Winter Solstice : A Comparative Quilt Study

 

Michele's Winter Solstice Quilt

Holly's Winter Solstice Quilt

My Mother (Holly) and my Aunt Rosita were the ones who got me into quilting almost 10 years ago.  They have a fantastic quilt shop in Antigo where they could take classes to learn all these new techniques--like raw-edge applique.  They even picked out a "new" sewing machine for me at this shop (A Husqvarna Viking Rose -- which I still use).     My mom was able to take a class to learn "scribble" applique.  I live too far away to take the class, so she gave me the shortened version, and I took the patterns and played on my own.

Even though it's the same McKenna Ryan pattern, we both made different color choices, embellishment and quilting choices, so that they really look like different quilts.  The maker's personality can come through.  That's why Quilting is so popular : It's versatile!

Enjoy this comparative study of the two Winter Solstice Quilts :

Michele's Encounter Block

  

Holly's Encounter Block

 

Detail of Holly's Encounter Block

Michele's 3 Bears

 

Holly's 3 Bears  (Sorry--I cut off the 3rd bear in the photo.)

Michele's Old Tree / Holly's Old Tree

Michele's Starry Night Block

 

Holly's Starry Night Block

 

Michele's Cabin Block     /         Holly's Cabin Block

  Detail of Michele's Cabin in the Woods.

Michele's Wolf Moon Block

Holly's Wolf Moon Block

Michele's 3 Chickadees Block

 

Holly's 3 Chickadees Block

 

Michele's Corner Chickadees  /     Holly's Corner Chickadees

Detail of border quilting with the embroidery unit on Michele's Quilt.

The Beauty and Variety of Quilting is Amazing!

Winter Solstice Quilt

I finished this quilt back in 2005.    I was still a new quilter, and the techniques of raw edge applique and free-motion stitching were new concepts for me.  The separate blocks broke the total project down into manageable chunks--It was kind of addicting when I started it.  I remember staying up late at night --way past my usual bed-time--just to work on these blocks.  I could't wait to see how they turned out! This is a McKenna Ryan pattern from the early 2000s ...  It doesn't seem to be available anymore, or I'd provide a link.

I remember learning to free-motion stitch and feeling like the world had opened wide for me with that new knowledge.   There were a lot of firsts for me on this quilt :


* raw-edge applique
* free-motion embroidery
* free-motion quilting

 
* beadwork


* using the embroidery unit on my sewing machine (that turned out to also be the last time I used it)
* printing to fabric (There's a poem on the back ...)


* altering a given pattern.  The original had Father Christmas carrying skis on his back.  I changed it to a load of wood.

When it was finished and hung, I remember laying down on the couch so I could look at it, mesmerized in a kind of meditation.  Even though I had worked every inch of it up close, it seemed to take on another life at a distance.  I LOVE when that happens!

And now, when I look at it, I'm still amazed and fascinated with it.   Now I also see it as an accurate record of my skill set at that time.  If I were to do it again now, I would do more embellishment, more free-motion embroidery.  I'd really color in the spaces more, add more texture, secure those beads better.   That was also when I didn't really see the need to square up a quilt top before adding borders, and binding.  It's a constant reminder of how far I've come! Cheers!