Monday, November 28, 2011

Jesse's Quilt, the Summer Sampler Plus Quilt

It's going to be really hard to say goodbye to this quilt, but it's going to such a wonderful home, I think somehow I'll find the strength to do it.  Jesse, if you are reading this post, STOP NOW!  I will be very upset if you ruin this surprise (but I'm fairly sure you have been so busy that you haven't read my blog in eons, but I forgive you!).

When Lee, Katie and Faith started up the Summer Sampler Series, the blocks immediately spoke to me and made me think of my husband's best friend, Jesse.  The two of them have been best buds since they were little kids, growing up in the same small town in Connecticut, and despite the many, many miles between them now, they're still quite close.   Jesse comes to visit us at least once every year and has become my munchkin's favorite uncle.  He's a special part of our family, and when I saw the geometric blocks in the Summer Sampler, they just said "Jesse" to me.

Jesse's the one on the left, hamming it up with my husband at our wedding
After I finished my blocks, I just didn't quite feel done.  I knew I could add sashing to add size to the quilt, but I just felt like I wanted to have more blocks for the quilt, so I decided to ask my awesome 4x5 beehive to help me out and add some extra blocks to the quilt.

Finished Summer Sampler blocks!

All said and done, after adding my 4x5 blocks, I still needed 3 more to make the quilt as large as I wanted, so I put together one Japanese x and + block, one block made of four snowballs, and one rail fence block that I bordered with some white and extra blue.  I stitched them all together, and the quilt just felt more complete.  

Extra blocks for my Summer Sampler Plus complete!

I debated adding a border to the quilt, to give it some extra size, but ultimately decided against it.  I was too excited about a geometric doodle style of quilting I'd come up with to go along with Jesse's love for all things geometric.  I was nervous about trying something new, and in hindsight, I totally should've practiced on a practice quilt sandwich first, but I worried that I would lose my determination to do something different if I stopped to really think about it, so I jumped in and went for it.

Jesse's quilt #2 

I free-motioned groups of  interconnected boxes, which remind me of little labyrinths or mazes, stitching down the length of the quilt.  It was definitely more fun for me than straight-line quilting, but it also wasn't as precise as I like to be.  In the end, I'm happy I did something different, but I definitely need more practice.

Jesse's quilt - close-up #3


I'll be shipping this gift off real soon for the holidays...before I decide I can't part with it!  I know Jesse will give this quilt a good home, and I hope it will remind him of us throughout the year.

Summer Sampler Plus quilt - done!


Quilt Stats
Name: Jesse's Quilt
Size: 48" x 60"
Fabrics: Kona Peacock, Kona Lagoon, Kona Bahama Blue, Kona Aqua, Kona Charcoal, Kona Medium Gray, Kona Ash, Patty Young's Sanctuary, Jenean Morrison's Silent Cinema, Moda Hullabaloo Hoopla Aqua, Moda Modern Workshop Dots Artisan Aqua, and more
Binding: Moda's Little Apples Sweater Check in Pencil by Aneela Hoey
Quilting: Doodle boxes, quilted by me on my Husqvarna Sapphire 835 in white thread

I'm linking up with {Sew} Modern Monday today, hop on over there to see more recent modern quilting finishes!
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36 comments:

  1. QuiltjaneNovember 28, 2011 at 7:48 AM

    It looks fantastic. I love the choice of fabrics and the blocks are great.

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  2. CindyNovember 28, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    It's really awesome! Quilting and all!

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  3. Lynne (Lily's Quilts)November 28, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    Oh that is so wonderful, I love everything about it and love that you are giving it to a man. It's such a manly quilt.

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  4. Rene'November 28, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    Elizabeth, this is a beautiful quilt! I love the geometric quilting design to go along with the geometric style blocks! What a great quilt story, too. I am sure this quilt will be loved and appreciated.

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  5. Pat MerkleNovember 28, 2011 at 8:29 AM

    WOW, beautiful quilt!

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  6. DebNovember 28, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    Gorgeous, Elizabeth! Your quilting is beautiful and I love the binding...perfect touch!

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  7. LeanneNovember 28, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    It is wonderful! I love your quilting and was trying to figure out how you did it.

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  8. DebbieNovember 28, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    Your quilt is just wonderful - cool you tried some new quilting, and I love that you didn't add borders.

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  9. UnknownNovember 28, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    Beautiful quilt! I agree, that is a hard quilt to part with!

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  10. JessicaNovember 28, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    this is one of my favorite sampler quilts ever!! gorgeousness.

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  11. Archie The Wonder DogNovember 28, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    Fabulous quilt - I would definitely struggle to part with it!

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  12. Jessica KellyNovember 28, 2011 at 10:57 AM

    This is so great! Love the geometric feel to all the blocks, I can see how it will be hard to part with!

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  13. Lindsay ConnerNovember 28, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    Gorgeous quilting design for this! Love the blocks, of course. :)

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  14. CarolynNovember 28, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    These blocks are absolutely amazing! A-MAZING!

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  15. Katie BNovember 28, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    Yay! I love this quilt. I'm glad you decided to forgo the sashing--it looks really cool! I'm sure Jesse will love it too.

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  16. Heather D.November 28, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    It's wonderful Elizabeth.

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  17. LinzNovember 28, 2011 at 12:10 PM

    That is fantastic!!! I love the quilting! It looks really really cool! Jesse will love this!

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  18. mleNovember 28, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    Wow, that is just gorgeous! I love seeing everyone's sampler quilt because each one is so unique. Well done!

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  19. Teje KarjalainenNovember 28, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    Hi! That quilt became fantastic! Those colours are so perfect for geometric blocks and it didn't need any border!
    xxx Teje

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  20. Katy CameronNovember 28, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Oh that is absolutely fab, love it! I'm sure Jesse will too (and if not, I'm sure I could accommodate it ;o) )

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  21. **nicke...November 28, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    it is such a pretty quilt. i am sure he will looooove it. very thoughtful elizabeth!

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  22. CindyNovember 28, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    It's spectacular! What a great job your bee mates did contributing. Lovely, lovely, lovely!

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  23. KirstenNovember 28, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    Love all of the blocks and the blues and greens with the grey are perfect!!

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  24. AlliNovember 28, 2011 at 4:06 PM

    It's gorgeous! :)

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  25. AlisaNovember 28, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    It's a beautiful quilt! I can understand why it's hard to part with. Very nice work.

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  26. Sarah @ FairyFace DesignsNovember 28, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Great job Elizabeth, the quilting looks fab!

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  27. DianeNovember 28, 2011 at 7:50 PM

    This turned out so beautiful! Nice job! I love the colors you used and the blocks you added.

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  28. Habibti at HomeNovember 28, 2011 at 9:34 PM

    LOVE IT! What a very kind gift to give your hubby's best friend. So much went into this quilt and the finished product is really something. I can't stop staring at it!!! Beautiful!

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  29. felicityNovember 28, 2011 at 11:39 PM

    So so very fabulous!

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  30. CarlaNovember 29, 2011 at 8:13 AM

    Very striking in these colors and it looks amazing!

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  31. Live a Colorful LifeNovember 29, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    This is such a great quilt, Elizabeth! The Summer Sampler blocks are such a great basis and your additions, along with those of your hive, really make it something special.

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  32. JaceyNovember 29, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    Even though I've already commented on flickr, I have to say, this quilt is LOVE. The colors are so cool and tranquil, your quilting is fun and perfect for the blocks, and well, I think it's awesome. I bet Jesse will, too! What a sweet gift.

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  33. MeganNovember 30, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    LOVE this, E!! The colors are fabulous! :) Thanks for linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and have a great week!

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  34. MeganNovember 30, 2011 at 1:13 PM

    LOVE this, E!! The colors are fabulous! :) Thanks for linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and have a great week!

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  35. JesseRyanJanuary 17, 2012 at 12:36 AM

    Jesse LOVES his quilt (and speaking in the 3rd person) ... and is slow on the uptake as far as blog reading is concerned -- good thing too, since I waited to open the gift until Christmas day and reading this sure would have been a spoiler! ;)

    Thanks, Liz! not only for the quilt, but for the awesome blog post as well! I'm still not sure if I'm hamming it up in that wedding day photo or just squinting because I had something in my eye. Either way, it brings back good memories of a beautiful wedding.

    And I've now caught up on all of your 2012 blog posts! I especially like the camera strap (spiffy camera), and the polaroid-inspired blocks, as well as the colorful 4x5 weathervane blocks, and the carpenter's star.. ok, fine, everything! :)

    Thanks again! Looking forward to visiting sometime soon!

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  36. scrosskeJanuary 26, 2012 at 4:04 AM

    What's the name of the block in the lower right?

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Thank you for leaving a comment for me! I appreciate each and every one of them and try to respond when time allows. Your comments totally brighten my day :)

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Welcome! I'm Elizabeth, mom to a mood teen boy and a chatty six-year-old girl and I sew for my sanity. Let's get to quilting, shall we?
The Epic Sampler BOM Club kicks off Oct 1st
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