When Cassandra Beaver mentioned starting a 100 day project to count down to QuiltCon Together in February, I needed about 3 seconds to say “I’m in!”
#Quiltingthecountdown started on November 10, and this is the result of the first 50 days — I’m calling it “Countdown,” for obvious reasons. I spent 20 days making blocks, followed by 5 days stitching the top together. Another day was spent basting it on my longarm, followed by 22 days of hand quilting block-by-block. The final 2 days were for binding!
The design was driven by a desire to explore a monochromatic palette and improve my hand quilting. But as 2020 wound down, I also craved a project that would let me simply sit and stitch, and find solace and enjoyment in the act of methodically piecing and quilting fabric.
Making this quilt was a calming activity amidst a hectic political and holiday season underscored by the continuing covid pandemic. Instead of counting days of social distancing or the ever-growing number of hospitalizations and deaths, I was happy to join other in counting towards something fun and hopeful in 2021.
I used quite a few different color pairings to make each block; I didn’t count, but I’m guessing there are probably ~15 different combos. I had a lot of teal in my stash! There were a few partial seams involved in the construction of the quilt top, but nothing awful.
Each block is quilted with one of five colors of pink thread. Because my backing fabric had a speckled pattern of tiny flowers all over it, the stitches are kind of hard to see from the back! I had several people ask what the little X/cross stitches look like on the back, and you can see them in the middle of the image above — they look like small dashes.
I liked the pink thread so much that I chose to go all-in with pink accents and added a bright pink binding. That bit of contrast around the edge makes me smile!
The stats:
- Measures 56″ x 64″.
- Quilt top and binding fabrics are solids from my stash, mostly Kona Cotton plus a few Art Gallery solids.
- Backing is Blossom Navy Wideback from Riley Blake.
- Pieced with Aurifil 50 wt thread in #2600 (Dove).
- Hand quilted with Aurifil 12 wt thread in #6672 (Sea Biscuit), #2420 (Light Blush), #2425 (Bright Pink), #2530 (Blossom Pink), and #1100 (Red Plum).
The process of making this quilt brought me comfort at the end of a tough year, and for that I’ll suspect I’ll remember it for a long time as a deeply satisfying project.
What a great project. I admire it for a number of reasons but especially for your hand quilting. Have to follow your insight and courage here and try this myself. Thank you!
I’m definitely a hand quilting convert now and would encourage everyone to try it at least once!
It was also deeply satisfying to watch your progress as you worked on making Countdown!
Thanks Yvonne!
This is beautiful. I’m always inspired by you! I know your life is normal and imperfect just like everyone else, but seeing how you manage a (super interesting!) full-time job, and a family, and a fantastic artistic hobby is for me like holding a warm cup of tea in my hands. Feels good, feels like we can do this.
This is really comforting to hear, thank you Erin! I definitely struggle with wanting and trying to do more than is reasonably possible or mentally healthy sometimes…but I am grateful for the things I’m able to do.