Tag: North Western Ontario

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Wide Back Challenge

wendysquilting

A recent customer quilt story.

Something to consider when purchasing fabric is whether or not it is a directional print. In this case the wide backing fabric was clearly so.

My customer had ordered more than enough fabric for her quilt however there was a problem…the way that the writing had been printed onto the fabric meant that the writing would be vertical if used the way it was.

After further discussion, she brought me the remaining fabric from the quilt top along with one extra block that she had made.

Loving a fun challenge, I decided to utilize the one block and took it apart. Piecing three strips to insert into the backing with a plan to grow it long enough enabling the writing to be horizontal.

Cutting wide backing straight can be a challenge in of itself however cutting this fabric and having the lines of writing remain straight was a little nerve wracking. I made three cuts… and inserted the pieced strips.

Adding the piecing to the backing not only grew it to the right size it also created a modern dimension to it.

We chose the pantograph Jitterbug for the quilting and used a very soft grey thread colour which blended beautifully throughout the quilt.

The quilt was trimmed and ready for binding at pick up.

Let me help you to bring your quilting projects to completion…did you know that I piece backings free of charge?

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Half Square Quilt and Bubbles

wendysquilting

When this quilt first arrived in my studio its maker said that it was a true challenge to make and she is an expert quilt maker!

I can see why as I too have taken on patterns where the directions for pressing do not cause the seams to oppose each other making for not so smooth piecing and when you are dealing with so many small half square triangles it can be frustrating.

However another beautiful quilt top was created and put together with a gorgeous backing it’s now a quilt.

Its maker requested the pantograph bubbles which you can see was a perfect choice. Using curves against angles is a fun treat to the eye!

I find that it is always worth the extra time to press both top and backing before loading the quilt on to the Longarm.

This step provides an opportunity for fresh eyes to look the quilt top over as well as making sure that there are no creases in the backing fabric or missed seams which can happen to the best of us and to catch any dark threads sneaking under light fabrics.

How gorgeous is this backing! This quilt was trimmed and ready for binding at pick up.

Contact me at wendysquilting@gmail.com for Professional Quality Longarm Quilting Services.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Hannah’s Quilt

wendysquilting

Many quilts make a bold statement using colour and piecing however sometimes a simple quilt using soft colours can be just as striking.

The soft palette of gray blues and creams frame an important belonging that was placed in the centre of her quilt.

More embroidery will be added, in order to secure the beautiful handkerchief.

Hannah’s quilt was pieced by her Mom, Hannah chose the pantograph Bayside as it reminded her of waves and water.

A simple white backing added more softness to this special quilt as it will be heading off to University with a Hannah this fall.

Note…the backing used was a top sheet purchased at a thrift shop it stitched up perfectly.

Her quilt was trimmed and ready for binding when picked up.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Camping Quilt

wendysquilting

I have a Pantograph labelled Overall Bear, Moose and Pines, it is often requested for quilts made with camping or wilderness themed fabric.

My customer chose it for her quilt.

It’s a fun design to hand guide my Longarm over…

Having chosen a reads like solid backing fabric really showcases both the design and beautiful stitches my Longarm creates 😊

Her quilt is trimmed and ready for binding.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Memory Quilts…

wendysquilting

When Darlene brought me these two quilts made with her Mothers house dresses it very quickly brought to mind my Grandma who we lovingly referred as to Grandma on the farm (my other Grandma was in the city)

Anyways my Grandma and many Women of her generation wore house dresses and saved their “good clothes” for when company came or they were going out. Anyways this job brought happy memories.

There are two quilts in this picture. Darlene chose the pantograph Two of Hearts…(an often requested design) as these quilts were made as a gift for family.

Some of the fabrics were seersucker… more memories of childhood clothes!

The backing fabric is the softest flannel, so nice to work with!

Her quilts were trimmed and ready for binding when they were picked up.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Suzanne’s Quilt

wendysquilting

When Suzanne and I met to discuss her queen sized quilt, we looked at several different quilting designs.

She chose Feather Grande (a design by Bethanne Nemish)

It really was a perfect choice with its feathers and swirls as well as its density. Suzanne knew that there was some fullness in the centre of the quilt and I knew with enough density that the quilting would take care of that and it did.

While I am one to choose print backings for my own quilts most of the time one that reads solid really showcases the quilting.

Suzanne’s quilt was trimmed and ready for binding when she picked it up. A complimentary service that almost all of my customers take me up on esp for the larger quilts.

I love this picture of her quilt on the bed, how nicely the piecing sits on the top and the borders fall so nicely along the edges of the bed.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Quilting Decisions and Star Swirl

wendysquilting

I am often requested to choose the quilting design by my customers.

When I first began quilting for others in 2006 I remember feeling nervous making the decision…however over time it became easier to read the quilt and less intimidating.

Of course I also gathered information about who the quilt was for, its purpose as well as my customers preferences.

This sweet winter themed quilt gave me a few ideas, I could have used the border print and played on the theme of the holly or birds or pine cones. The backing fabric also had holly. However, I wanted something that would be complimentary to the animals and chose a quilting design that would play in the background giving a bit of windy movement along with perhaps a starry night…yes I have an imagination 😊

The quilt didn’t need me to replicate what was already there ie birds, pine cones, holly but instead it needed something to softly tie everything together.

Star Swirl is a wonderful pantograph for its soft density and easy flow.

Although the backing has a Christmas vibe to it, by adding more of a swirly starry theme with the quilting this quilt becomes a Winter Quilt.

I never tire of looking a the beautiful stitching I can obtain with my Longarm!

This quilt was trimmed and ready for binding at pick up.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Birch Tree Baby Quilt

wendysquilting

Baby quilts are always fun to make, quilt and give.

Jan made this one for her great niece and we chose the pantograph Two of Hearts.

How pretty is this pink Minki backing!

Her quilt was trimmed and ready for binding when she picked up her quilt.

Once she finished binding the quilt she made a tote bag with her left over fabric.

A great idea for using up the left over fabric and a very practical gift bag!

She sent me this picture when she was finished.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Wildlife Quilt

wendysquilting

A wonderful gift for an outdoorsman, that my customer has pieced for her brother.

We chose the pantograph Leaf Pile as the quilting design, with its medley of different leaves it was a fitting choice for this wildlife quilt.

I really enjoy quilting this particular design, it doesn’t have a lot of repeats like some pantographs do.

Her quilt is trimmed and ready for binding!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Little Bit of This and a lot of Colour!

wendysquilting

The use of black for the background on this quilt really allow the colours to pop!

The pantograph A Little Bit of This was the design chosen, often adding a soft flowing design opposed to strong angles or lines in the piecing of the quilt adds a different dimension and plays on the designs of many of the fabrics in a quilt like this one.

The backing choice was perfect for this quilt! if anyone knows somewhere still selling this wide back please let me know!

The quilt left trimmed and ready for binding.

Wendy’s Quilting for Professional Quality Longarm and Quilting Services wendysquilting@gmail.com