Keyholes

I spent yesterday finishing up this quilt top.  I spent yesterday evening under the quilt stitching binding.  It was really cold yesterday (and today), so it was the perfect time to be snuggled up under a quilt stitching binding.

The quilt is meant to hang in my entry, but the lighting is so bad for taking pictures.

The lighting is better in my studio.  The only problem is the entire floor is covered in parts and pieces of several new quilt designs.  The only available space to lay it out is on my cutting table.  {Everything that was piled on the cutting table is now on the floor 😉  }

The original pattern doesn’t have the applique, but I couldn’t help adding another splash of the red.

Speaking of the original pattern, here it is.  It’s called Keyholes and it’s from an older book of mine called “On a Roll Again“.  The original quilt is done out of Shangri-la, which I love, but I always wondering what the quilt would look like in bolder, less floral-ish fabrics.

Now I know!  I made several other changes, in addition to the applique.  I made all the rectangular block centers black, instead of scrappy.  I also took out the center square block and substituted in a large, solid black square.   I think the pattern looks much bolder this way, and a little more modern.  By the way, this fabric is from my new line Artful Home.  It will be hitting stores next month.

I braved the cold to take the quilt outside where there was enough light to make some of the quilting show.  I tried something a little different, as I am just so sick of meandering everything!  I was quite easy and required no marking.

I started with the center stem, than added points to form a leaf design.  I think the trick is to make each point with a slightly curved line, as shown in the bottom of the leaf, rather than a straight point, as shown in the top of the photo.

I just repeated that design in each rectangle, than did a simple flower in the block center.  The flower design is taken directly from the design in the black fabric.

So that’s all for today.  I’m busy packing to head out to a retreat this weekend.  Hopefully I will have a few more finished things to show soon!