Black and Gray with Colorful Back

This one has a bit of a story, though not too thrilling, as far as stories go. Two plus years ago, when I made the quilt for my sister, Wanda (link here), I thought to use the leftovers from the front on a pieced back. I made the back and wasn’t thrilled with it, but didn’t want the fabric to go to waste and I didn't have a better idea, so that front and back waited together. (Here is the original back. Add more of the dark gray to the left hand side of this picture, and that was the queen sized back I had made.)

Shortly before quilting Wanda’s, I found a plainer back that I liked much better. I used part of the original back to make the binding, and was delighted with the result, but still had a good chunk left of that original back (photo above). In fact, it was more a twin size now. I could finish it and give it to charity, but I didn’t even want to give it away since I didn’t like it enough to put my name on it.

Here was the solution. I made a nice plain black and gray back to be the real front and quilted it with variegated rainbow thread on the black side...

and a dark navy (I didn’t have a dark gray the right weight) on the colored side.

I quilted it with my Forever Filigree pantograph I will keep it and keep the black side up.

Gayle's Black, White, Brown Quilt for Refugees

This quilt top was made by Gayle B. Beautifully made and easy to quilt. I used the Urban Elementz pantograph “Knit 1 Purl 2” with mocha Glide and Glide 60 thread.

Gayle also brought over 2 other quilt tops for me to finish and 6 other twin quilts (hand quilted!) for the refugees, plus 6 baby or lap quilts to donate to the battered women’s shelter. Thank you, Gayle!

She gave me fabric for the back, but there was not quite enough, so I added some leftover fabric I had from other charity quilts.

 

Loren's Refugee Quilt in Burgundy, Green, Black Gold, Multi-Colored

 This top was made by Loren L. I was very impressed that she so carefully avoided the areas in the fabric that had people on it in deference to the refugees’ cultural beliefs. The large split rail design in multiple colors give fun movement to the front.

I quilted it with a dark green Glide thread using the pantograph called Argyle by Urban Elementz.

I used 100% polyester batting which gives a good loft - very puffy.

Loren's Memory Quilt from Father's Shirts

Loren L. made this lovely quilt top for her mom from her dad’s shirts. For those not familiar with different types of fabrics, the tight weave, slipperiness and lightness of shirting fabric makes it harder to work with, especially for a new quilter, but Loren did a great job!

The large loopy meander quilting with a few hearts thrown in here and there in Glide (and Glide 60 on the back) in Military Gold coordinates well on top and back.

The back is Green Bay Packers fabric because he was a huge fan. The white strip represents the 50 yard line.

Emerald's Scrappy Jelly Roll Strip Vertical Rainbow Quilt

Another quilt top by Emerald from 2” scrap strips. This pattern is similar to a Jelly Roll Race pattern, though the seams are not at a 45 degree angle, nor put together the same way. Obviously the colors are sorted by color family before sewing them in long strips. If making a quilt with long strips, it is advisable to alternate directions in sewing them together. That helps them from becoming skewed on the end.

This one I quilted using the Andi’s Ribbon Heart pantograph from Urban Elementz in Mossy colored Glide & Glide 60 thread.

The back I pieced with donated fabric.

Emerald's Scrappy Jelly Roll Strip Diagonal Rainbow Quilt

Refugee Quilt #20. The top was made by my sister, Emerald, and the back by me from fabric that was donated. The batting is 100% polyester. I quilted it with navy blue Glide and Glide 60 thread using the pantograph “Dave’s Jigsaw - Border” from Urban Elementz.

 

Loren's Black, White and Red Quilt

May I just say I that I love black, white and red together? Loren made this top and asked me to quilt and trim/square it up, but it will go home today to be bound. It is quilted in a large loopy meander in a variegated black and red thread on top (So Fine’s Brushfire) and a dark gray Bottom Line on the back.

 

Naomi's Pink/Rose and Blue/Turquoise Quilt for Refugees

Refugee Quilt #19. The top was made by Naomi R. And the back was provided by Linda N. I used several free motion quilting designs such as loops, swirls, wishbone, and circles. I used gray Bottom Line on the back and both gray So Fine and a silvery gray variegated Fantastico on the top.

 

Naomi's Green, Purple, Blue, Pink, Yellow, Burgundy Quilt for Refugees

Refugee Quilt #18. Quilt top made by Naomi R. Back provided by Linda N.

Free motion quilting on this - Angela Walter’s Feather Meander (perimeter) and Swirling Feathers (center).

I quilted it with Glide khaki thread on the top and cream on the bottom.

Naomi's Refugee Quilt in Browns and Turquoise

This quilt was made by Naomi R. and the back was donated by Linda N.

I quilted it with Glide khaki thread in the top and Glide 60 cream thread on the back. The pantograph is called Modern Twist by Urban Elementz.

Brenda's Split Rail/Rail Fence Blue and Burgundy Quilt for Refugees

Brenda H. donated this top for me to quilt and donate to the refugees coming to St. Louis.

(Split Rail/Rail Fence design) 

I used Glide and Glide 60 thread in Mocha.

 I quilted it using the Petal Flambé pantograph from Urban Elementz.