Friday 6 December 2013

From K - Finished Manly Plus Quilt

Have you ever had a quilt transpire in your mind with such a presence that you just couldn't shake it until it became a reality? That's what this quilt was to me. I tiny compliment from my husband on my Pink Pluses Quilt was all I needed to dream up this manly plus version for him to keep.
 
Manly Plus Quilt
For someone who is extremely supportive of my 'more often than not' all consuming hobby, I have yet to thank him with a quilt of his own. He has never nagged for one but I know he feels a bit slighted every time I show him a finished quilt and he says "wow! That one's great, do we get to keep it?!"... and then the answer is always "no".... *insert wife hanging her head in shame here*
 
I know what you're thinking - just give the man a quilt already Kelsey! And so I will.
 
Manly Plus Quilt
I wanted the backing to be timeless, simply, and obviously a bit manly. Using fabrics from the quilt top, I laid out varying widths of remnants in a strip to play up the gradient from the front.

 
I didn't want this quilt to be stiff, so I went with a combination of straight line quilting around each plus shape and then added some dense FMQ in a few feature pluses.
 
Manly Plus Quilt
Most of the prints in this top are patterned which adds a fair amount of texture. Two solid fabrics however stuck out, so I decided they needed a bit more attention.
 
The dark gray solid pluses received pebbling while the light gray pluses received a somewhat topographic design. I love that these designs are both inspired by natural elements and that they compliment the Architexture prints in the top.

Manly Plus Quilt
I also absolutely adore the texture that the randomly quilted pluses add to the quilt back. Happy surprises are the best surprises after all.
 
Final Quilt Details:

  • Quilt Name: Manly Plus Quilt
  • Finished Size: large lap sized (54" x 75")
  • Fabric: various prints from my stash
  • Pattern: I didn't follow a pattern. I just laid out rows using one 3.5"x9.5" and two 3.5" squares for each plus.
  • Quilting: quilted on my Janome 8200. Straight line quilting to outline each plus block, supplemented by FMQ pebbling and topographic lines in feature pluses.
 
I started quilting more than three years ago and I have never snuggled with a quilt that I've made, I don't even own a quilt myself (shameful I know). I'm feeling a bit selfish that I can't wait to gift this - not only because I can't wait to see his face, but also because it will undoubtedly be followed with a good ol' fashion couch snuggle fest. Pass the popcorn please!
 
Read more about this quilt top here. This is my third completed project for the Q4 2013 Finish A-Long - read more about my other goals here.
 
 Linking up to Needle and Thread Thursday and Finish it up Friday.
 
 

22 comments:

  1. It looks utterly fantastic Kelsey - I'm sure your husband is going to love it! And yay - I'm so glad you're going to have a quilt you made to snuggle with. I really think you should make a quilt for yourself this year! I have numerous quilts at home and while I agree it's nice to make for someone else, it's also nice to have the fruits of your labour around.

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  2. I love how the colour and value gradations worked.

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  3. It's stunning Kelsey! You did an amazing job with the quilting. And I agree - you really need to make a quilt for yourself now!

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  4. I love it! The front is amazing, but the back is striking too. Also, I think we should make quilts for ourselves in 2014. I keep buying fabric for me and end up using it in something for someone else. It can be a 2014 resolution. 8-)

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  5. It's beautiful! Love the back too! So simple and perfect. You're good!

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  6. love, love, LOVE this! what a great manly quilt! The quilting looks so neat on the back!

    Thank you so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  7. Gorgeous! LOVE it. Great job with all of the details and the back just is the perfect cherry on top. - Kate

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  8. Kelsey! It came out so so so well, I love it! :D The back is gorgeous, too! But of course you know I love all things navy. ;) I'm feeling equally excited about finally getting to keep a quilt!! I'm excited for both of us. :D

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  9. It is awesome!! He will love it! Also, your photographs are amazing. That wall is perfect!

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  10. It's amazing! I love your quilting and the backing is great. I've done that style of backing several times and it's really classy!

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  11. I really love this quilt! Beautifully put together!

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  12. Beautiful finish! I love the colors and the quilting on this - I bet he will adore it (It is always so hard to find the right fabrics for a man, but this is perfect!).

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  13. I love this quilt and I especially love how you quilted it. But does he not read your blog occasionally? Maybe you can make this coming year one where you get some quilts on your beds and sofas and such, it is wonderful to have them and use them.

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  14. Very well done! Great colour combo!

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  15. This is so great! I love how the quilting looks on the backing!

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  16. This quilt is absolutely stunning. I love everything about it. I love the strip of scrappy in the back! Have you surprised your hubs with it or is it his Christmas? My husband keeps hinting about how much he likes Elizabeth Hartman's Escape Artist quilt and I'm not sure I love him that much. Yet. You are such a good wife to make this happen. :)

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  17. Love this one so much Kelsey! And your quilting is fantastic, i love how it looks on the back!

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  18. What a fantastic man quilt. I love it! And the quilting is such a great idea!

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  19. Oh my goodness! I just love this one!!

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