine stitching on my facing.

This is not a binding...once the facing is sewn on, it gets turned to the back of the quilt, so none of it shows from the front.
I forgot to photograph that, but did write a comprehensive article about the French facing technique for CQMagOnline a few years ago. You can read it here.


Once my facing was sewn on, I had to trim that inner seam so there wouldn't be a huge long lump under my turned facing.

I turned the facing toward the back, ironed it, and pinned some lace along the edge, which is being sewn in at the same time the facing is being tacked to the back.

For my label, I used Barbara Curiel's fantastic idea of using Tshirt transfer paper on a vintage hankie. "Cottage CQ" has been my working title, but "Bryant Family Cottage" is the quilt's formal name.

The finished back doesn't have its sleeve sewn on yet. I can procrastinate on that!

And here quilt from the front, finished.

"Bryant Family Cottage"
32 3/4" X 35 1/4"

I left this image pretty big, so if you click on it you can see some detail.

Thank you all so much for traveling along with me during this long ride...I've appreciated your interest, feedback, and empathy, too. ;-)

I feel I did achieve my goal of combining landscape quilting with crazy quilting. Now to just get the technical aspects refined on the next "place portrait" CQ. I wonder where it will be???......

32 comments:

  1. Oh Allie, it's stunning! I can't tell you how much I enjoy watching you develop these peices and how much I learn from all of your detail steps. thank you so much for sharing your projects with us!

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  2. I don't know what to say...words are failing me again. This piece is absolutely beyond adequate description...it's wonderful!!

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  3. Fabulous work, Allie! What a cool label you did. Oh, and BTW, welcome home. It was snowing on the pass yesterday....hard!

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  4. Allie,

    Please remind us again the finished size of this wonderful piece of art? Also, thanks for letting us watch as you made this travel-it was really exciting.

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  5. The finished quilt is 32 3/4" X 35 1/4". Sorry I forgot that!

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  6. Congratulations! Have some champagne or whatever seems appropriate! It's beautiful as well as meaningful to all of us who have followed the process.

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  7. This is absolutely amazing, and a wonderful work of art. You must be so very proud of yourself.

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  8. What a masterpiece! You've created a stunning family heirloom. And even the variegated cording coordinates with the area is borders. Your detail is extraordinary and I'm giving you a Standing O!!! And big hugs, Cathy

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  9. Allie, your cottage CQ quilt is fabulous! I've enjoyed reading about your journey in its creation. Thank you.

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  10. It is so amazing! I am surely going to miss watching this project unfold. I hope you don't take too much time before starting the next one. Simply stunning and inspirational!

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  11. Allie, this is lovely. It has been a joy watching its progress over the last few months, and wonderful to see the finished quilt. I bet it will be a winner!

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  12. Allie, thanks so much for blogging about creating this amazing piece, I've been following silently but have to speak up to congratulate you now! It looks amazing and you are so talented :)

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  13. Gorgeous, Allison! Thanks for taking us along on this journey. The finished quilt really catches the cool summer sun around a Lake Michigan cottage. Sigh! (engaged in family memories)

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  14. Wonderful piece of stitchery and family history! Bravo!

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  15. Allie that is remarkably beautiful!!!!

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  16. This is beautiful! I have really enjoyed watching your progress on this wonderful creation...looking forward to the next journey!

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  17. Ooooo, Allie... delicioso my dear! Thanks so much for sharing every step of the way with us. Will you be keeping it or will it reside at the cottage? How I wish I had your staying power... I'm falling farther and farther behind on mine... sigh.

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  18. Oh Allie! It's absolutely stunning!! Congratulations! What a family heirloom!

    Marg in Mirror

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  19. What a beautiful finish to your gorgeous project. Thanks for letting us look over your shoulder throughout the process. I'm glad you used a hanky for the label. It's a nice detail.

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  20. It has been so intriguing seeing this project through from start to finish. It is beautiful and quite an accomplishment. Thank you so much for sharing it with us all.
    So...what'cha gonna do for an encore??

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  21. There are so many things I love about this piece! I love the play of light in the trees and how your stitching really brings it out. I love how you incorporated a memorial to your brother and to your families love for the place. It really shines through! The way you used beads to create the "froth" on the water ~ just wonderful! How I wish I could see this in person! It's just spectacular!

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  22. Allie,
    Thank you for taking us all along on this journey - what a trip! I think of all your project this has to be my favorite - what a beauty!

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  23. Gorgeous! I really think you've taken CQ to another level - such a great combination of fabric printing and traditional CQ.

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  24. I'm sure hoping it's 5166 Britten Lane in Ellicott City~~~~!!!! OK, I was dreaming!

    Allie, this was really a spectacular undertaking; I enjoyed the ups, the downs, the twists and turns on the road to finishing this quilt -- I'm exhausted and proud -- oh yeah, I didn't make it! Thank you for taking us along for the ride -- the journey, the story about your brother Freddie, and the finished result all make it an absolute treasure -- a family heirloom -- it would make a nice book from one of those self-publishing websites like Snapfish -- I don't think they cost very much and you could put in all of your posts about the making of the quilt; the meaning of the quilt, etc. You could even give it to some of your family members as a gift... just a thought...I have this in my head for something -- I'm just not sure yet...

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  25. Wow, I'm speechless...you really took quilting to a much higher level than I have ever seen. Bravo!

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  26. Wonderful. It was good to see how you finished the quilt too.

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  27. Dear Allie, You completed piece is stunningly awesome and beyond words. You are truly a a very talented Lady. Thanks for sharing your journey with with us.

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  28. You have created another amazing piece of art. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing this piece being created.

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  29. Hello Allie, Your Cottage CQ is magical and thank you very much for the explaination of how you finished it. It looks very complicated to this beginner CQ. Will you bring it to Michigan this summer. I do hope so where I can see it in person. Hugs Judy

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  30. Wow, I am in awe of your beautiful landscape of the cottage and it's wonderful setting. You have done amazing work on this masterpiece. I am a new reader to your blog and I will be going back to read more of your posts. Thank you for writing about your creative process.

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