Friday, September 16, 2011

Cushions and Polar Bear quilt

First of all; THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU - to all of you who commented on my previous post! I'm overwhelmed! I do appreciate your lovely comments!

I've been quiet since my previous post...
You may believe I needed a rest after the marathon work on the PSQ? No, I didn't! I've been busy! My aim now is to finish the three quilt tops I've done recently. I started with the biggest one; the Polar Bear quilt - it measures approx 76 x 110 inch - I think that is a twin size quilt? It is meant to be a bedspread... We had quite nasty weather some days back, so I decided to sandwich, pin and thread baste that huge 'monster' of a quilt! :) Some of you may say I'm fussy and that thread basting is not needed - right? :) I have tried several times to quilt/FMQ without thread basting, pins only, but every time it has ended up puckers (?), which has meant unnecessary time unpicking! Grrrr! After all that annoying unpicking I have decided to take my time thread basting before quilting! The chances of puckers are less when thread basting, at least that is my experience. Usually I don't count hours when I work on a quilt, but for fun I decided to see how many hours I spent thread basting. Over two days I spent 8 hours! Now it is ready to be quilted!
I almost forgot to say I spent two days putting together the backing too. I've used leftover fabrics and blocks from the quilt top and had to add some solids and a piece of dark blue polar bear fabric I bought here - in the tropics, of all places - some years ago!
I haven't decided on thread color for the quilting, but I am going to use Superior's King Tut.... Perhaps I'll have to purchase blue for the backing....
Here's a sneakpeak of the backing...


While waiting for my decission on thread color, I've been busy making two more cushion tops. I wasn't happy with the center piece on the first one I made; the upper part of the church - the tiny light pine border - didn't fit. I've redone it so that the pine border is at the down part (how do you say it?) of the church. It looks better now, doesn't it?

Using more of the same fabrics and to use up the church border, I decided to fussy cut the churches and make them into two more cushions. I don't have more of the church border - it was printed to be used as borders or fussy cut - I believe - but I still have more of the green and red. For cushion #3 I had to use another light fabric around the center piece - birds - from the same designer.
Here's #2...


...#3...  (Ooops! Out of focus!)


How do you make a cushion top? For the top, I have added very thin polyester batting and a piece of fabric; three layers together. I thought that is the best for quilting, but I now believe the top has become a bit 'thick'...? I've thought of using cotton fabric for the backing, but perhaps.... since the top is a bit 'thick', should I use a thicker backing as well?
Now they are quilted and ready to be made into cushions, as soon as I decide on backing and buy zippers! :)

We took a trip to Port Louis the other day, take a look here.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Ja vi syr fordi det gir oss glede, Tiden det tar spiller da ingen rolle. Putene er fine, gleder meg til å se polar quilten din ferdig.Ha en flott helg

Michelle said...

You're really doing fantastic work! Can't wait to see the complete Polar Bear quilt, and those cushion tops look terrific!

Teje Karjalainen said...

Hello! I want to see your Polar Bear quilt, it's sure going to be beautiful!
I have used only thin cotton for backing the pillows. I don't know if it's rigth but it keeps them soft' and I think it works fine.
Have a great weekend! Teje

QuiltSue said...

Your cushions are fabulous. I love the fabrics you used, and those little centre squares are perfect.

Elzaan said...

My cushion tops are made exactly as you described it. the front will be a bit thick, but my back is co-ordinating fabric. I do suggest you add some support for the zippers/buttons, but some cotton fabric for the back works fine for me.
Lovely pillow tops, so far!

Dirt Lover said...

Love your polar bear quilt! I can't wait to see it when it's done. I've really enjoyed the posts you've done on the progress of that project. The pillow/cushions I've made have either had a thin cotton flannel fabric, or regular batting for the quilting. They both have turned out nice, just different "poofy-ness" from each other. I don't think there are any "rules" that you have to follow. Just whatever you happen to have in your stash or feel like using at the time. You do beautiful work, and I know your cushions will turn out great. Can't wait to see them!
~~Lori

PJs Lapperier said...

Så fint du gör.

Bev C said...

Hello Astrid,

Great job on the piecing of the backing, it makes the quilt more interesting doesn't it.
Preparation is the key to everything, we all know that after we have rushed into things,been there done that!!!
Have a lovely Sunday.
Bev.xoxo

Superior Threads said...

We'd love to see your Polar Bear quilt as well. I bet it's wonderful. And those cushions...well done!!

Ricci