Tuesday 8 October 2013

Marcelle Medallion {Finished}

This quilt has had the perfect ending. I spent a blissful afternoon hand stitching the binding and chatting to one of my closest friends while our kids played and we stitched. I know I say this about almost every quilty finish - but this quilt is my absolute favorite I've ever made. I think part of that is due to how enjoyable it was to put together - mainly because it changes so much with the addition of each border, and because it really tested my skills as a quilter.


When I first saw versions of this quilt popping up in blogland this year, I knew for sure I wanted to make it. I didn't think much more about it until Penny Poppleton announced her Marcelle Medallion QAL, and in the same week my daughter spotted Alexia Abegg's Liberty Love book in my local Spotlight. It was fate.


The colours for this quilt were inspired by a piece of Summer Totem fabric from Anna Maria Horner's gorgeous Loulouthi collection - although it evolved somewhat from my initial fabric pull. I made it completely from stash (as opposed to scraps) but used well over 200 different fabrics, so it has a bit of a scrappy feel I guess.


I deliberately chose quilting designs that would enhance the piecing, and used a range of Aurifil thread colours to blend into the fabric as much as possible.


I used a different batting for the first time in this quilt. Ordinarily I use Matilda's Own bamboo batting - I know lots of people have had bad experiences with bamboo batting, but I really love it. I tend to buy batting by the roll - and when I ordered my latest lot I decided to get something with a little more loft. This one is a wool/cotton blend - it is a similar weight to bamboo or cotton, but has a little bit more loft. My quilting has a little more puff than usual, which I like a lot.

The quilting in the third border is completely inspired by blatantly copied from the way the amazing Krista Withers quilted a Marcelle Medallion recently, although I extended the design across the whole last three borders - following the straight lines in the grey/teal border up into the crosses. I used light grey Aurifil (2615) for this, and it has blended into the various low volume fabrics flawlessly.


You can read more about my quilting choices here and here.  


The one thing I'm not so stoked about with this quilt is the back. I think I rushed the basting too much, and as a result I have a few pretty hefty folds in the backing fabric. Since it's going to be a wall quilt anyway, I'm not at all phased by this. I still haven't washed it, but I'll take some 'after' photos as well - I'll be interested to see how the first and third borders look once washed.


Quilt Stats:

Pattern: Marcelle Medallion by Alexia Abegg
Fabric: a huge range of different collections and designers
Quilting: Done by me on my domestic Bernina, using Aurifil thread
Size: 60" square.

43 comments:

joworimakes said...

This is just gorgeous! your quilting is amazing and you are so fast! Have loved watching your progress on this - need to get cracking on mine!!! :)

Pip said...

You should be really proud of this quilt, I agree with Emma Jane - GORGEOUS.

I really love all the fabrics and colours you have used and love how the quilting doesn't take over the quilt and enhances the piecing so beautifully.

Susan said...

It is gorgeous Jess! And the back really shows off your wonderful quilting! Did you end up doing any quilting in the blue patterned sections BTW?

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

It looks great Jess! The quilting is stunning!

Charlotte said...

all I can say is O_O

Di said...

It is absolutely beautiful and no wonder that you are so chuffed with it. Di x

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

It's stunning, Jess. Everything about it is beautiful :)

moira said...

jeez, Jess, enough flipping gorgeousness already *open mouthed in awe*

MsMidge said...

It's beautiful! I bought the digital copy of the book ages ago, but it's never worked properly....I really need to get the actual real life book lol

Julierose said...

Beautiful piece; I love all those borders--especially the little crosses. Congratulations hugs, Julierose

wobblybobbin said...

The colors, the fabric, the perfectly pointy points, and now the quilting are all so dreamy - it's beautiful!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Gorgeous!!

Anonymous said...

I love love love it! Can't wait to make one.

knottygnome said...

it's just gorgeous. i love it! the red bricks really stand out. I think that's my favorite part.

Debbie said...

absolutely beautiful! What amazing quilting - the icing on the cake!

Renee said...

Wow, just stunning! The colors and quilting look fantastic, such a pretty quilt to look at! I need to find a local quilting friend with kids, stat!

Heather D. said...

Beautiful! And I just love how the quilting shows on the back too.

Ella said...

I'm swooning over here. It's also a relief to know others get folds/puckers. I was having lots of issues with them yesterday, despite what I thought was a decent basting job. So so gorgeous, lady!

Jessica said...

It's gorgeous. You're gorgeous. Never stop being gorgeous! <3 you've half convinced me to make one!

Stephanie Granite said...

Absolutely beautiful! Almost makes me want to make one (I say almost because I know you must have put a TON of hard work into it)

Leanne said...

Your quilt is so beautiful, everything is perfect!

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Love everything about your Marcelle Medallion Jess! Fabulous finish!

Lynette said...

Nicely done! Your Marcelle is so pretty, and the quilting is fantastic. :D

Pennie said...

Absolutely stunning!

Wanda said...

I really like the colors in this quilt. Thank you for sharing.

Kirsten said...

This is so beautiful - love everything about it!

Carla said...

You are amazing! I wish I could find a couple hours to figure out the centre block ; ) Fabulous finish

sarah elizabeth :: {no} hats said...

Shuh-up... How do you fit all this into a day on top of motherhood no less?!

Alyce @ Blossom Heart Quilts said...

Man that was QUICK! It's gorgeous Jess, congrats!!

Patti said...

It's a glorious finish, Jess! Congratulations!

Adrianne @ On the Windy Side said...

Jess, this quilt is so stunning! I can't believe you counted the number of different fabrics in it - I think if I got to 200 I would be disheartened to think of all that ironing! Interesting to know your thoughts about batting too - I think the extra loft makes the quilting on this one really effective.

Serena @ Sewgiving said...

I love everything about this quilt :) You did it soooo quickly too - geez it would take me years lol!

Nat at Made in Home said...

It is SO beautiful!!!!

Siobhán said...

Your quilt is amazing, and the quilting is superb. Gorgeous finish!

Janelle @ Emmaline Bags said...

gorgeous work! I love your quilting so much and those were very bold fabric choices that came together so well. Inspiring! Janelle

Carli The Quilter said...

Gorgeous quilt!

Katy Cameron said...

Absolutely fabulous dahling!

Katy Cameron said...

Oh, and you can tell it's an Aussie quilt, the numbers are upside down ;o)

CitricSugar said...

Sooooo beautiful. I have to give you snaps and admiration - this is not a project for the feint (faint?) of heart! Gorgeous job!

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