Friday 27 March 2015

Flower Garden Table Runner

One of the reasons I started my blog was to create a record of my quilting and embroidery. Here's something I made back in 2013 before I was blogging.



It's a Flower Garden Table Runner and the pattern is by my favourite designer, Wendy Williams of Flying Fish Kits.

The pattern is in her book called "Wild Blooms and Colorful Creatures". In the book it's called "Clamshell Garden Runner".



I went to a class to learn how to make this quilt. Each year in Wellington we have a big event at Queen's Birthday weekend (first weekend in June), called Hand Made. There are many classes on offer and subjects include sewing, knitting, jewelry making, cheese making, etc.

Back in 2013 Wendy Williams was one for the guest tutors and she taught a class on how to make this table runner. I was already aware of her work and loved her style, so I rushed to enroll, along with my friend Sue.



We had a great time at the class, but didn't get a lot of sewing done. We studied all of the other beautiful quilts and objects Wendy had bought with her, and snapped up lots more patterns and brightly coloured felt.



However, we'd done enough to understand the techniques involved, and knew we could finish our quilts at home. This technique is wool felt applique where fabrics are fussy cut and then hand appliqued onto felt. The felt shapes are them attached to the background panel with coloured Perle 8.

It was at that class that I saw "Your Place or Mine?" and just knew I had to make that too. I'm really hoping to get that top finished this weekend.



This quilt was one of those very rare things that when I came home and I just continued sewing until it was finished. I loved every step of it, The clam shells were a pain to get straight, but I do love the colour of them, so they are forgiven.

I especially love the Kaffe border.  It's hand quilted with blue Perle 8. There's minimal hand quilting within the panel itself. The flowers already stand out and I wanted them to be the feature.


I wanted to put Kaffe on the back too, so I chose a bright and cheery print, with plenty of purple and lime green to match the front.



This quilt hangs above the bed in the spare room and really brightens up that room.


Finished size: 21" x 50"
Design: Flying Fish Kits
Date: 2013

22 comments:

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

how pretty and so colorful - I love it

Linda H said...

It's beautiful Wendy. I love all the colour! And I really like the bright green clamshells.

Oops-Lah said...

Like you, I'm very much drawn to Wendy Williams designs. They are so colourful and cheerful. I have one of her books and one day I'm going to make something out of it!!! Your table runner is stunning by the way and I like the background fabric with the Japanese calligraphy.

mumasu said...

This is so pretty :)

Yuliya said...

It's amazing! I don't have words to express my feelings of this your great job! Fantastic! I love Kaffe Fassett fabrics and your way to use it is really stunning!!! Good luck in your patchwork and new great ideas! )

Rachel @ Quiltineering said...

So pretty! The bright colors are so cheerful. Of course, I love the japanese print in the background!

Granny Maud's Girl said...

I can imagine that the clamshells were a pain to get straight, but I love the effect.
Were all the fussy-cut centres part of a kit with the class?
It must really brighten that spare room!

knettycraft said...

So lovely ... can imagine it brings brightness in every room.

Staci said...

Beautiful work! What a fun project! I recently purchased this book and it's just filled with fun and inspiration, isn't it?

Helen@Till We Quilt Again said...

Hello My Kindred Spirit! This just sings to my heart! Beautiful

The Colorful Fabriholic said...

I really admire your work. So bright and colorful, and such awesome stitchery!

Lorraine said...

I am nearing completion of my circle sampler and am just deciding on what I will start next. Now you know I love this pattern. Thanks for sharing these photos - gives me lots of inspiration :)

Ruth said...

I love the idea of a quilt above the bed! Especially one as bright and cheery as this.

Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio said...

I love this flower garden quilt Wendy! So lively and colorful and I like the added felt too. The fussy cutting is wonderful. So beautiful.

Carol Q said...

love this to bits Wendy. the colours are right up my street. the oriental background you've chosen is just perfect.

Shanna said...

What an incredible quilt! I am in love with its bright fabrics and quirky design, way to go!

Jacqui's Quilts said...

Wow, Wendy...just saw this on the Kaffe facebook page this morning and noticed you had a blog post about it...what a lovely, lovely quilt. We had snow again today and this just made my day to see these lovely colours!!!! I just finished a small wall hanging with wool on a cotton background and so enjoyed it. Would love to do this one...am off to check out the designer's page. Thanks so much for posting this!

Unknown said...

Hi Wendy, did you know that Cottage Flair in Rotorua are having Wendy Williams as their guest tutor for the retreat this year?
http://cottageflair.co.nz/2015-stitching-retreat/

HeathersSewingRoom said...

Your June Handmade event sound like lots of fun. Wendy Williams has some great patterns and your runner has come together so well. I am sad that I am not in Rotorua to so to the retreat that Wendy is teaching in this year.

Mokki said...

Thats lovely, its just so bright and pretty. I love the character script fabric you've used as the background too. Its hard to find fabric like that.

France Nadeau ❅ inspiration imagination creation said...

That's a stunning quilt! I love your mix of colors and fabric. Gorgeous!

Sandy said...

so pretty