Friday 24 October 2014

Bloggers' Quilt Festival - my Redwork Christmas quilt

Hello, and welcome, especially if you're visiting for the first time.

I'm Wendy, an accountant living in Wellington, New Zealand, with my family. I like to describe myself as a modern hand quilter, because I make bright modern quilts, and I hand quilt them with Perle 8 thread.

Some people might think hand quilting is a dying art, but more and more people are wanting to learn hand quilting. I'm a member of the Celebrate Hand Quilting facebook group which is a very supportive online forum for hand quilters. It's a private group, but anyone can ask to join. There are almost 9,000 members of the group now, so hand quilting is alive and well.

It's a Redwork Christmas

This is my entry for the hand quilted section of the Bloggers's Quilt Festival. You can't vote just yet, but you can click on the links as the quilts are added, and then return to vote next week when the voting opens on 1 November USA time.

I made this Redwork Christmas quilt through a block of the month programme. The pattern was designed by Rosalie Quinlan of Australia and the designs really appealed to me. I had never done redwork before, but I loved stitching each panel. Here are some of my favourite blocks in the quilt:











Each month I received a transfer in the post, and I ironed it onto a piece of calico. I then hand stitched each panel with red DMC stranded cotton using backstitch. I used an embroidery hoop because I wanted to keep the tension even. It took quite a while to stitch each block, but I was always finished before the next block. That's because I enjoyed doing it so much.










Once all nine panels were completed it was time to add the sashing. I decided to use a range of complementary fabrics for the sashing. I then hand quilted as much as I could without impacting on the panels. I used red and cream Perle 8 for the quilting.



I bring this quilt out each Christmas and drape it over the sofa.


The facts:
size 52" x 42"
pattern is "It's a Redwork Christmas" by Rosalie Quinlan

You can find this pattern here.

20 comments:

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

This is so pretty! :) Celebrate HQ member too! :)

Sherri @ RebeccaMaeDesigns.com said...

lovely!!! I love red work :)

Wendy @ Wendysquiltsandmore said...

Thanks Deb. It's always nice to meet other Celebrate Hand Quilting members.

Maryse said...

Very pretty! Good luck!

Kate said...

Your quilt is absolutely beautiful!!

Shannon said...

This is lovely! I'm a big fan of christmas quilts but have never tried redwork. This might just be enough to make me give it a whirl! Thanks for sharing!

Granny Maud's Girl said...

I found redwork fun and relaxing too.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

love the red work

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl said...

Lovely, Wendy. It will be fun to see your pop of color in the entries. :)

margaret said...

what an amazing red work quilt certainly gets my vote I love it, pinned all the photos!

Karen @runsewfun said...

This is lovely. I will check out the Bloggers Festival hand quilted section to cast my vote. Christmas is coming so quickly...have a happy one.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

It looks like a wonderful block of the month project - one you can enjoy the fruit of each year.

Vera said...

That is beautiful! Well done!

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

I, too, am a member of CHQ ... and I was an accountant (retired now). I love the setting of your fabulous redwork blocks. Good luck!

Unknown said...

So beautiful!!! Great job.

SewPsyched! said...

your work is exquisite! I adore redwork and this piece has just fanned the flames!

Raewyn said...

Both your entries into the festival are gorgeous Wendy... it's a great show!

JanineMarie said...

So pretty! And it fits this year's theme for the International Quilt Market, too. Hand embroidery is so satisfying, don't you think?

Anonymous said...

I love the redwork, the quilt is gorgeous!

Justella said...

Nice quilt love the red work thanks for sharing.