Completed Retriever Quilt II...

Retriever Quilt II Front

No sunshine today for my photographs of the completed quilt. We managed to get a couple taken before it began to sprinkle. Nevertheless, it's done now, and Handsome is so cute. He actually thinks I'll let him use it before Christmas Day! lol

Retriever Quilt II Back

Surprise! In order to make a backing large enough for this quilt top, I had to really get creative. I had fat 1/8ths of some fabric, fat 1/4s of others, three yards of the black "tossed" retrievers, and this gorgeous black labrador panel. It became the centerpiece for the back and the rest came together around it. 

I guess Handsome could actually use it as the front if he so desired, except that there will be a label on this side before Christmas. The completed quilt finished at 83" long by 68" wide. That's a lot of warmth to cover my sweetheart. 

Retriever Quilt Notes

These are the pages of graph paper and note cards I used to get the measurements right. That last card is my calculation for how many 2-1/4" strips of fabric I'd need for the binding. I wrote down the names of all the dogs so I wouldn't miss anyone, and they're all stitched into the gold squares. You may be able to read them if you enlarge the photo.

Retriever Quilt I Front

Finally, here's the first retriever quilt - actually the first quilt - I ever made. I used fancy stitches to go around all the motifs, and mostly used the panel as it came with all the bordered retriever images. I made this when Handsome and I were first married. That was forty one years ago.

Retriever Quilt I Back

Over all these years, this quilt has covered many snuggles, laughs, tears, people and dogs. We've always joked that once you sat under it, it was impossible to stay awake. It was patched many times, and got a new binding a few years ago because the old one was so tattered. In memory of this quilt, I incorporated two strips of the same fabric into a border in the new quilt. 

I didn't put a label on this quilt when I made it, but I'm going to add one after Christmas, officially gifting it to our beautiful Bella who will practically do anything to lie on it. It's hers now, and Handsome will enjoy the new one - which I'm sure he'll be happy to share with her, too.

Thanks for following this process with me. It sure is fun knowing that you all care about the things I make, and our life here at Hickory Hill Farm. 

Merry Christmas Week to one and all!!!

Today's Post Will Be Delayed...

Retriever Quilt II

Only for a little while. I completed this quilt yesterday, but by the time I finished stitching the binding on, it was dark outside. I want to take a photo in daylight...outdoors...with Handsome holding it up, so you can see the whole quilt - front and back.

As soon as I can get him outside and we wrangle it around for a few photos, I'll be back and update today with a second post. Keep your eyes peeled. I'll be back again soon!

Quilt Top Reveal...

Completed Quilt Top

I completed my quilt top for Handsome last night. It's so large that it's difficult to see the entire top - even with him holding it up. Once it's quilted and bound, you'll be able to see the entire quilt on a bed, but I wanted you to get a glimpse today.

All the borders are on the quilt, and they're the same all the way around. I know it's hard to see that at the bottom and top, but the are the same. You can also see some darker or lighter areas because the quilt is backlit. Those anomalies don't show in daylight.

Each yellow block now bears the names of all of our dogs for the past forty four years. Yellow labradors' names are stitched in a buttery-colored thread. The Golden retrievers are in a rusty color (except one that I forgot to change out). The black labs have black thread, and he even said I should put Fezzik and Tag's names on so they're in a darker gold with one letter in white (like their fur colors). 

Finally, I added a heart with a paw print in the center of each of the name blocks...just because. I'll share closeups of those blocks once I get this big boy quilted, which I'll at least start today. 

I work again tonight. Yes. It's the weekend again! My plan is to finish this by the time the Sunday rolls around, if not before. Of course, I'll hand bind it once I've assembled the top, back and batting. I'm going to do my best to show you a completed quilt on Monday.

Stay Warm and Safe! 

Working On A Special Project...

Brynwood Needleworks - Jerry Gadamus Labrador Fabric Panels

This project is long overdue, but I'm going to do it now. If you've followed me for a while, I've sung this song before, but I really am doing it this time.

Handsome had asked me to make a new quilt for him to replace one that I made for him forty years ago. He loved the last one so much that I'm still patching it so he can keep using it.

It's not one of the highly embellished quilts like those I've done more recently. He wants fiberfill batting and minimal finish quilting just like that first one I made from a single, repeating, long panel from all those years ago. 

So I went looking for retriever fabric to stay with the same theme. When I saw the fabric that used the paintings we recognized and loved from years ago, I bought what I could find from the line. Unfortunately, a long repeated panel wasn't available. That means I'm going to have to piece it with other fabrics to create the size I want. He asked for a larger one this time. 

The last retriever quilt was about 76" long by 48" wide. This one will finish closer to 85" long by 60" wide. I began with a drawing of how I want it to look, and worked out measurements from my drawing. From there I started cutting and piecing. 

I'll be working today, so I won't likely won't complete the top tonight, but I'll get it done soon so I can share it with you. I'm really happy with what I've got so far. I think Handsome will like it, too. More soon!

Lab Quilt Fabrics...

When Handsome and I were first married, I made a whole cloth lap quilt for him from a fabric with dog panels on it. I used a high loft batting, and did the "stitch around the blocks and dogs" quilt thing that was popular back then. I'd never made a quilt before, so this was my sewing background attempt to put it together. He's had it on our bed or on his lap nearly every day since then. He would even take it with him to Florida when he traveled back after we returned to Wisconsin.

That quilt is still in (mostly) one piece, but it's showing its age, and is fraying in more than a few places. He's asked me to make a new one for me. He only had one request. That I make it with high loft batting and the same scant quilting so it would stay lightweight and puffy. (yikes)

I went looking for panels that could be sewn together like I did the last one, but there aren't a lot of companies that do that, so finding dog specific wasn't easy. I kept looking and I've managed to find a lovely fabric line that will do just what I want. The fabrics above are part of the line, and I'll likely piece them into the project. (Jerry Gadamus Labs for QT Fabrics)

Handsome took me aside yesterday morning and asked that I wait on this project until he's in Florida. Once I complete it, I can mail it south to him - or he'll let me know if I should just keep it here to wait until he comes home. I admit, I'm a bit relieved that I'll have ample time to give it the thought and attention to detail it deserves. 

I'll set this aside until later, and will turn my attention to the other things I have on my list for this week. Don't worry, though. You'll see these fabrics again very soon.