I finally finished up my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap this morning. The hand quilting took a lot longer than I expected, mostly because I seemed to have been using the wrong needle for most of it. I quilted it with all 6 strands of DMC embroidery floss (which didn't help!), and often ended up needing my hemostats to help me pull the needle through. At some point I unknowingly switched needles and it went a lot smoother after that!
(I have no idea what type of needle you're supposed to use, or even what type I ended up using!)
Each colored triangle is quilted in a coordinating floss, so the effect is pretty subtle. For the triangle piecing, I put my Accuquilt Go Baby to work, using the equilateral triangle die.
It's finished with a simple envelope style closure and bound in Heath by Alexander Henry. It's a little more than 15" square, and fills out a 16" form nicely.
The pillow top uses a large number of different fabrics, you can see the entire stack with collections/designers here.
I'm not going to lie, I don't want to send this pillow away! Isn't it funny how we often spend so much more time/effort on projects for others versus projects for ourselves? I think I'll indulge soon on something really special for our apartment!
Happy Monday!
This is so cool! I really want to get that die for my cutter, seems like a good idea for scraps... but really I should just stop being lazy and cut them with a normal ruler/rotar cutter :)
ReplyDeleteOh my! It is SO gorgeous!! I love the quilting. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGenevieve
This is gorgeous!! I love the different patterned fabric it is so lovely and would look great in my craft room ;o)
ReplyDeleteWow! That's beautiful! You did a great job of mixing the colors....something I need to work on. :). Very nice!!
ReplyDeleteThe pillow is beautiful! I love the contrasts of all the different textures in the prints together. With needles I think a good rule of thumb is the finer your fabric the finer the needle you should use, seems to work for me anyway! :)
ReplyDeleteMagnÃfico....
ReplyDeleteHugs..
Maria Filomena
the longer I look, the better it gets...love the alternating b/w with colors...it is just so...interesting:)
ReplyDeleteThis pillow is gorgeous Jeni! I love the colors you used and the Heath binding. The hand stitching is a nice touch too! I'm sure your partner will love it!
ReplyDeleteThat's gorgeous, Jeni!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that we tend to spend longer/ more effort on things for others than for ourselves! I think I should institute a policy to make a duplicate of each swap item I make so I can keep one too! And I should do it now before I sign up for more swaps, right now I've only done 1!
Love your pillow :-) I find that I do the same with swaps, really make the effort for something that I am sending away, and then kind of running out of steam when it comes to things for me and our home.
ReplyDeleteI am sure your partner will appreciate your time and effort though :-) Lucky her!
Absolutely gorgeous!! I wouldn't want to send it away either. In fact, I *really* want to make one and have realized how short I am on black/white prints. I was wondering what you used to cut the triangles. Go! Baby....of course! Your partner will be completely thrilled, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteI just love everything about this pillow! I need to get some black a white fabrics to do something similar, it looks amazing!!
ReplyDeleteI just love all the colors with the black and white. I would have a hard time giving it up as well. (kinda going through something very similar...)
ReplyDeleteI need to add the Go!Baby triangle to my arsenal.
I love it! The fabrics you've used for the triangles are so awesome! Great work...just fabulous!
ReplyDeleteAngela
this pillow is so pretty...your partner is very lucky! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to add a little hand quilting too..now I have to think what type of needles to use. I love the hand quilting you did...add a special touch to the pillow :D
Love the pillow!!!. It is hard giving things you've spent so much time on away.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the fabric you're using and the thread what needle to use. Try a thin needle with a small eye for thin fabrics and a slightly thicker needle with a larger eye for thick fabrics. Similar to the needle size on your machine =D
Ohhhhh I love love love this!
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous Jeni! I love the triangles and the sitching looks incredible, well worth the struggle :)
ReplyDeleteIm working on a pillow for two chairs out on the deck, Id like to make a pillow for each chair, a table cloth for a little table in between them so that when I look out there it looks like a cute little space to sit.
ReplyDeletePS I love the fact that you did some hand quilting for you just cannot duplicate the feel with a machine.
ReplyDeleteIt looks really good Jeni! I really like the combination of vivid colors with the black & white. Too bad You'll have to give it up! You should make one for Yourself!
ReplyDeleteI so agree on the last part of this. We need to take time to make things for ourselves that we love! This pillow cover is perfect and you have a very lucky partner.
ReplyDeleteIts gorgeous! Great job! :)
ReplyDeleteSuper fun! The top stitch puts in over the top.
ReplyDeleteThe pillow is beautiful and the stitching is really creative and adds so much to the pillow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous pillow! I may just have to make one myself!
ReplyDeletelove it jeni!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want to part with that pillow either; it is gorgeous in design and color! I have found that using quilting sharps needles for hand quilting makes it easier.
ReplyDeleteThis is so gorgeous - that handwork totally paid off. I love it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Jeni! Love the colours + black and white.
ReplyDeleteIt's really beautiful, Jeni! All your hand quilting really adds a special touch!
ReplyDeleteHi Jeni
ReplyDeleteReally cute.. first time to visit your website...love it, very useful information.. Thanks for all you do....most diffidently will return....:))
Tommy
Cute pillow design!
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with you on spending more time on others gifts;)
Ooh, I love love love this.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean-- I think I put more time into the items going to others than the ones I keep. Sewing for yourself is important-- here's to finding time to do so!
That is a fantastic looking pillow. Anyone would love to have it.
ReplyDeleteThat really is a beautiful pillow! And I love the hand quilting, adds the perfect touch!
ReplyDeleteFrom the projects I've seen in this round, yours is one of my favorites! The hand quilting adds so much, and you picked such fun fabrics!
ReplyDeleteI truly love your fabric selections!
ReplyDeleteThe triangle design for the same was so rich and great. I loved the pattern and the shape as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I love all your fabric selections and the hand quilting really really put this over the top!!!
ReplyDeleteAny advice on how to get all those points to match up so perfect? Did you sew the triangles in rows? or in groups? I'd like to try this!
Hi Jeni!
ReplyDeleteI love this cushion! The contrasting fabrics are brilliant. You've inspired me to make a triangle quilted cushion with brights and black and white fabrics. It isn't finished yet because I decided to use EPP and then hand quilt it like you. It will be finished soon though as hoping it will look as good as this! Here is my progress so far: http://tinyurl.com/p3yqyur
Sarah