Sunday 20 June 2010

Friendship Braid


I've made this quilt for an ex-colleague of mine. We worked together for about seventeen years and she was a huge support to me when I was Acting Head and at other difficult times. She's finally decided to take the plunge and retire.

























I used a jelly roll which had been cut by De at Midsomer Quilting. She cuts a lot of their own jelly rolls, which is great because I hate sewing with the pinked edges on commercial rolls, I can never work out where the edge is supposed to be. Aren't the colours wonderful?

I'm pleased with the quilting on this one too. I stabilised it with invisible thread then used one of the decorative stitches to do a simple zig-zag following the pattern. In the borders I stitched a cable pattern. I couldn't work out how to turn the corners, so I've put a button there instead!


By the way, don't you love the pink and green chinese lanterns hanging outside the back door? Christopher found them at a local garden centre; they're made from a nylon type of material so can be left  outside during the summer, and they're solar powered. They look really pretty once it gets dark.

15 comments:

Linda Lee said...

Amanda,
The quilt is beautiful. I love the colors and the quilting! After looking at quilts like yours I know I have so much to learn.
Linda

Amelia said...

Amanda, the quilt is so pretty! I am sure your friend will be so pleased with it...she will recall all the good times and how you both handled the ones that were not so good.

Tell the man in your life the lanterns are so happy looking.

Amy said...

Oh Amanda! It's lovely! Your friend will surely appreciate it.

Karen said...

I always like the braid quilts. They look so much more difficult to piece than they really are.

Janet said...

Love the braid! I'm sure your friend will cherish it and your memories of working together. They sure make neat solar powered marble51things now. I've seen some cute things, but not lanterns like yours.

Kay said...

Gracious, Amanda! That's just so gorgeous! Your friend is going to be glad she decided to retire just so she could have that quilt. The colors and workmanship are incredible. You are fantastic!

scraphappy said...

The quilting on your braid quilt turned out so pretty! I know you have had troubles with the quilting part in the past, but the way you finished this one turned out just lovely.

Unknown said...

Lovely braid quilt - I would never have thought of using darks and lights in that manner - I'm sure your friend will be absolutely thrilled with it

Simone de Klerk said...

Love the quilt and some perfect quilting work!

Lynn said...

It really is beautiful. I love the pattern, I've seen them before and have always wanted to try it. Wonderful choice of fabrics in it too!

Heckety said...

This quilt is fabulous! Really fit for a very good friend! I hope she has years and years of enjoyable retirement and gets to do all the things for which there was no time in the years gone by...teaching does eat your life. But what a gift for you to have had her support too, friends like that are NOT a dime a dozen!
And yes- I LOVE the Chinese Lanterns, I'll have to look in the Argos Catalogue!!

Gretchen said...

Beautiful quilt! The quilting is great too and such a good idea to use a decorative stitch. I may need to try that sometime.

Quilter Kathy said...

This is a fabulous gift! I love all your special creative touches, like the embroidery with varigated thread, the quilt design in the border and the buttons on the corners!

Bec said...

A beautiful quilt, a fantastic job and I bet your collegue cherishes it!

Candace said...

Your quilt is lovely and I do love the lanterns, a little bit of whimsey.