 |
| Ring Cycles quilt top, 62" x 78" |
The biggest challenge came when the blocks were made and it was time to start joining them to the background hexagons and triangles. Every seam was 3" long and needed to be backstitched at both ends, stopping at the 1/4" intersections. I made a half-hearted attempt at assembly, then packed it all away into a box for over a year. It wasn't until last summer when I discovered Marti Michell's Perfect Patchwork Templates for 3" hexagons and other related shapes. The templates have holes at the corners that work great for marking the ends of seams. It was still a slow process to put everything together, but those templates were the exact tool I needed to get me back on track.
I finished the quilt top just after Thanksgiving, but didn't have a chance to get good photos at that time. We had snow in Atlanta in early December, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get some outdoor shots. I love this one with the snow-covered trees in the background.
This was not a quick and easy project by any means, but it was definitely worth the time and effort. There were times when I didn't believe this quilt top would ever be completed, but it's done and I love how it turned out!
Linking up to:
Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Add
Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts
Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts
Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework
Julie in GA
Isn't it amazing what a difference good tools can make, even simple ones that aren't very expensive? A couple dollars' worth of acrylic is often the difference between quick and accurate piecing and hours of seam ripping and swearing! Your quilt top is magnificent. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous finish on a challenging quilt! I love this "modern" version of Jack's Chain - kudos for sticking with it to the end!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt, Julie! I love the color choices that you made.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is gorgeous! Your color choices are beautiful. This one has been on my bucket list for some time. Maybe this year....
ReplyDeleteHi Julie,
ReplyDeleteWOW - what a fabulous finish. I was just marveling at the curved look on someone's finish and yours is another perfect example. I'm so glad you found the tool to help you get this finished. I would hate to think of it being a UFO. Are you putting it on your bed? ~smile~ Roseanne
Beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is on my "to do list". I even have the pattern. Thanks for sharing yours and the tip about the templates.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a beautiful quilt! I don't know if I'd have the patience for all those y-seams.
ReplyDeleteWow - this is superb! I really, really like that pattern. I'm equally impressed with the holding apparatus - great way to make it possible for one person to hold a large quilt up, and to keep it off the ground on a wet day.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful - congratulations on the finish and also the persistence to get it done. Lovely snow photos too. I think I've said before that I have made a small start on this pattern - and now yours inspires me to pull it out once more. Thanks for the thumbs up, too, on the templates :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a gorgeous finish! Sticking with the process definitely paid off. Is this one a keeper or does it have to go live somewhere else?
ReplyDeleteReally gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I have been seeing this quilt on other blogs. I'm sure thinking about making a start and I love the colors you used.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! The circular movement is really spectacular. Glad that the templates did the trick for you. Sometimes the right tool makes all the difference.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely stunning! Congratulations !!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! That is an amazing quilt!
ReplyDeleteThat is gorgeous, and I have really enjoyed following as you put it together! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is one amazing quilt top! Congratulations! And your picture in the snow sets it off to perfect advantage. I admire your stick-to-it-ivness; many of us don’t have it.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteTotally awesome! And gorgeous! And beautiful! Congrats to you!
ReplyDeleteAnd I have a Jack's Chain UFO I need to get back to. It's a different construction method found at Quilter's Cache.
It is gorgeous! It was so interesting to hear the construction hurdles you conquered. Congratulation on a milestone finish.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful quilt top, love this pattern, just not game to start it! Thanks for the tips about the templates though, they look ideal for helping me with another project...then perhaps I can tackle this pattern!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful quilt and perfect in the snowy setting.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! Love this and so happy your found the way to get it finished so you can enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteWow this is amazing! I've always wanted to do a Jack's Chain quilt, but those inset seams always scare me off. How wonderful that you were able to persevere and make such a gorgeous quilt. Love the colors. Love the colors on your Ringo Lake quilt bits too. That is going to be a gorgeous quilt as well.
ReplyDeleteOoh la la! Well done. It’s gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI always love this quilt every time I look at it - love this pattern
ReplyDeleteWow! What a beautiful quilt. Sometimes harder quilts take longer. They need to be shelved a few times before finishing! I'm so glad you did...it's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThis pattern is on my bucket list! Yours is amazing and I am so glad you stuck with it. Not sure I have the long term stamina. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning quilt. It's on my list but I appreciate your advice and warning.
ReplyDeletewhat a fantastic quilt! (and you can tell it is just by the sheer number of comments you've received!) good for you- it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is gorgeous!!! And worth every minute it took to make it.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful quilt. I may have to givethis one a go.
ReplyDeleteI just started a jack's chain and have a question---i did my 9 patches with the sewing machine and then hand stitched the 9 patchs to the triangles and then the hex---the seams want to go to the triangles but at the tip of the triangles there is soooooo much fabric what do I do with all that fabric? Thanks for any help...
ReplyDelete