I made the Celestial pattern. It's made with 24-inch blocks, for a total size of 96 x 96 inches. I decided to make a smaller version, with just four blocks, and it measures 48 x 48 inches.
The fabrics are a turquoise polka dot and Kona Cactus. Both fabrics were chosen after I chose the binding fabric, an awesome plus print. I've never planned a quilt around the binding fabric. It was quite fun.
I decided to try a new quilting motif. I should have stayed with tried and true. I definitely need practice with curves. The curves got a little better once I drew lines as a guide.
I wanted to make a plus on the back, but I ran out of fabric, so it ended up being a 9-patch.
Since the background was a bit busy, I quilted it with all-over loops in a matching turquoise thread. It blends with the background, but it gives the quilt some texture.
If you don't look close up, my curves don't look too bad. 😉 I used the same turquoise thread.
A few more photos just for fun.
I hope you find time to stop by all the blogs participating to see all the quilts that are in the book. If you're visiting Anja Quilts for the first time, I hope you take some time to look around and perhaps follow me if you like what you see.
Blog Hop Schedule:
Tuesday, March 13th
Signature Plus
Soma @ Whims and Fancies
Ann @ Brown Paws Quilting
Kitty @ Night Quilter
Tribal Plus
Sophie @ Luna Lovequilts
Afton @ Quilting Mod
Shelley @ The Carpenters Daughter Who Quilts
Wednesday, March 14th
Plus Surround
Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal
Jen @ A Dream and a Stitch
Abigail @ Cut & Alter
Kaleidoscope Plus
Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl
Sandra @ mmm! quilts
Karen @ Run Sew Fun
Thursday, March 15th
Postage Plus
Linda @ Flourishing Palms
Bernie @ Needle and Foot
Liz @ Savor Every Stitch
Stacey @ Stacey In Stitches
Rick Rack Runner
Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty
Patty @ Elm Street Quilts
Melanie @ A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog
Friday, March 16th
Row Addition
Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts
Izzy @ Dizzy Quilts
Transparency Chains
Christa @ Christa Quilts
Monday, March 19th
Jessica
@ Quilty Habit
Cindy
@ Hyacinth Quilt
Designs
Jennifer
@ The Inquiring Quilter
Julie
@ The Crafty Quilter
Tuesday, March 20th
Tish
@ Tish N Wonderland
Judy
@ Sew Some Sunshine
Emily
@ The Darling
Dogwood
Wanda
@ Wanda's Life Sampler
Karen
@ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels,
and Eats
Katherine
@ Sew Me Something
Good
Wednesday, March 21st
Anja
@ Anja Quilts
Kate
@ Smiles from Kate
Sue
@ Seven Oak
Street Quilts
Carole
@ From my
Carolina Home
Alison
@ Little Bunny
Quilts
Thursday, March 22nd
Debbie
@ Esch House
Quilts
Laura
@ Slice of Pi Quilts
Beth
@ Cooking Up Quilts
Janice
@ Color
Creating and Quilting
Joanne
@ Quilts by Joanne
Friday, March 23rd
I'm glad to see you can still get the effect of the random plusses with just 4 blocks Anja! The colours are great and your quilting motif was a great idea. It looks great from a distance and is undoubtedly a billion times better than my attempt would be!
ReplyDeleteI was so curious to learn how picking fabrics based on the binding would go, and I love it! What an awesome way to go. I think it looks great, and the texture from your quilting is really fun. Any plans for the quilt?
ReplyDeleteI really like your version, and the quilting if absolutely fine as no one should be rude enough to inspect it anyway. Choosing fabric via the binding is a fun way to go. x
ReplyDeleteI love your two colour version and how clever to choose the fabrics based on the lovely binding fabric, it works perfectly. I really like how you quilted it, it compliments the quilt design and once it’s washed the very slight wonkiness I wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t pointed it out won’t be noticeable. Love it.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking quilt! The colors are so pretty together! The only way to get better at quilting is to keep practicing. We are so hard on ourselves. I think you did very well.
ReplyDeleteGreat concept to pick the binding fabric first and go from there. I love it. I also love the simplicity of your block quilt with the more complicated quilting. And your colours go really well together, loving the pop of orangey pink in the back.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! The quilting really does give it great texture.
ReplyDeleteAwesome that your inspiration came from binding fabric. Great job!
ReplyDeleteYour quilting looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLove your orange peel quilting!!! What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful version of Celestial! I love the how you started with the binding and built the quilt from that. Thanks so much for being part of the hop!!
ReplyDeleteYour fabric picks from the binding look great! Love the quilt!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great Anja! I love the orange peel quilting in the plus signs and it's nice to see a smaller version of the quilt.
ReplyDeleteQuite nice, Anja!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this! That binding fabric is just so much fun for this pattern. I think you did a great job with the orange peel quilting and it looks great within the plus signs. :D
ReplyDeleteI like your quilt, Anja, and thank you for showing your quilting. I'm still struggling with free motion and I'm hesitant to show it in my posts. You've encouraged me today! I think your curves are coming along well! The orange peel quilting in the plus signs was a clever idea!
ReplyDeleteI like that you carried the motif to the back and it still looks like a plus, really like your choice of colours too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Anja! I'm partial to orange so i really love your 9 patch backing.
ReplyDeleteTurquoise too....it makes Kona Cactus Plus's just pop up.
schimmel(dot)db(at)gmail(dot)com
I love that the blocks are so big!! Your quilt is wonderful! I especially love the colors you picked and the binding ties it all together! Quilting...I admire that you gave it a go and shared your results. I struggle with FMQ all the time. You know...a good wash and who's the wiser?!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever planned a quilt around the binding, but you are convincing me I should :) Those pluses are the perfect way to frame you quilt. I love that you branched out and tried curves. They look great and combined with the loops gives the quilt some yummy texture. Now I need to add Celestial to my make list :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen several versions of this quilt today, and they're all so beautiful! I love this 2-color version you put together, and those colors are just luscious. I want that on my couch. It is so gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love this version ❤️❤️❤️ The colours are bright and bold.
ReplyDeleteI love the colors you chose for your quilt - and that binding - just too sweet! Thank you,Susan
ReplyDeleteWhat a colorful and cheerful quilt. very pretty fabrics and work.
ReplyDeleteHi, Danice. You are a non-reply blogger, and I am unable to respond to your comment (and previous comments on other posts). I couldn't find an e-mail for you on your blog.
DeleteI love your version. You did a great job matching that perfect binding fabric.
ReplyDeleteI love the colors and how the pluses pop!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is wonderful and the quilting is great. I love the green fabric for the plus signs and the binding is right on!!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is fabulous! I love the way you used turquoise thread on the Kona Cactus! Hey, I have a longarm and have been quilting on it for 10 years...depending on the length of the curve, I will use a ruler to get it just right. One hint I was taught was to look to where I want my needle to end up, not at the needle - it does make the point-to-point quilting so much easier!
ReplyDeleteGood for you for trying out something new -- I've never built a quilt top around a binding fabric, either! : ) And I applaud your willingness to quilt outside your comfort zone. A beautiful finish indeed!
ReplyDeleteI love your quilting decisions on this and I think it looks terrific!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great, Anja! I love that you picked your fabrics based on the binding! :) Celestial is probably my favorite pattern from the book and I plan to do what you did, use 4 blocks total. Do you happen to know what your yardage for the background/teal fabric was?
ReplyDeleteI love the quilting in the plus signs and think that it looks great, and I like the thread contrast. This is a beautiful quilt!
Awesome job! Fun colors and your quilting is perfect! Great job! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Love your color combo.
ReplyDeleteAnja, you've use my favorite color combo ! And, oh, the binding! Your version of Celestial is beautiful! I really like the orange peel quilting in plus signs with contrasting thread! What a fun back, I still see a plus sign! Anja, thank you for contributing to the hop!
ReplyDeleteFab-fabulous as I said yesterday on IG. Love that binding though! And nope, never have made a quilt around a binding either, but you did it with grand success!
ReplyDeleteIt takes courage to reveal your less than perfect quilting and I admire you for doing just that. Fabulous indeed, like Sandra said.
ReplyDeleteOh, how fabulous that you chose your quilt colours based on the fabric for the binding (which is perfect, by the way!) - a gorgeous combination! Love your quilting, I think it looks beautiful and is a lovely complement to the linear design of this quilt. Fantastic finish!
ReplyDeleteI do follow you and this quilt is just lovely! I'm sure that I definitely would have to draw the curves on. It's mostly straight-line quilting for me. Very nicely done!
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt - love the color choices!
ReplyDeleteLove it! And I think it’s so cool that you chose the colours and fabrics based on the binding. Your FMQ looks pretty darn good and like someone else said, once the quilt is washed and dried, you won’t even notice any of the wobbles. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful, Anja! I love that you chose the colours based on the binding fabric :)
ReplyDeleteLove the colors on this one! The almost plus on the back was a wonderful way to finish it. I really like the quilting you did in the plus signs!
ReplyDelete