Thursday, October 7, 2010

Red & Green Revisited

I saw these wonderful beauties at the NW Quilt Expo a couple of weeks ago. I can't get enough red and green applique quilts! They were part of the display from the Latimer Textile Museum in Tillamook, Oregon. I've seen the top two before and you can see more of the quilts at this post.




I'm not sure if you can tell on this block but it has a very close buttonhole stitch. It really looks like it was done by machine, but my friend and quilt lover Bill, suggests it may be done by hand. The quilting is phenomenal. The buttonhole stitch is done the opposite of how it is traditionally done. I hope you can see closer by clicking on the photo.
And here is my first block of Beyond the Cherry Trees by Sentimental Stitches. I've been wanting to do a red and green quilt for awhile and this one was just funky enough so  my applique skills wouldn't have to be perfect. The little dots inside the berries are done with reverse applique. I used several different methods to try and get the red cherries somewhat round and resorted to this method that Barb described.

36 comments:

  1. Lori, I am soooo itching to do a red and green! R&G is why I even bothered to learn to applique (and now I'm an addict! LOL).
    I love your new block -- and I do circles the "Barb" way, too. :-D After trying others, it was the only way I could get them to approximate, well, ROUND. LOL
    Beautiful, as usual!
    Blessings,
    Mary Lou

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  2. The red & green quilts are wonderful. I have some old blocks with buttonhole stitch done that way -- I thought the quilter didn't know how to make the stitch, but maybe it was intentional.

    Your block is gorgeous, and the cherries look perfect -- really like that little highlight in the center. Well done, Lori!

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  3. Love the red and white. Your first block is lovely! Lizzie

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  4. Hi LORI!!
    I LOVE this quilt!! It is so wonderful to see someone making one!! It is going to be incredible and will end up being an heirloom someday!! You GO girl!
    Paulette

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  5. The quilting on the old quilt is incredible. Love your appliqué block, you must have had lots of fun sewing it!

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  6. I love red and green quilts but have yet to make one. There's another one to add to my 'someday' list. :-)

    Love your new block - looks great.

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  7. Oh, it's going to be beautiful! Those fabrics are perfect, the look just like an antique.

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  8. How stunning! I am so intrigued by that bottonhole stitch... What a fascinating texture it adds.
    I love your block! Congrats!
    :)

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  9. I truly love red and green quilt, too! They are timeless. Love your block, I've been collecting her patterns but haven't had the chance to jump in yet.

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  10. Lori...this will be a beautiful quilt...love your first block!

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  11. Oh friend, I'm so happy to see these luscious quilts!!! My friend Cathi and I were just discussing Red & Green quilts the night before last. I was sharing (aka: whining) that I really needed to learn to applique else I'd never be able to make one that I wanted. She encouraged me to just work with the colors and make whatever I wanted to make but ho-hum... that advice wasn't good enough. I was, as I said, whiney. Very odd for me. You're shocked I know! hee. (still what about an Alabama Beauty in Red and Green? I am still in love with those...)

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  12. What gorgeous quilts! The quilting is fabulous.
    I never tire of seeing those beauties.
    Your first block looks wonderful. I only got a few of those patterns, so probably won't do that quilt. Your version looks like it could be an antique. :)

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  13. Oh I love all the blocks you showed! That is definitely a great combination, red and green... I need to be careful or I just might start ANOTHER project :o)

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  14. I love to see antique quilts, thanks for sharing!
    Your red/green quilt will be great.
    Denise

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  15. If someone did that buttonhole by hand, it took them a verrryyyyy long time. I love your applique' block. I am itching to do a red and green quilt, too. Will be back to see more of your blocks. LuAnn

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  16. Red & green is always a good combination for a quilt and especially antique quilts. I have seen the button hole stitch done "backwards". I shouldn't say backwards but opposite instead. I don't know if I have seen it done that way on an antique quilt though.

    I have been printing out the Beyond the Cherry Tree block patterns. Are you planning on doing all of them or just a selection?

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  17. I love red and green quilts too! These are lovely examples. Nice work on your newest project--great to use different techniques to achieve what you want!

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  18. Lori, Always happy to see these gorgeous quilts again. What is it about these red and green quilts that draw us back time and time again.

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  19. What beautiful applique!! Reverse appliqued cherries - I'm very impressed! I love looking at antique quilts in all their beauty and seeing that the circles aren't perfect and the applique stitches sometimes show - helps me relax a bit that my applique isn't perfect.

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  20. Lori, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE red and green. Thanks for showing these. It seems the genre is making a comeback of sorts lately, even though it never really went away.

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  21. I never get tired of seeing red and green quilts! Still have to make one of my own.
    Your block is really pretty. Thanks for sharing!

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  22. Red and green quilts have always been one of my favorites. Nice job on your block!

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  23. Red and Green, such a classic, your block is beautiful. Have fun working on this!

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  24. Oh wow wee on your block, I have the patterns saved for one day, I'm glad I can watch you make them.
    How could we not love the red and green quilts, thanks for sharing them, my all time favourites!

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  25. I, too, love the red and green quilts but have not gotten around to one yet..I must very soon!! Yours is lovely.

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  26. Your R&G block is looking good. Great idea about starting with a rather funky block. ALMOST anything goes! :)

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  27. How fortunate we are to see both a beautiful R&G antique quilt and the beginning of what will undoubtedly be a beautiful new R&G quilt.
    Thanks for taking us along, Lori. It's going to be great fun watching your progress.

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  28. The applique quilts are gorgeous, when I first made applique I did it that way, too! Your Cherry Tree block is wonderful!
    Happy stitching, Cisca

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  29. It was such a treat to see these red and green applique treasures. I have a special fondness for them. Your new block turned out beautifully. You really mastered those circles!

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  30. Who doesn't like red and green? Your block is so pretty, where did that pattern come from?
    I can't wait to see your quilt come together!

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  31. I really like that combination too. That stitch almost looks like a satin stitch. Someone who wanted to make sure their applique would stay in place, for sure! Your block looks great! I've saved those blocks, but haven't gotten around to making any.

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  32. Beyond the Cherry Trees is going to be gorgeous!

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  33. Thanks for sharing such beautiful blocks! A red and green applique quilt is on my list to quilts to to make some day.

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  34. Because of your "link within" I got to revist your revisiting of the red and green quilts. Do we ever get tired of them?

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  35. Hello Lori,
    I'm new to blogland and fell in love with yours. So I went back to your very first post and I am still in the process of reading them all. And this is where I'm at: the Red and Green quilts. So beautiful. Now here's my two pennies worth about this "reverse" buttonhole stitch. I too think it was done by hand. By no means am I an historian expert but I can tell you this and you let me know if it makes sense. It was hand made by a lefthander. We do everything backward or reverse. Back in the days, it was not well accepted to be a "south paw" and the nuns sure made it their duty to "reform" these children and "help" them write with the RIGHT hand!!! My grand mother did every thing with her right hand except quilting. She was a lefty and sewing was where her true self showed up. It is very rare to see a reverse buttonhole stitch because of that, I think. But like I've said, I am no expert. Being a lefty too, I find nothing wrong with this buttonhole stitch. :)
    Keep up the great work on the fabric and on the web. May your bobbins never run empty.
    Chantal

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    Replies
    1. Chantal, You bring up such a good point and one I had not thought of!! What you suggest makes perfect sense!!
      I hope you come back here to find this reply as I could not find an email to send to you.
      Thanks so much for commenting!!

      Delete

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