Today I’m pleased to share how my December MDL Challenge and Aurifil Artisan Holiday Project quilt came together.
Pulsar
Pulsar finished at 37 1/2 inches square. I used the four-at-a-time flying geese method to make all the geese units. The most time consuming part of putting the quilt top together was deciding how I wanted to set the corner units. After using setting triangles to rotate the stack of flying geese pieced chevrons 45-degrees, I opted to add a border on two sides to nest the chevrons in close to the center, which gave the finished quilt a really nice balance and pulsing feeling, which is how I decided to name the quilt Pulsar. Pulsars emit regular pulses of radio waves and other electromagnetic radiation at rates of up to one thousand pulses per second.
To piece the quilt, I used 50wt Aurifil 2630 (Dark Pewter) which blended in perfectly with the background Kona Cotton Charcoal. To bind the quilt, I used 40wt Aurifil in #2905 (Army Green), which disappears into the cross weave of the binding fabric.
Pulsar – Quilting Detail
I found a beautiful shade of 12wt red Aurifl thread in my stash, #2265 (Lobster Red), which was close to the Red Pepper color in the inspiration color board, so I straight line quilted every 2 inches with my walking foot. I didn’t have 2265 in the matching 50wt thread, so I used 50wt #2460 (Dark Carmine Red) in the bobbin and I doubt anyone will be able to tell the difference.
I spent a lot of time looking at the quilt top deciding if it was done or not after the initial quilting. This is the least densely I’ve quilted a quilt in a very long time, but in the end I couldn’t come up with an idea I liked for adding more to the quilt, so I decided it was complete.
Pulsar – After First Wash
After the first wash, Pulsar finishes at 35 1/2 inches square, which means the quilt shrunk 5.3%. I do love the krinkle of a quilt freshly washed!
I think Pulsar would also look great trimmed into a large circle and even possible modified into a tree skirt. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and holiday season this year!
Linking up with Beauties Pageant 62 with Michelle from Bolt to Beauty.
It’s lovely
It turned out beautifully and I love this design!
Beautiful and I like the simple quilting it suits it. Merry Christmas Yvonne!
I love this quilt – the pattern, the colors, the quilting – all of it! I hate making flying geese, but I would totally buy this pattern if you ever decided to write it up and release it. <3
Such a great quilt. I’ve just completed a quilt with parallel lines of quilting about 2.25″ apart. I wondered about going back and stitching between the lines but came to the conclusion that it was finished as it was – just as well as it needed to be wrapped and gifted!
Happy Christmas Yvonne 🙂
Striking design. Can see it as a full size quilt. Love it.
I really like this design, and I think the quilting is just right for it. Best wishes for a happy holiday season!
Surprisingly, I love the way this quilt turned out. Though they are not the “traditional” Christmas Colors (and colors I don’t usually buy), I love the way the star looks. Pulsar is a great name for this quilt. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and maybe a white one!
Yvonne, this quilt glows. It’s beautiful.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
A beautiful quilt! Such lovely rich greens and sometimes less quilting really is more, it’s perfect!
I loved this design and seeing all the colorways. I favor the Charismatic, Orange and Red Pepper colors. I am thrilled to see it is on your 2020 goals list to release it as a pattern!
Love this pattern. It’s beautiful.
Thank you Yvonne for always sharing your wonderful work. I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas & may God Bless.
Quilt Love!
Gorgeous quilt! I love the lobster red quilting and the minimal quilting. This is a definitely a pattern that can be used many ways.
I think it would make a great tree skirt – or “pants!” The Lobster Red quilting is perfect.
I really love this quilt and how you pulled the colors and inspiration from the paint chips. The red quilting thread is such a awesome addition.
This is beautiful! Is the pattern available to purchase in a PDF format?
A very dynamic quilt. Congrats on the finish.
Love your Pulsar!
This is a really beautiful design Yvonne. Just gorgeous.
Comme Laurel, les oies volantes sont un bloc que je n’aime pas coudre, mais ce modèle est magnifique et je serai ravie de pouvoir le coudre !
It turned out great! Well done. Very creative.