Earlier this summer I decided that I couldn't hold out any longer - I needed to make a swoon quilt! I have drooled over Amanda's quilt top, wanting to make my own for far too long. I needed to see what all this swooning was about. I signed up for Swoon 2013, ordered some Tula Pink Salt Water FQs, and this past weekend I started piecing it together.
For my background fabric I chose a beautiful sand-like linen (which seemed fitting with the Salt Water fabric line). What I failed to comprehend though was how much bloody starch would be required... oh and shrinkage.
Let's just say I don't often prewash my quilt fabric and after cutting out ALL of my background pieces, they shrunk under my hot iron during the starching process.
Needless to say that dilemma was followed by tossing yardage in the wash, re-cutting and re-starching all my background pieces. I'm happy to say I'm back on track and I learned my lesson about mixing fabric types.
I love how all three blocks turned out, and I'm excited to see how the next six come together. This is a fun block to make because even though you plan out the fabrics, the final look is still a bit of a surprise.
It took me about 7 hours to make these three blocks (chain piecing the whole time). It felt like a lifetime, but when you realize just how BIG each block is, I'm surprised it didn't take longer. Here is a picture of my 65lb black lab beside my blocks to give you some perspective on scale.
I'm on a 'self imposed' tight deadline to finish this top in order to ship it out to a long arm quilter. I originally planned to make this quilt as a Christmas gift but now I'm wondering if thanksgiving is a better time (since I'll be home with family then). Canadian Thanksgiving is early October so I better get a move on!
I'm linking up to WiP Wednesday and Needle and Thread Thursday.
So pretty!! They look fantastic with the salt water fabrics, great work Kelsey! Can't wait to see the rest :)
ReplyDeleteThey are GORGEOUS! Sorry about the hiccup you had in the process but glad you're back on track. I swooned a couple years ago and it is worth it. Each block feels like a finished project on its own!
ReplyDeleteI love your use of Salt Water in these Swoon blocks!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Swoon blocks! I need to make one for our bed and can't decide on fabric, love your choices.
ReplyDeleteAmanda
I've been thinking about swooning as well. Love your blocks!
ReplyDeleteThose are some sweet swoon blocks! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletePS. I can't resist! Hope you don't mind if I share this, with a link back, on my facebook page at http://facebook.com/sewfreshquilts.
DeleteLove your swoons!
ReplyDeleteLove your swoon blocks - fantastic choice of fabrics :)
ReplyDeleteThese are really impressive - I'll have to try swooning one of these days, they look great, beautiful fabric too!
ReplyDeleteElia - you are a 'no reply blogger' so I couldn't personally email you a response. Thank you so much for your lovely comment and definitely do jump on the swoon train - so much fun!!!
DeleteLove your swoons! I'm on #7 and yes they take forever, but so worth it.
ReplyDeleteoh goodness - they are SO big! if you hadn't put your dog in for perspective, I wouldn't have realized. keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteSo very pretty! I really enjoyed swooning. Yours will be gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLove the Swoon pattern and Tula...so you can imagine what I think about this!!! So, do I understand that the linen caused the shrinking? Seems like you went through A LOT to get the shrinking under control! I never pre-wash but rarely do I mix fabrics, using 100% quilters cotton.
ReplyDeleteLove these swoons! Great fabric choice. I've been agonizing over my colors for my blocks and yours are very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! Those are large blocks; I love large block quilts. They all look lovely; the blue is my favorite :-) I sorta like working on self-imposed deadlines because they keep me moving.
ReplyDeleteLove you Swoon blocks. I have never seen a Swoon I didn't like. It is such a great pattern that shows off beautiful fabrics.
ReplyDeleteGreat fabric choice, the blocks look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThese blocks are beautiful - your finished quilt will be fabulous!
ReplyDeleteYum yum! These are awesome!
ReplyDeleteCan I be nosy and ask what kind of linen you were using? I'm making mental notes to prewash linen. But was it a linen-cotton blend like Essex or was it a straight-up linen?
ReplyDelete(These blocks don't look a bit like they got disassembled and reassembled! they're fabulous.)
These swoons are just beautiful! They look great in the Saltwater fabrics! Love the pic of the blocks with your pooch to show the size. Wow!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!
:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
Eeeeep this is fantastic
ReplyDeleteThese are really great fabrics for your Swoon!
ReplyDeleteI really love these blocks, can't wait to see the rest!
ReplyDeleteGreat blocks and amazing pictures! They really pop!
ReplyDelete