Thursday, February 28, 2013

My String-X Is Finished! Oh, Joy!!!!

This quilt has been in progress much, much too long.  Perhaps 2 or more years.  I finished the top then laid it aside.  I layered and began quilting, only to lay it aside several summers ago to plan and prepare a fall wedding.  I picked it up again after the wedding, only to learn a few months later that the bride would be having a summer baby.  By the time I finished the quilt for the baby, I realized that if I didn't purposefully devote time to this quilt, it would never get finished.  And here it is, finished!  Oh, joy!

It's my version of Bonnie Hunter's String-X.  I adapted her measurements of the block size and did not use a paper foundation.  I used the string strips as a leaders/enders while working on other quilts.  I'm not sure I like the way I pieced the back.  I liked the idea of repeating the strings (all the fabrics on the back were used on the front) but I think the proportions are off.  Still, it's just a picnic quilt....

This quilt measures 67" x 92".  The fabric in the front, back, and binding are 100% cotton scraps from other sewing and quilting projects.  The batting is polyester.  I had it so I used it.  The quilt crinkled more than I thought it would with a poly bat.  (I wish I'd noted measurements before I washed the quilt!) 

If, in 50, years an expert quilter looks at this quilt, I hope she will not judge it too harshly.  I hope she might recognize that it was a beginner quilt and notice that some areas of quilting are better than others.  I hope she won't fold it and realize that it's not exactly square.  (I don't mind so much that the lines of stitching are not straight but I wish the stitching itself were better.)  I hope she will be generous in her comments, knowing that every quilter improves the more she quilts.


I'm linking to
>February A Lovely Year of Finishes at Fiber of All Sorts.  Thanks for hosting, Shanna.
>A Week of Finishes at from blank pages.  Thank you, Diane.
>Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts.  Thanks,  Lynne.
>Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.  Thank you, Amanda Jean.
>2013 First Quarter Finish-A-Long at She Can Quilt.  My original post was here.

Happy quilting!
--Nancy.
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34 comments:

  1. Don't knock yourself down! You did a beautiful job!

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  2. What a great finish. Isn't it wonderful to see how much you can learn in such a short time frame. It is a lovely job! Congrats! I hope this gets used so much the holes show the love it's seen in 50 years :)

    Thanks for linking up.

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    1. Thanks, Shanna. The learning is fast but sometimes making my needle do my bidding is much slower to learn. I'll just keep trying.

      And thank you, again, for hosting A Lovely Year of Finishes. It has helped push me along, which is a very good thing.

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  3. Oh joy....Is RIGHT! It's beautiful! Love the quilting you did in the cream blocks!

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  4. Nice Job! When I went to link my finish for the month, here was your String X quilt. It made me smile. I like how you pieced the back. I noticed you hand quilted! It is a lovely quilt.

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  5. Love it! Strings are such a pain, so many seams to stretch and flex. But so, so pretty. Very nicely done. Remember that you are probably hardest on your quilt, having seen every perceived flaw up close. The overall impression is so wonderful, all the stitches just give it personality. (do you think I'll remember that the next time my machine wanders out of the ditch?)

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  6. This is beautiful from both the front AND the back. I'm so in awe of your hand quilting.

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  7. So beautiful! Good for you for finishing.

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  8. Beautiful quilt and amazing hand quilting!

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  9. Thank you so much for commenting on my blog! My postage stamp top was made using this strip piecing method from PS I Quilt! http://www.psiquilt.com/p/tutorials.html Congrats on finishing another wonderful quilt!

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  10. Truly beautiful and well done for finishing! I love strip pieced quilts and this one is a stunner and such a great document of all your other makes.

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  11. What a lovely quilt! It's bright and vibrant, and the hand quilting is very nice. Your blog always inspires me to run to my sewing room and start something! :) (P.S. Finished quilts are supposed to be perfectly square?? lol)

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  12. I love your String Quilt, a scrappy quilt always looks great. Well done on the hand quilting, it always makes a quilt extra special.

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  13. It's beautiful! Well done, Nancy - it's a gorgeous quilt and your quilting is stunning, Jen :)

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  14. I've just found your blog through Lily's Quilts blog. Your quilts are all so lovely. :P

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  15. Your quilt is amazing!! One of my very favorites!! Such beautiful work, too...a quilter in the future would cherish your quilt!

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  16. Nancy your quilt is beautiful. I loved it. I have a lot of scraps and have been looking for something a little different to do with them. I went to the site and book marked it. I know my quilting will not be near as beautiful as yours. But I am excited.
    I enjoyed meeting you today and I am following you in my little blue slippers. I came over from Lily's.
    It was very nice to meet you.
    Have a great weekened.
    Sherry

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  17. Gorgeous! Congratulations on this beautiful finish!

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  18. Beautiful quilt! I love it! Great job!

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  19. I love your quilt. And two years are not so much. I have some works started many years ago. Some of them change as I work and as the years pass by.

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  20. Very, Very pretty quilt. You know, I've come to realize that my quilts will always be flawed (no matter how much I try) and that no one in my family notices. And I'm sure no one will notice your's is not perfectly square when they are bundled up in it. :-)

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  21. Are you kidding?! It is PERFECT, girl! If anyone criticizes it, they need a swift kick in the britches. You're quilting is absolutely lovely and I'm thinking every day should be picnic day! I love the shot on the clothesline. Three cheers for a gorgeous picnic quilt!

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  22. What a beautiful quilt and it looks like you hand quilted it! I enjoy making quilts for the creativity and I'm definitely not a perfectionist nor do I worry about that. In 50 years someone will still think your quilt is beautiful!

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  23. Beautiful quilt! No criticizing from me - I think it looks fantastic! Great job!

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  24. Wow fabulous quilt - well done for finishing it!

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  25. I really like the look of your quilt. The back is wonderful. I don't worry about peoples' opinions of my quilts in 50 years. I'm more concerned that I will never use up my stash and people will just think I was a wacko who lived in a house full of fabrics.

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  26. Sorry for commenting twice, but after looking at your quilt, I went over to look at Bonnie's. Her strips look much wider than yours. Her strings are 4.5 x 10, are yours narrower? I like the look of your quilt better.

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  27. It looks great! I love scrap quilts.

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  28. Nancy, your quilt is beautiful, congrats on your hand quilting and your finish !

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  29. What a great finish! The quilting and colors look great!

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  30. This is a lovely quilt and a wonderful finish!

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I appreciate your comments and look forward to reading what you have to say. Thanks for stopping by.

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