Tag: Customer Quilts

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Quilting, Life and the Changing Season

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The leaves are changing colours and after a very full summer life is feeling quieter.

Its always a shock to the system as the days get shorter, well they don’t really get shorter of course, however the sun disappears earlier.

Living in Northwestern Ontario it takes us a split second to get used to the long days of sunlight beginning in June and the warmer temperatures.

After a deep clean of my Longarm studio, I noticed the light catching these two recent quilt jobs catching the light just right! Both quilts have fireside backings which will be perfect for snuggling under as the days get shorter and cooler!

Mummus Rug really adds to the Autumn feel doesn’t it!

Our summer feels like it flew by, though taking time to reflect it was full with many fun filled days with grand children, friends and family. Working on outside project (mostly Erik) and of course quilting.

I almost always allow for an hour of play in the evening after turning the Longarm off. Lately it has been with a large pkg of 2 1/2 in squares of scrap fabric gifted from a friend.

What are you working on?

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Police Patch Quilts

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I am often contacted about the Police Patch quilts that I have made and my previous posts about them are often visited both here and on Pinterest.

Several years ago I was contacted by an officer who had an amazing collection of patches and wanted a quilt made with them for a friend who was retiring.

If you are interested in making a quilt like this…I started by choosing the largest patch and making the blocks 1 1/2 “ larger than that patch. Each patch was centred and stitched down (around the edges) using clear thread though I might choose a 60 or weight now that blends.

The block colour was as close as I could come to match the officers uniform. For fun, I used solid colours pulled from the patches for the corner stones and the fun binding.

I used my Longarm for the quilting though it could have been quilted on a domestic machine as well.

Not long after making the above quilt I was commissioned to make a second one for another officer.

After posting pictures on this blog I was again commissioned to make another patch quilt.

Do you have a patch collection?

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Butterfly Quilt

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This is a recent customer quilt that left my studio quilted, trimmed and ready for binding.

At first glance, it would seem that a butterfly pantograph or quilting design would be the perfect and easy choice for this quilt. It would have been a fine choice of course. Though a closer look shows the pieced flowers on the top and then there’s the backing to consider.

With dragonflies gracing the backing…I chose a fun simple floral pantograph to work with the piecing on the front which really didn’t compete with the back.

Many of my customers leave the choice of quilting designs to me, which is such a fun part of the process. Some customers choose their quilting design with me from my many many pantographs and some request pantographs that I don’t yet own that I order for their quilts…(at no extra charge to them)

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Quilting

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Summer is so short here and this summer has been busy, we try to make the most of the nice weather and time with the grandchildren and family.

Some days I quilt early morning but in the Summer it often waits for the evenings! This was a recent quilt that will be going to its piecers friend who loves dogs.

I used the pantograph Popcorn for the quilting.

The quilt is trimmed and ready for binding! (The backing was also made with yardage that I pieced which is another complimentary service that I offer my customers along with trimming)

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Cupcake Quilt

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This quilt was so much fun to work on!

The cupcakes are on the backing but are so adorable I decided to name it the Cupcake Quilt!

The bright happy colours along with the fun pieced backing called for some whimsy in the quilting which led me to choose the pantograph Tickle Too with its combination of swirls, curls and feathers.

Quilting a pieced backing such as this can be a challenge on the Longarm but with a little extra time and planning it can be done. In this case the quilt is truly two sided!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Beautiful Blue Bargello Quilt

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This amazing Bargello quilt just left the studio.

It measured 100” square and the fabric choices were perfect to really showcase this pattern!

We chose the pantograph New Wave to not only add more movement to this quilt but also to add enough density to secure the piecing in the quilt.

Quilting density is always an important consideration when choosing a design. Enough density to secure the piecing is important especially if the quilt is to used and laundered.

Of course a design that compliments the pattern is important, maybe something that adds to the movement, plays quietly in the background, or adds more dimension or interest to the piecing.

In this case we went with the movement.

Here’s a peek at the backing…. It was difficult getting a clear picture of the stitching, if you click on it it’s a better view…😊

Contact me to discuss completing your quilting projects!

Wendysquilting@gmail.com

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Foxy Critter Quilt

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I have quilted several different critter quilts for one of my customers. This one, the fox required whiskers and I was asked if I could embroider them for her. Which I did happily.

I offer Longarm quilting services and to me that includes things like finishing touches like whiskers!

I chose to quilt this sweet quilt with the pantograph Waterworld. It is a little denser but with all of the small piecing in this quilt I feel that the extra quilting will add to the longevity of a quilt that will no doubt be loved and heavily used.

I love this gorgeous orange she chose for the backing!!

The quilt is trimmed and ready for binding…and then gifting.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Sparrows

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I had an idea of how I wanted to quilt Karen’s Sparrow quilt as soon as I saw it…which also gave me an excuse to add some new pantographs to my collection!

Nebula has movement galore, and as I had visioned turned out to be a perfect fit! Using a 60 weight thread in silver caused the quilting to take back stage from the piecing, it shows up clearly over the dark background fabric but not in an overpowering way that a 40 weight thread would have.

Karen’s choice of backing fabric was so perfect with the subtle addition of bird tracks over the robins egg blue colour.

Karen’s quilt left my studio trimmed and ready for binding and soon to be gifted!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Those Trees! Some faux trapunto

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This stunning table runner left yesterday.

It was pieced using the pattern Those Trees by Zen Chic.

We chose to use faux trapunto under the larger trees giving them a little more of a pop with the dense quilting in the background.

Have you done Faux Trapunto before? If not, it is really easy using the Longarm but also manageable with your sewing machine.

With the Longarm, I load the batting as I would the backing and then the top. I using water soluble thread to sew around the trees and stars and afterwards very carefully trimmed the batting away as close to the seam as I could. This technique adds an extra layer of batting under certain areas of your quilt and in this case was well worth the effort.

The runner left yesterday making its way home to Ottawa, ready for binding. More pictures will follow when it’s finished.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Wedding Season is upon us!

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This king sized quilt is to be gifted soon and what a wonderful gift made by the brides Mom and Aunt!

I love the giant gingham affect these large blocks make.

The pantograph Forest Floor was chosen as it suits the couple who will receive this quilt it also compliments the backing. When you look closely at the backing fabric you can see the subtle addition of blue in the veins of the leaves and some of the designs.

The binding was made from the backing which will be just the right pop on the front and won’t detract from the print on the back.

This quilt left my studio trimmed and binding prepared.

Let me help you bring your quilting projects to completion!

wendysquilting@gmail.com