Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Bring on the Red, White and Blue!

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I'm starting our 4th of July celebration a bit early! Strawberry shortcake last night, and then some feverish sewing on the patriotic door quilt that I decided to start on Saturday night. (Yep, I'm a last-minute kind of girl!) Since that clearly isn't going to be finished for Wednesday, I thought I'd share a photo of the flag quilt I made for my dad a few years ago (2005 or 2006?). 

I had just finished a bargello quilt and wanted to play more with the effect. My dad works for a flag company, so an American flag wall hanging seemed like the perfect gift. This was my first pattern-free quilt--I just kind of made it up as I went along (which of course led to a few tricky spots!). I stitched light cream/red and dark cream/red bargello loops, cut them into strips, and pieced them to create the illusion of a flag waving in the wind. I pieced a short section for under the blue square, and then used blue scraps to make the pieced blue square. I did a little of everything for the binding--blue by the blue, and alternating red and cream for the rest. And ironically, today I came across this post, where Debbie at A Quilter's Table talks about the concept of a "matched" binding.

Even though I'd make it a bit differently now, six or seven years later, I'm still pretty proud of this quilt, and very happy that it still hangs in my dad's office.

Now back to my current project, which won't be done for tomorrow's holiday. Which, let's be honest, with a rose pink front door (on the to-do list to be painted this summer!), a red, white and blue decoration isn't going to look that great anyway!

Here are two "in progress" images:
 I've really enjoyed "making fabric" for the Color Challenge over at 15 Minutes Play. I used that technique here, choosing blue and red scraps to make fabric. Rather than appliqueing, and worrying about the dark fabric showing under the white star, I made a 12-1/2" square paper pieced star using Carol Doak's free pattern. I need to finish my red strips and then sew the red pieced strips and white solid strips together, add the star to the top, and get it quilted. But I'm liking it so far! And now I've got even more incentive (like I really needed it--a rose pink door?!?!) to get that front door painted. And the garage doors...

Linking up with Quilt Story today for Fabric Tuesday, WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced, and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.
Happy 4th of July!

p.s. Just curious...can anyone top rose pink as a front door color? 

6 comments:

  1. I had a bright purple front door for a good while. It's lime green now.
    I love that just a quick paint change can bring out such a different personality!
    Love your dad's quilt!

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  2. Amazing flags!! I made a flying geese flag for my dad a couple years ago. He saw the pattern at a quilt shop back in my home state of WI and asked if I could make it. Sure dad---all new things I have never tried,but hey it all worked out in the end!!

    Happy Sunday to you!

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  3. .....and you did both of those "freehand" Wow! I bet every time someone comments on your dad's flag, his chest gets bigger and bigger with pride for it and you!

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  4. I love your flag quilt that you made for your dad, and your door quilt is wonderful!! Paint that door and get it up!! Whoop whoop!!

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  5. Awesome flags! I've been wanting to do some flag quilts one of these days - so these are great inspiration! I LOVE the "made fabric" in your latest project. Really nice!

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  6. I love this!! I want to make one so I went to Carol Doak's link for the paper pieced star and cannot find it. Any idea how I can get that pattern?

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