Making a quilt is not a quick endeavor. At least for me it isn’t. Back in 2016 I read a tutorial by Bonjour Quilts and left a comment about how much I loved the quilt. Then in 2020, in a newsletter by Bonjour Quilts (side note – if you don’t receive her newsletter, check it out. Kirsty writes a great newsletter and I very much enjoy reading it) I was reminded of the quilt. At that time, I started cutting pieces for the background. I believe this was at the beginning of the pandemic. Fast forward to 2021, I decided to finish the quilt so I could give it to my nephew and his bride when they married in July 2021. Well, then we decided to list the house and move so all sewing came to an abrupt halt.
With my sewing room (almost) set up and my time freed up, I am sewing and quilting again! I had the Meadow quilt top finished and basted before we moved, so I started to quilt it. Before basting it, I did some FMQ over the flowers in the center. I knew I wanted to secure them tightly, even though they are fused to the base. However I didn’t want all of that to show on the back. I did a preliminary set of stitches before basting and then finished securing the flowers after it was basted.
The background is free motion quilted with whatever came to mind. There are swirls, basic stippling, some flowers, hearts, sunshines and a few words here and there. On the top I used an off-white Glide thread and the bottom is a pale green Glide thread. (I am a big fan of Glide for free motion quilting).
Every meadow has a few butterflies fluttering about, right? I fussy cut these and fused them to the top. Using Perle cotton, I did some basic stitching around the edges to help them stand out a bit.
I forgot to take a shot with the backing showing but in this one you can see a bit of the corner. It is a 60″ wide voile by Frou Frou. Grassy green with tiny white stars on it, the fabric is so soft. I think it gives a cuddly feel to the quilt. (I have had this on the shelf for a long time so don’t know that it would be available anymore?)
The pictures were all taken in our yard. Right now everything is so green. Foxglove are standing tall in the backyard, giving a meadow like feel to it.
I am so happy with this finish. It is unusual but not difficult. I actually think this is the case with many of Kirsty’s (Bonjour Quilts) patterns and tutorials. It is on the way to the bride and groom, just in time for their first anniversary!! I hope they love it.
Sharing at my favorite link ups – see the list at the top of the page for the details!
REMINDER: The first link up for 2022 Positivity QAL opens this Sunday, June 26th. Please come back (here) then to link up and show us your progress with your blocks. I am looking forward to seeing the different color combos!!
This is so uniquely beautiful! I haven’t seen a quilt like this. I’m sure the newlyweds love it!
Thank you Tracie. I hope they do. I haven’t tracked the package but it should arrive today or tomorrow. They just bought their first home so this is great timing! Have a great day. 🙂
Beautiful! I am unfamiliar with the quilt designer, but your quilt has definitely peaked my interest.
Be sure to look through Kirsty’s blog. She has so much fun info and her designs are great. When I had my shop, I carried her patterns and they were always selling like crazy. Plus her tutorials are great too. You’ll enjoy all of it!
I get Kirsty’s newsletter, thanks to a tip from you a couple of years ago 😉 However, I do not know this pattern, and I am off to buy it, because it is PERFECT for my niece who has a floral design business on the side, and I want/need to make her another quilt! You did a beautiful job, love how you quilted it, LOVE quilting in words, (and the names of the recipient), love the butterflies, and voile as a backing is a great idea! I’ve used cotton sateen (by mistake; Connecting Threads did not specify it was a sateen when I bought it for a back) and the recipient of that quilt LOVES the feel of it. Love all the green in the background of your photos too.
Sateen backings are super nice too. I also like flannel backings – so cozy!
The pattern is offered as a tutorial here: https://www.bonjourquilts.com/meadow-applique-quilt-tutorial/
Super simple disappearing nine patch blocks in a variety of sizes are used for the background. Can’t wait to see your version!
What a beautiful quilt! Selling and moving house is as good a reason as any not to finish the quilt (and your parents, too!). I love the background and the swath of flowers. I am sure they will be thrilled to have it now!
Hi Kathleen, Those flowers were a lot of fun. Cutting them out and then deciding how to arrange them took a while but the end result was worth it. Glad you like it!
It is so fun to see you quilting again! I missed this quilt on Kristy’s site, but it sure is fun (her newsletter is great)! I’m sure this quilt will be loved and used and enjoyed!
The tutorial was originally posted about 6 years ago – it was when she referred to it in her newsletter that I remembered it. It is amazing how many ideas we see – too many to act on, right?
I have been enjoying seeing your FB posts and remembering some of the quilts you’ve been sharing. 🙂
That is a beautiful quilt!
Love everything about it!!
Thank you Katherine. I do too. Hoping my nephew and his wife agree!! I think they should receive it today. Makes me happy – both to finish it and finally give them a wedding gift!
What a beautiful finish, Bernie, and such lovely photographs in your backyard! All the different quilting motifs really compliment and match the quilt design. 🙂
Thank you Yvonne! Like you, we have a lot of green all around us. I am so curious to see if much of the yard dries out during the next couple of months. At home we water everything so heavily which is ironic since there is a drought. Here we have no sprinkler system and only two hose bibs around the yard. So if it isn’t rainy, nothing gets watered (even though there is plenty of water). Hmmm, what does that tell us? We need to rely on nature and not go against the grain. There should be very little lawn in CA and more xeriscape, right? Anyway, off that soapbox. I do love the quilt and it is great to have sent it off to its recipients. Have a lovely weekend!
So pretty! I do receive Kristy’s newsletter. I love that she shares pictures of her patterns made by others because they are great for color inspiration.
Yes, I enjoy that as well Kathleen. Sometimes it doesn’t even look like the same pattern because of the fabrics people choose. It must be gratifying for pattern designers to see others making their designs too.
Congrats on getting back into sewing/quilting!! And congrats on a job well done on the wedding quilt.
Thanks Vicki. Back to normal life now, which is a very good thing. 🙂
Wow Wow Wow~~~ That is amazing!!
those flowers are just gorgeous on this one!!
Thank you Alycia – it is a cool pattern and really not a hard one at all.
Fabulous quilt. Love the fall of flowers on the improv looking background.
Thank you – that was the fun part of making the quilt. Kind of tedious to fussy cut so many flowers but well worth it. I enjoyed working on placing them, deciding where to put each one. Thank you for stopping by Elizabeth!
What a fun quilt project! I love the photos with the real flowers in your garden 🙂 xo
Thank you Melanie. Our new garden is so green and lush right now which made it the right spot for pictures of this quilt. Today is our first really warm day of the summer so I am tucked away inside. Summer has arrived in the Northwest!!
Your quilt is lovely. Congrats on the finish!
Thank you!
A very pretty and unique quilt!
Thank you Susan!
What a beautiful quilt. I love all the flowers and especially the butterflies! You did an excellent job! Love it.
Hi Gloria, Thank you so much. I think the butterflies make the quilt even sweeter! Glad you enjoyed it.
Best, Bernie
This was so striking to me from your photo of it on your year-end report that I had to come and read about it. I love your version of Kirsty’s quilt, especially the butterflies. Nice job, and pretty amazing too!