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In late April when Hobby Lobby started putting out all their patriotic things, there was a ceramic cross about 12-15" tall that stood on a base. It had these same words on it, and I wanted it, but didn't buy it; instead, I decided I could make a wall hanging like it. Little did I realize it would be more difficult than I had thought!
It has been a lesson in fabric selection, actual designing from the beginning, and most of all patience and determination! I wanted it to be in patriotic fabrics.....but would that really be appropriate for the subject matter? I wanted to use pieced stars, or 9-patches, or something in red/white/blue, but the central theme section (which I pieced first) got lost when I laid some of my other patriotic quilts adjacent to it. I dug through my stash again and came upon a piece of dark navy with tan stars that did allow the central portion to stand out. I had exactly the right length of it. Next question: should I applique the center, or piece the navy around it? Decisions, decisions! I decided to piece it! Then came the question on how to quilt it!
As with my two big patriotic quotation quilts, I was driven to do this, and it's message just had to be evident! It is not perfect, but I'm pleased --- for the most part. I've named the quilt "The Big IF", with a sub-title of "God's Conditional Promise". For some reason, I can't seem to get a good picture of my writing, but you can read II Chronicles 7:14 for the exact wording. Throughout this whole project, I kept thinking that IF we would do what this verse says, God would lead us out of the darkness portrayed by the navy fabric. Okay; sermon's over! You can read into it whatever you wish. *grin*
It will be donated for auction July 1 for the church youth group for summer camp, along with the other little patriotic quilt from my May 2 post, and also the blue/yellow doll quilt from all those 2" half-square triangles. .
I do want to tell you I quilted it on my sister's Singer Quantum CXL machine, which makes a much prettier stitch than my Viking! Of course, I did only straight stitching, and with the walking foot, it handled perfectly! I'll probably be using it more than I had thought. I'm going to experiment with some free motion quilting practice on it soon.
Okay, here it is: (40.5" x 25.5", complete with hanging sleeve and label )
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Double click on the next two to read them.
I did make one more Civil War block, but I'll have to re-make it; it came up short of the 8.5" needed! Either I didn't cut right, or forgot to move my needle to 1/4"! *frown!*
Happy quilting, everyone!
---"Love"
Beautiful! The radiating quilting from the cross center is absolutely perfect and your handwriting, as always, is goergous. If that doesn't get a high bid, I may have to drive down there knock some heads together!
ReplyDeleteYes! That is a big IF! The quilt is awesome and as usual, your handwriting is perfect. The quilting is great and I really like the star fabric with the lines going out from the cross. I will have to remake some of my CW blocks when I get to putting that one together. I got better as time went by, because I was more generous with my cuts to make sure it would be big enough.
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is just fantastic. I especially love how you made the cross look 3-D. The quilting is perfect. An amazing piece all around. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is beautiful, you did a really nice job with the quilting. It would be hard for me to give that one up. I hope it brings in lots of money for the youth group.
ReplyDeleteYou have created a wonderful pice of quilty art! I agree with KatieMay - beautiful quilting.
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