Friday, June 4, 2010

The Lady of the Lake

Another Half Square Triangle bonanza!

The Lady of the Lake Quilt 
449 Half Square Triangles!

(I totally shocked myself with that number, no wonder it took so long to piece and then trim back everyone of those tiny blocks!)


The solid fabric used in this quilt top is by Reece Scannell, and purchased at the Australian Quilt Convention earlier this year.  Their fabrics are very much like shot cottons;  the warp and the weft are different colors creating subtle color effects.  Reece Scannell fabrics are sold by the piece rather than yardage from a bolt and available in over 100 hues.
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Unintentionally and barely noticeable I have ended up with my own "humility block", with a set of Half Square Triangles sewn together incorreclty.  * marks the spot.  Even though I had noticed this error before the blocks were sewn together, I did not correct the orientation of those triangles.  A little quirky piecing adds a little interest.


I have also pieced a very simple quilt backing using some of the left over solid fabrics.  Just for fun. (See above).
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 Piecing close-up.

The batting has been soaked and tumble dried.  Ready for basting.

52 comments:

  1. Hi there
    I have done ( teaching in class) Lady of the Lake tonnes of times but always as part of a traditional sampler. This modernisation is fantastic. Your work is so inspirational.
    Cheers Leanne

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  2. Oh that limey green just makes my heart sing. And the turquoise is an unexpected surprise. This quilt is making me super happy...

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  3. I love how you say it took your forever, when in blog land it only seems like a couple of days. Fabulous finish!

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  4. You continualy amaze and inspire!

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  5. Just wanted to say I love your work!

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  6. Gorgeous quilt! It took me awhile to figure out why that was your humility block--it is hardly noticeable at all! I love the concept of humility blocks. I also made one accidentally in the quilt I just made.

    You have such a gift for putting colors together! The green is stunning.

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  7. OK so I was wrong, you're not so crazy after all. And thank you for leaving a mistake in. That might make some people feel better. Not me of course because I don't make mistakes...

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  8. I love every single colour choice you make. beautiful, and so fresh. And your piecing is just amazing! :)

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  9. Beautiful work as always! Lovely colors, I am always in love with greens!

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  10. I'm using some Reece Scannell cottons in a quilt I'm making too, aren't they gorgeous!

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  11. very very pretty, love the lime green!

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  12. I agree, a mistake here or there keeps the viewer on their toes.

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  13. I love basting spray and find it washes out beautifully! I suggest folding the quilt top in half, spraying a row or two lightly at a time, re-arrange if needed as it will be tacky. You can re-do the section if there are wrinkles. Then rotate quilt top and complete the other half in the same manner. Use a quality product and ask around at your quilt shop for their suggestions.

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  14. It's a gorgeous quilt! I would have never noticed what you pointed out. I love the background on the fabric too as it's not one I've heard of before.

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  15. That is a stunning quilt. I'd like to try that block. It looks just gorgeous.

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  16. Very nice. I do love that you left in the mistake block. I did that recently on one of mine. I think it gives it some character.

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  17. Gorgeous quilt, and I love the back too - I may try that technique soon for one of mine! And your "humility block"? I read once that the Amish quilters, constrained in the patterns and colors they care allowed to use, would intentionally put a mistake in their piecing to make it unique - they call it "sparkle"! So much kinder than "humility"...... :-) Keep on inspiring us!!

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  18. 449 HSTs?! I hate square-ing them up, so I won't be copying this pattern, gorgeous as it is. Good for you, humility block and all this is a great looking top

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  19. why do you soak and tumble dry your batting before you use it to quilt? I don't do that but quilt first and then wash and dry my quilt so I have that slightly crinkly antique look to my quilts. I am always curious about the way others do their quilts and the reasons for it :)
    Karen
    http://karensquilting.com/blog/

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  20. The back looks really cool. Is that pattern all-over the back or just in one spot? I love it.

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  21. That Lime Green just makes these Block Zing...Love this one...
    cheers

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  22. This is gorgeous. I doubt that I would have the patience for that many HST. I read somewhere that the Navajo Indians (natives in the Americas) left/added "mistakes" to their rugs to make them one of a kind. So glad you left yours in.

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  23. Stunning! I don't know where you found the patience but your quilt is amazing!!

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  24. i rather like that off/quirky block...it is lovely. that green fabric is really stunning

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  25. Absolutely beautiful! Thanks again for being so inspirational~

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  26. I love this quilt...the colors are so pretty. Your blog is always such a happy one! Thanks!

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  27. GORGEOUS! While that green is my fave color, I really love the aqua you've added in. Another beauty, Rita!

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  28. It is SO gorgeous- I love that green color!! and the error is not noticable at all!

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  29. I seem to have a 'humility' block in each of my quilts. It is never on purpose. Usually it is my daughter that will comment after it is sewn, "You got one upside down"
    If it is waving, jumping up and down & screaming at me I will do "quilt surgery" on it. Otherwise it just adds character! If you don't point it out no one will notice!

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  30. Fantastic quilt....another one....Geesh...You amaze me...I can't for the life of me see the problem with the square. My mistakes are way more obvious than your. My claim to fame!

    Susan :)

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  31. Ok. It's official. I am IN LOVE. I may even eventually get up the courage to try this many hsts. But my saner self is already cringing! LOL! Amazing Rita!!! You should be thumping yourself on the back, in a BIG way!!!! :D

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  32. That's a very happy quilt--love the green and all the bright white contrast. So striking! A piecing mistake sometimes passes by so easily until late in the game, but I like that you left it in. Great quilt!

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  33. This Lady of the Lake design is very impressive. Props to you for going forward with such a time-consuming design. That green is one of my favorite shades! I always love grassy green with blue/turq!

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  34. Gorgeous! Just love the fabrics and the design!

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  35. WOW!! Just WOW! I am so loving the colors and piecing in this quilt! It just makes me happy looking at it! Fabulous

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  36. What an awesome quilt pattern! I love how it turned out.

    My dad has this crafting superstition that if you want to continue to be successful with your preferred creative outlet, you have to have one tiny mess up in every completed project.

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  37. Very nice! Love the green.

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  38. Another beauty !!
    The lime is so good & I love the scrappy lady of the lake block.

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  39. Beautiful quilt! I've been making half square triangles as leaders and enders for a while, it may be time to square them up and make something... thanks for the inspiration.

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  40. This is amazing. Can you teach patience to me? I would love to do something like this but I get so impatient. You are very inspiring!

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  41. wow Rita - again, just stunning!

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  42. Fantastic! Great quilt and I love that you embraced that little "imperfection"! Your use of color in this piece - I really like that not all the larger triangles are done in the green. Just those few aqua pieces really accent the green. Like this one alot!

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  43. Gorgeous Rita, I adore lady of the lake and this one is a beauty. Your eye for colour and pattern is second to none. Great back too. I love quilts with a humility block, they add extra interest xo

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  44. Rita it is really stunning. That green fabric really sets off the HSTs and the humility block certainly doesn't detract at all from the design.
    Munaiba

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  45. Well done. The humilty block does add interest...to very obeservant viewers. I had to look at it a long time before I figured out waht was different. Why do you soak and dry the batting?

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  46. Stunning quilt! I think i can see the way forward with all my tiny HSTs, thankyou Rita

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  47. Oh my, do you know how hard I had to look and think to find your unexpected design element? It's a beautiful quilt and I can see why it has inspired at least one hyperlink and probably many more quilters!

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