Saturday, April 22, 2017

Retreat Fun or En Provence is a Wrap

At the end of March I attended a quilt retreat. This was a Christmas gift from Dash along with gift cards to the store hosting the retreat. I took my Dresden project which was planned and started just for the retreat. I also took my finished En Provence top, batting and backing to quilt on the longarm.

Retreats are such fun, even for me, so shy and bashful. I sewed on my Dresdens the first day (more on those in am upcoming post) but the second day was my appointment with the longarm!


I learned how to pin the backing to the stretcher bars.


And how to thread the machine! I chose this soft lavender thread.


The longarm is nothing like I imagined. The batting gets basted onto the backing at the top, then it and the quilt top just floats. See it all bunched up at the bottom?


Here I am maybe halfway finished. I got many compliments on the quality of my piecing and my fabric choices. All told, it took about three hours to get this quilted.


After I got it trimmed up, I returned to my table, made binding and slapped it on the front. Hand sewing it to the back had to wait until I get home. I was so tired that night! My body and brain had such a workout!


Once home, I spent several hours watching TV and stitching the binding to the back. I wanted to get a photo outdoors but it won't stop raining!


The backing looks fabulous, as I knew it would, and I love the lavender dot fabric on the binding.

I learned so much doing this Mystery Quilt! So many new blocks and how to longarm quilt. I really look forward to this years' holiday season...when the next mystery comes out!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox

14 comments:

  1. I cannot even dream of ever making something so amazing! I honestly have no words to express my level of awe! Wow!

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  2. Your quilt is stunning. It sounds like you had a fabulous time at quilt "camp". Enjoy your weekend!

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  3. your quilt is so beautiful...i love it so much.
    happy weekend x

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  4. Oh. My. Goodness! That may be the most beautiful quilt I've ever seen. I love everything about it and am just a wee bit envious that it doesn't live in my house. :). Enjoy staying warm and cozy next winter!

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  5. Your quilt looks fabulous!! And you actually did the long arm quilting yourself? That's so cool! I always ship mine off to be done so really enjoyed your explanation of the way it works.

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  6. You have done an amazing job. It makes you feel so good when the quilting is complete...

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  7. You are killing it learning new skills! LOVE your top and I wish we could go to a retreat and use a longarm here! Great job!

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  8. Oh my goodness: What a beautiful quilt.
    I am happy you were able to learn the long arm, I am not a quilter but find the machines interesting.

    Blessings
    Catherine

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  9. Absolutely gorgeous! You make it all look so easy!

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  10. Very cool! Your quilt looks gorgeous!

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  11. Stunning quilt, it does look so lovely on the bed...well done.

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  12. This is just beautiful, I adore the colours and the backing material is fabulous xxx

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