I'd like to introduce the giraffe
March 30, 2008
I finished the giraffe quilt on Friday night. Yes, a giraffe. I think she is pretty cute.
Taking photos of quilts is kind of hard. Maybe even worse than taking photos of windows. I am just saying.
I made the applique the same way I did on the elephant - lots of Wonder Under. On this quilt, I embroidered the mouth, though. It is kind of hard to see in the photos though. Trust me when I say that it adds to the charm.
The backing was made with a patchwork strip on purpose this time. The orange gingham is 60 inches wide so I didn't need to add it. But I really had to have it. It is my favorite part. I dig the back side so much that I think I may make a similar one with the strip on the front. I also love how the stripes of free motion quilting make the fabric look kind of like seersucker after I washed it. Another happy accident in my mind.
I know many of you told me not to use different thread colors for the quilting. I didn't listen. There is a bit of orange thread pulling through to the back, but I am OK with it. Because the gingham is orange, it is not so noticeable. I think the key is having the top thread match the backing fabric here....if I couldn't do that, I think I would have just used the same thread on top and bottom.
I added a little house on hill road tag to the back corner of the binding. Tomorrow I am going to fold this up nicely, wrap it lovingly and send it off to a new baby. Then I am going to start planning my next quilt(s) and think about actually quilting the string x one. Against my better judgement, I think I am going to tackle that one myself.
It looks amazing! Wow. I gotta have me another baby so I can get me one of these. Ha ha!!
Posted by: Grace | March 31, 2008 at 01:56 PM
i love this quilt!!! soo awesome! i am inspired and can't wait to try my first quilt : )
Posted by: tryshia | March 31, 2008 at 01:58 PM
I am speechless,this quilt is so wonderful!
Posted by: Carrie | March 31, 2008 at 02:04 PM
I love quilts that have a back as lovely as the front. I think it is a very clever technique. I like that stripe much better than having a plain seaam up the middle. I am going to do something like this when I get to the back of my current project. I certainly have enough left-over squares!
Posted by: LisaC | March 31, 2008 at 02:16 PM
You're an applique/quilting goddess! The animals are too cute.
I've actually been thinking about incorporating some applique into my knitwear -- so I guess that makes you an inspiration, too!
Posted by: Tonya | March 31, 2008 at 04:11 PM
so beautiful.
so when is your book coming out? :)
xoxo
Posted by: meg | March 31, 2008 at 04:22 PM
i just love this...colors, simplicity of the look, quilting.
thanks for the inspiration!
ps hope its ok, but i've added you to my blogroll.
Posted by: Erika @ peace of my mind | March 31, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Love this quilt! It is so cute and lovely!
Posted by: Chara Michele | March 31, 2008 at 07:14 PM
So, so cute! Love it!!
Posted by: Leta | March 31, 2008 at 07:40 PM
Really cute, what a lucky baby!!!
Posted by: Mellissa - wondermommy | March 31, 2008 at 07:45 PM
So much personality! Love the smile on the giraffe. Very nice design - good composition.
Posted by: Ellen | March 31, 2008 at 08:41 PM
I love all your blanket creations, they are brillant. I wish I'm that lucky child on the receiving end.
Posted by: Karen | March 31, 2008 at 10:19 PM
that's a happy giraffe! I'm sure the baby likes it :)
Posted by: erna | April 01, 2008 at 05:45 AM
Oh, it's awesmome! I clicked over to that circle quilt and my oh my do I ever want one of those.
Posted by: Tracy | April 01, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Oh, I just love that! What a sweet giraffe. Nicely done!
Posted by: Lisa Clarke | April 01, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Well aren't you just going quilt crazy! I really love the quilting on this one. Can't wait for my sewing machine to come back from the shop so I can get moving on the quilt I'm working on -- yours is making me antsy!
Posted by: Julie @ Letter9 | April 01, 2008 at 10:51 AM
I love it, congratulations on finishing it! The giraffe is so cute, I made a hooded towel/blanket with an appliqued giraffe recently and loved how it turned out. The recipient of your quilt is one lucky baby!
Posted by: Kirsten | April 01, 2008 at 11:36 AM
i love this giraffe
Posted by: Zelia | April 01, 2008 at 01:22 PM
i love this giraffe
Posted by: Zelia | April 01, 2008 at 01:22 PM
It's marvelous, honestly and truly.
Posted by: nova | April 01, 2008 at 02:04 PM
Ah, the Erin touch! Love the srip on the back... I love the giraffe, the colors! Amazing!
Posted by: Jane | April 01, 2008 at 07:44 PM
I love it (and adore the patchwork strip on the back)!
Posted by: Jessie | April 01, 2008 at 11:10 PM
that giraffe is just so damn cute.
love the thread choices and that patchwork strip down the back. so so cute!
Posted by: leslie | April 02, 2008 at 09:59 AM
Wow - BEAUTIFUL work Erin!
Posted by: erin s | April 03, 2008 at 12:28 AM
Wow! It turned out just perfect!
Posted by: debra cooper | April 03, 2008 at 01:19 PM
i stumbled into your site and was immediately transfixed on this number. so sweet. perfect!
Posted by: mrs. french | April 04, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Love the patchwork strip on the back! Great work!
Posted by: Elaine | April 05, 2008 at 05:51 AM
i'm so glad you're thinking about the denyse schmidt quilt! i have the pattern but haven't heard any feedback and haven't done much work with curves, so i'll be happy to hear what you think about it.
Posted by: lindsay | April 06, 2008 at 05:17 PM
What a sweet quilt. I love the giraffe!
Posted by: Jennifer | April 11, 2008 at 07:44 PM
What a sweet quilt. I love the giraffe!
Posted by: Jennifer | April 11, 2008 at 07:45 PM
wow, this quilt is BEAUTIFUL!
Posted by: shelley caskey | April 24, 2008 at 11:28 PM
I LOVE this quilt! The giraffe, the colors, the patchwork stripe. You're inspiring me to act on my desire to learn to quilt.
Posted by: Nancy | June 04, 2008 at 12:08 AM