Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Bro Quilt


This was my big Christmas project this year. As in, consumed most of my December. Because I am crazy and a sucker for compliments, I didn't decide to make my younger brother a quilt until after Thanksgiving. That's when he saw this one and said he liked my quilts. What's that? You like my quilts? Then, yes you will have one. 



Luke is a real guy's guy. He climbs huge mountains and deadly glaciers. He'll camp in the middle of nowhere on any night of the year. He wears mostly things made out of high-tech insulated materials with names I can never remember. He moved to Las Vegas a few months ago just because he could. Besides all of that, he is just an amazing brother and brother-in-law and uncle to us. 

So I envisioned this quilt that kind of looked like it was going places, just like my brother. I've been wanting to make a flying geese quilt with a different spin. It's also somewhat inspired by Tula Pink's Field Study pattern, which is perfect because I knew I wanted those Prince Charming raindrops to be showcased. All of the prints are from my stash, I just added the Bella Navy and Teal solids. The dark background is pretty hard to photograph, but I love the way the navy looks. It's strong and manly but not at all drab.




My favorite thing about it might be that back is corduroy! Super soft, grass green, fine-wale corduroy. I got the idea when a customer in the shop did the same for the back of her quilt. It came out great, but the next time I use corduroy I think I will pre-wash it. I don't usually prewash anything for quilts, but after I washed the finished quilt it seemed like the back shrunk just slightly more than the front. Not a big problem, just something I will keep in mind next time.




Here's a close up of the Michael Miller Old Script print, just because I love it. I also love the Cloud 9 Across the Pond Banks print with the little arrows. Arrows in the arrows- it's meta.




I think it came out to about 65" by 80," but I didn't measure after washing. Putting together fabrics and a design for a man quilt- a single, 24 year old man who lives in Vegas- was really a fun challenge. I would recommend making a man quilt to anyone. And Luke seemed to be very happy, so I'm happy.














{Sew} Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations



Fresh Poppy Design

16 comments:

  1. Very nice, Jessica! I think you did very well. It's manly and modern. I like it!

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  2. This is a beautiful quilt. I love how the navy background really shows off the prints. No wonder your brother was very very happy. I recently used the raindrops print to line a jacket. Isn't it pretty?

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  3. i love it and of course, your brother loved it too. it's perfectly manly, for a quilt.

    i gave my brother a circle of geese color wheel for christmas. he asked, what do i do with it? then, he recovered and said thanks.

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  4. Ummm... I like your quilts too. :)

    This is such a great one!!! Over Christmas I made a flannel snuggle blanket for myself and did a 7 inch border of corduroy on all sides. Afterwards I wish I would have backed it in the mother too cuz it is SO COZY!!!

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  5. Very cool - an unusual & fantastic quilt! So glad your brother liked it. Very interesting about the corduroy- I never would have thought of that! (aside....when my son moved out of the house, he asked, "I do get to take my quilts with me, don't I?") ;-)

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  6. Awesome, and very manly. I love the whole idea of going in two directions at once. Seems appropriate for your brother!

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  7. This is really, really cool. Perfect gift! And how awesome that he likes your quilts :)

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  8. Very awesome - and definitely manly! Lucky bro.

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  9. Your quilting is painfully awesome.

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  10. love the arrows! i've been wanting to make something with arrows . . .

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  11. This is so awesome! I have been looking for some boy quilt ideas as there will be quite a few entering our family this year. Great job!

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  12. This is a really special quilt--I love seeing different quilt designs for men. This one is really striking to me!

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  13. It's optimal in manliness. Yep, check check. Looks good!

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  14. Love, love, love it! It's an awesome, bold quilt, and I bet your brother was ecstatic! If he wasn't, I think you have my address. ;)

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  15. this is perfect. i love the quilting and it is so manly! if he doesn't have any hair on his chest i am sure he will after a few nights with this quilt! ;)

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  16. I love this quilt! The design is just perfection. I love the "reverse" geese. I have a huge amount of fine-wale cord in my stash that I have been wondering how to use, maybe I will dare to use it to back a quilt now that I see yours.

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