Ta da! And there it is, my finished Kaleidoscope quilt! I'm so happy to have finished this quilt off, and I'm so happy to have sewn it up with so many quilt-alongers. I'm still blown away by the sheer number of people who have gotten involved with this quilt-along, and I love all of the different interpretations I've seen of the kaleidoscope through this quilt along. If you're looking for the final installment of the quilt-along instructions, with backing, quilting, and binding information here.
The fabrics in this quilt are so cheerful and happy, I'm glad I chose them. I used a variety of the DS Quilts Picnic & Fairground collections, along with two additional prints to round out the quilt, and I used a DS Quilts green gingham fabric for the binding.
I keep vowing to try new methods of free-motion quilting, so for this quilt, I went with a loopy style, which I've only done once before on a doll quilt. I enjoyed it, but not in the same way that I enjoy my usual meandering stipple. I'm glad I tried something new, though, and my 3-year old says it looks like the path of a bee, like you'd see in a picture book.
The back of this quilt was a lot of fun to put together - I used up the scraps from the front of the quilt, sewed them up into a 16" wide strip and added two cuts of one other print from the quilt for a nice, pieced back.
Need a new project? The Kaleidoscope Quilt Along has wrapped up, but you can follow along with any of the posts to join in at your own pace! Hop on over to Flickr and join the group to share your progress!
5/30 - An invitation and incentives
6/3 - Fabric Requirements
6/23 - Let's start cutting and planning our blocks!
6/30 - Piecing the Kaleidoscope triangles
7/7 - Adding your neutral triangles and finishing your blocks
7/14 - Assembling your blocks into a beautiful quilt top
7/21 - Final wrap-up and linky - link up your finished QA quilt and enter to win a giveaway for all who finish by 8/5/11 at midnight EST!
6/23 - Let's start cutting and planning our blocks!
6/30 - Piecing the Kaleidoscope triangles
7/7 - Adding your neutral triangles and finishing your blocks
7/14 - Assembling your blocks into a beautiful quilt top
7/21 - Final wrap-up and linky - link up your finished QA quilt and enter to win a giveaway for all who finish by 8/5/11 at midnight EST!
Quilt Stats:
Name: Elizabeth's Kaleidoscope
Size: 62" x 74"
Fabrics: DS Quilts Picnic & Fairgrounds by Densye Schmidt for Jo-Ann Fabrics
Quilting: All-over loopy free-motion quilting, in white thread, done by yours truly
Binding: Green gingham print from DS Quilts Picnic & Fairgrounds - machined on to both front and back
And now here's your turn to share your finished quilt! Those of you who enter your finished quilt by 12pm midnight EST 8/5/11 will be automatically entered to win a set of Anthology fat quarters from my stash. Good luck, and thank you all again for participating in the quilt along!
40 comments:
Pretty sure I won't be done with the rest of the group but I'm looking forward to see everyone's finished quilts! Maybe I can get some quilting ideas :)
Yours is LOVELY... love these colors and prints :)
This is gorgeous!
Beautiful finish Elizabeth! Thanks again for this QAL, I'm still working through but will get there eventually.
That is so awesome! Your fabric selection was just perfect I think. What a great finish.
so, i did a kaleidoscope quilt... but it was allisons from cluck cluck sew. it isn't finished. i am planning on hand quilting it. can i still link up? funny thing is, it looks a lot like yours! http://kisskissquilt.blogspot.com/
I've really been enjoying the kaleidescope pattern. I've seen quite a bit of it recently in the quilting world and it is definately getting added to my "quilts to make" list... yours is lovely, I really like the colors you chose.
Beautiful E, and well done on hosting a successful QAL. I'm not finished yet, but will one day! Jxo
The quilting look like a bee trail. I love the observations of kids! This quilt is very beautiful and I can't wait to get mine finished. I'm plugging away .....
Oh boy do I need to get a move on! I have cut all my prints but not the background. I haven't even had time to take a photo and blog about it. I love how yours turned out and it is so fun to see everyones. I hope to be able to post a finished one sometime even if it is after the 5th. Thank you for holding this quilt a long!
So fun! I really love it in these fabrics. I need to get started one of these days. I love the pattern, but just had too much going on to join up. Maybe in the fall.
That looks awesome! Unfortunately, it may be a while before I finish my QAL. There's not enough time for everything!
Gorgeous! I love the loopy quilting and this was a great use of the DS line!
Totally beautiful ! I need to get my butt in gear!!
Love it! Your quilting looks GREAT!
Your quilt looks fantastic! Thanks so much for letting us quilt along!!
Oh, Yea!!! THat looks gorgeous!!! I love the fabrics and quilting!! I better get mine finished!!! :) Congrats! Beautiful quilt!
Eek! I love it! The pattern is gorgeous and such perfect fabrics! It really is beautiful!
It's beautifull. I'm still working on mine, hope to finish it by X-mas.
It turned out beautiful! I love that meandering with the loops I'm going to have to try that. Now to finish up my own kaleidoscope quilt!
It looks fantastic!!! I am so making one of these as soon as things settle a little bit...I love that your daughter thinks it looks like the path of a bee...shes so right! Thanks so much for hosting this QAL,I will certainly be referring to your instructions when I get to mine!
I really like your color choices, vey nice quilt!
So, so fabulous, Elizabeth! Love it.
Fantastic job! I'm excited to finish mine. Is this one staying with you?
Such a beautiful quilt! The fabrics and the color combination are great' truly wonderful!
I signed up for this QAL, but didn't get to even cut the fabrics... So much was going on in my life (a new grandchild! now I need to make another baby's quilt)
Looking forward for your next QAL!
Wow! I love it! It turned out beautiful! :) Thanks so much for putting this qal together!! I finally received the rest of my background fabric and it's washed and ready to be cut. I think once I get that done it will come together quick (at least I'm hoping! I don't want to miss the giveaway!) ;) Plus I can't wait to use it!!
Thanks again! (and I can't wait for the Solids Swap either! You are one busy lady! Thanks!)
It looks beautiful. I love how the pattern acts like a true kaleidoscope - it seems to change every time you look at it, each time bringing something else to focus (a kind of stars, or bigger stars, or circles, or bigger circles...)
Oh, it turned out lovely Elizabeth. And, lol!!, I just decided today how I wanted to quilt mine and logged on tonight to discover you had done yours kinda how I envisaged mine :-) Great minds!! Thanks so much for a great QAL, I really enjoyed it!
This QAL was so much fun. It was my first ever and I think you may have created an addict! The help and encouragement throughout was terrific; really helped me as I worked my way through the quilt. Cannot wait to do another one!
Yours is beautiful! Thanks for a great Quilt A Long, I am glad to have mine done. I sure enjoyed this!
Your quilt is so beautiful. Thanks for patiently hosting that quilt a long. I'm working on it and while soon be sewing my blocks together. I would have never attempted such a quilt without guidance and support. Thanks for inspiring me to learn and grow as a quilter. I just hope it turns out half as beautiful as yours.
*WILL soon be sewing ....
Argghhh!! Why do I comment before I've had coffee??
Gorgeous kaleidoscope. Love the pieced back! For some reason they always make me smile. Back to our roots, I suppose.
Kaleidoscope--how great!! Love the design and colors!!
Your Kaleidoscope Quilt is stunning. I love your choice of fabrics, it looks so crisp and fresh.
As always wonderful quilt E! You do such a nice job hosting the quilt alongs - you're a natural. Thanks so much for joining in Summer Fair and sharing with us! AM
Thanks again for a great QAL! This was my first and I have loved doing it! I think I got my link posted for my finish?!
I'm so excited! I had it in my head that the deadline was tonight, and now I see have a few more days. YAY! Off to finish my silly pieced backing (yours are much more attractive because they're simpler; mine is too complicated because it's based on using up stash without having to buy any more fabric.) Anyway, off to my sewing machine again!
Finally got the top finished today, but won't have it quilted for a while. Thanks for having such a fun QAL! I enjoyed making mine and it won't be the last.
Goal met: Kaleido done by Aug 4! Thanks for a fun QAL, Elizabeth!
I second what Laura says: Goal met - on time with a completed quilt! SO enjoyed this quilt-along...thanks again!!
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