Ages ago, I picked up a big stack of embroidered panels. The centre panel needs some lines of stitching, and I plan to use my machine and a twin needle to complete those. There is a lot of sadness surrounding these panels (the previous owners story is sad), and I want to make them into something beautiful and most importantly, happy.
The panels already have the batting in place within the embroidery, I think the original design was a QAYG design, although the pieces don’t have any backing. I am thinking of using a MSQ method, that puts the backing on and joins in one go.
https://quiltingtutorials.com/tutorial/how-to-quilt-as-you-go-any-block
On my sewing forums, a lot of the suggestions were for a vintage type fabric to join these blocks. The original quilt design had the blocks edged with a bottle green peeper, and then sashed with a bright yellow/gold fabric. Let me tell you now, those two colours together?  I seriously do not like either. I was following the destash site, looking for an alternative, when a seller put up a beautiful antique rose fabric, in muted shades of beige/pink/blue; suitably vintage style. I thought it was great, but asked her advice just to be sure. She said it was lovely, but then suggested that instead of vintage, I should go modern.
What a revelation!!! This fabric has all the colours I love, and just pops. I am loving the contrast with the muted, but intricate embroidery. She was having a sale, and I picked up 5 metres, enough for the backing, plus a couple of cushions.
I then embroidered the straight lines on the centre panel (the only embroidery the previous owner hadn’t completed). My big girl was not impressed, and went a bit dodgy in places, but it got done.
The backing only shows in 1/2in strips on the front, but the colours just seem to pop!
I followed the same method used for the sashing/joins, on the edge binding. Originally I was going to bind in a solid colour, but felt that would over-complicate the design. I haven’t attached a label yet, but I will probably break my own rules and handsew that in place later.
She is all finished now, and ready to be a useful item in our household. I am trying to decide if she will be a big couch quilt, or perhaps on the spare bed.
Bittersweet – completed by Dani, April 2018.
