Over the River / Two Finishes / Pieced Backing

After long last, 'Over the River and Through the Woods' is ready for quilting! 

I ran into a little problem when I assembled the stitchery and blocks

The stitcheries should have matched the two rows of blocks to 36.5", but did not. It was about 1/2 - 3/4 inches shorter on each side (see photo above). I couldn't do anything about the row of blocks; they were the right size; 6.5" by 36.5". I had to extend each side of the stitcheries by stitching the trees to fit the exact size. 

Well, I can't draw, but at least I managed to stitch something that looks like trees! lol

I'm not sure how this happened. My hand stitch tension may have been too tight, or the backing fabric for the stitcheries made the top fabric shrink? The lady at the quilt store in Norway (where I bought the fabrics) recommended some sort of loose woven material with glue on one side, to be used as stabilizer. I've used Moda Marbles and that stabilizer was ironed on to it before stitching. I used a hoop too.

Oh well, not a big deal really. It was an easy fix. 

Pieced backing for this one too. 

The blocks were meant for the Flying Geese border, but the contrast between the 'geese' and background was too dark. Other fabrics from my stash.

Not easy to get the right colors, photographed on a cloudy day.

I'm pondering how to quilt it on my domestic machine. I've seen one (Pinterest, I think it was), the middle stitchery (verse) was quilted cross-hatched design. I really like it, I think I'll copy that design. I have an idea how to quilt the 'Flying Geese'. How to quilt the blocks between the stitcheries as well as the stitcheries at the top and bottom? 

Your ideas / suggestions are very much appreciated. 

I'd been wondering when I purchased the pattern, I found it here. It was a birthday gift to myself in 2009! Visiting Norway in 2010, I purchased fabrics for the quilt. Time to get it done! 

Earlier this year, I purchased this pattern from Coriander Quilts

When I first saw it, the reindeer put a smile on my face. I knew I had to make one! 

I've made two; one for us and one for my DF in Norway. 

'Rudolph' #1

This is my friend's quilt. His favorite color is green, hence the green border.

Pieced backing. The center rectangle shows cute red foxes and I also added two orphan bauble blocks. They were originally meant for my quilt, but I decided on red baubles instead. 

'Rudolph' #2. 

I've had this red, green and gold plaid fabric for some time. It has been in and out of the shelf I don't know how many times. When I purchased it, I had in mind to use it for a Santa's pants, but it didn't work out. I like how it turned out as border on this quilt. It was half a yard and after straightening it up it was just enough! 

It's not easy to see the quilted details on the photos. I chose to do outlined straight lines. I used gold metallic fabric for the stars and baubles, and these I quilted with gold metallic thread. The faces are free-motion-quilted, I used a variegated brown thread. For the rest I used an ecru colored cotton thread to match the background snowflakes fabric. 

Rudolph's face (both quilts) could have been a bit darker, maybe? 

Maybe not. These are winter reindeer, meaning their coat turns from brown (summer camouflage) to a greyer camouflage against the snow, makes them blend into the snowy landscape.

Pieced backing #2. Got to use up most of the Skaters fabric and other bits and pieces. 

Fabric requirement for 'Deerly Loved': 

Approximately 7 yards. And since I made two; approximately 14 yards fabric, all from my stash. 

I haven't done any sewing the last couple of weeks. I've been on slow motion after I caught a bad flu. It's still hanging, but I'll say I'm 95% OK. As if the flu is not enough; I stumbled in my own feet and fell head down on the street earlier this week. I hurt the right side of my head; cheek and a small cut (from the sunglasses) on the bone next to my eye. I'm fine now and I have a 'beautiful' green-yellowish eye and cheek! LOL  

I have finished a few cross stitching UFO's, but that will be for another post. 

Hope you all are doing well. Be careful on icy roads! 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2025)