Memorial Quilt: Coats & Kilts - Quilt #3

This is the 3rd quilt that I made for a family of three sisters and one brother from a box of childhood coats & kilts that their mother had collected. You can view the first quilt here and the second quilt here.

This is the 3rd quilt I finished - it is another Drunkards Path pattern.

But I hope I have given the traditional pattern a little twist. I quilted this quilt in straight lines using blue, red & white threads - I tried to mimic a sort of tartan pattern in terms of the lines placement & order.

 

I have had several people tell me recently that straight lines are perceived to be simple - but let me assure you - straight lines - in any direction - with any machine - are not at all easy and anyone who can pull off perfect straight lines - line after line after line - gets my award of quilting valor. So while my straight lines might not be 100% perfect - I do think the idea of quilting a tartan quilting design ontop was accomplished.

 I also sewed all the different the buckles from all the kilts back onto the quilt. 

For me personally - completing this particular quilt was a huge effort and lesson for me in persistence and trusting an idea or vision. I was so pleased with how the top turned out with all the fabrics blending into one another ...

... but then there was a little hiccup.  Part way through this quilt I had an 'oh no I think I'm making a horrible mistake moment' AND the timing on my machine went AND I had my thyroid removed. The afternoon I got back from hospital my lovely handiquilter dealer was there in my bedroom fixing the timing on my machine while I snored off the results of my sleep deprived hospital night and the rather long lasting results of the anesthetic (utterly embarrassing.) And the next morning I was up continuing the straight lines - still unable to speak or drink any liquids. It was a tough couple of days - but I kept on quilting lines - and gradually my initial vision began to come together & now I am really pleased with this result. I really love the buckles on the quilt (I hope the family do too!)  I suspect they might have been discarded otherwise and as this quilt is for the only brother in the family - I like the masculine edge the buckles give the quilt. 

And this quilt has my favorite bit out of ALL the four quilts on this quilt. A large kilt pin in the bottom right corner!!

Memorial Quilt: Kilt & Coat Quilt #2

This is the 2nd quilt that I made for a family from a box of childhood coats & kilts that was discovered in their mother's attic when she passed. You can view the first quilt here.

This time I'm sharing the back of the quilt first - because it is kind of fun, modern & minimal. Can you guess what the front design is?

Of the four quilts there are two Irish chain quilts and two Drunkards Path quilts. This is the first of the Drunkard Path quilts.


I quilted the quilt in a large curved fan design. In the center of each block I sewed a button. Some of the buttons are from the coats and others are from the kilts.

There is a total of 20 different fabrics from different garments in this quilt!

You can read more about this project at:
Memorial Quilt: Kilt & Coat Quilt #1
Memorial Quilt from Kilts & Coats