For the Birds - the Quilt

For the Birds is finished at long last.

I made these twelve birds in 2016 when I was teaching.

In early 2019 I decided to turn them into a quilt for myself,

finishing the top in December.

(SO glad I persevered and made all those little HSTs - 

I was inspired by Glen's bird quilt)

Both of my other bird quilts (Eleanor and Just Wing It)

were quilted by my long arming friend Chris

who added fabulous feathers, leaves, and texture.

That meant I was totally intimidated 

by the thought of quilting my own bird quilt.

After far, FAR too much internal debate

I settled on rows of liberated fans -

enough to add the texture I love while

letting the birds, HSTs, and fabrics be the stars.

Quilted using Glide thread in white.

(I'm delighted at how it disappears into the fabrics)

It felt odd to deliberately NOT quilt the birds 

as focal points but now that the quilting is done, 

I'm very (very!) happy with the results.

(this is, after all, going to be a recliner quilt

meaning it will be used and not hung on a wall)

The 28" x 30" St. Louis bird surrounded by

even more HSTs and pieced into the backing

worked out just as I had hoped.

(previous photos taken in the early morning)

* * *

For the Birds measures 50.5" wide x 66" long

after being laundered with multiple Color Catchers.

(once again, they thankfully did their job)

I love its gently crinkled texture.

(final two photos taken just before dusk)

Quiltdivajulie

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“The pigeon here is a beautiful bird, of a delicate bronze colour, tinted with pink about the neck, and the wings marked with green and purple.”

William John Wills