Finally finished...

[Mrs Robeson]

The quilt top I have been piecing totally by hand. 5449 pieces

[AllegroRondo]

1. wow!

:applause:

that must have taken forever!

[Mrs Robeson]

4. It took...

13 months, but I did make a few other items while I was working on it too. I do work full time and Robeson and I like to go out some!

[China_cat]

2. Hand pieced or machine?

[Mrs Robeson]

3. Hand pieced...

I love to hand piece. It is so relaxing to me.

[China_cat]

5. Labor of love

and it shows.

[Mrs Robeson]

6. Thanks

:hi:

[Longhorn]

7. That is really amazing!

Am I correct that the design of each square is also pieced? I don't think I have the patience, let alone the skill! :yourock:

[Mrs Robeson]

10. Yes, they are all pieced...

They go from 30 pieces per 6 inch block to 274 pieces. I liked the 30 piece ones the best, but I love them all.

[eridani]

8. Wow!

How small is the smallest one?

[Mrs Robeson]

9. How small?

Well...one of the six inch blocks has 274 pieces!! It took me three days to make it!

[eridani]

11. That's absolutely amazing!

What did you allow for selvage? Both of my SILs quilt, and I've never seen them use any piece smaller than an inch.

[Mrs Robeson]

15. Seam allowance...

I cut all the pieces with 1/4 inch seam allowance and when the block is finished I grade the seams which takes alot of the bulk out and will make it easier to quilt. Some of the pieces were smaller than the seam allowance...but they go together and the piece starts getting bigger so its easy to handle after 3 or 4 pieces.

[KarenS]

12. This quilt is stunning !!

Your color choices are perfect.

Beautiful piece.

I cannot imagine hand piecing all of this. Is it hand quilted, too??

Good Job!!

[Mrs Robeson]

16. Thanks!!!...

I wanted to make a bright quilt with lots of geometric fabrics. It was lots of fun-each block was like a mini quilt and I got to pick new fabrics!
I am going to send it to some Amish women for the hand quilting-that is not what I enjoy. :hi:

[peacefreak]

13. Holey Moley, it's beautiful.

The lucky person who sleeps under this is destined to have good dreams. Great color play.

[Mrs Robeson]

17. Thanks peacefreak...

Robeson and I will be sleeping under it eventually!!!
First, I am going to enter it in some shows.:hi:

[Zookeeper]

14. Beautiful!

Congratulations on finishing such a big project!

Your choice of colors is excellent. I particularly like the way the tan works as a foil for the pretty candy colors.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

:hi:

[Mrs Robeson]

18. Thanks Zookeeper...

I had so much fun with the color in this quilt! I didn't even buy the tan fabric until I had all the blocks made-wasn't sure what color I would end up with. I like it, too!:hi:

[Arkansas Granny]

19. That is a beautiful quilt and a true representation of your skill.

Are any of the blocks repeated or is each one different? I can see some that look similar in design, but I can't spot any two of them that are the same piecing pattern.

[Mrs Robeson]

21. Thanks!! ArkansasGranny

The quilt is a reproduction of a quilt made by Salinda Rupp in 1870. No 2 blocks are alike. She did hers in golds, greens, reds and yellows. I get bored too easily if all the blocks are the same...I am a glutton for punishment.:D

[knitter4democracy]

20. You are putting that in the State Fair, right?

From what I saw at ours last year, that would get a blue ribbon for sure.

[Mrs Robeson]

22. State Fair..

I belong to the American Quilters Society and they have a show in Paducah, Kentucky every April and then another show in Nashville, Tennessee in August. I am going to enter it in the show next April...I missed it this year because the deadline to have slides in is January 4. I entered 2 quilts in the Nashville show last year-it was lots of fun!!
I have entered lots of things in the State fair over the years but their security at the one here is not very good and I would hate to have something happen to it.:-)

[knitter4democracy]

25. Even better! It'll get a ribbon for sure!

Other quilters will know that for the work it is and the art it is. Good choice. I'll bet that's a fun show, too. Do they have a convention that goes with it? I lurrrve fiber arts conventions. :D

[Mrs Robeson]

26. AQS Show...

Yes, the quilt show lasts for 4 days and teachers come from around the world and there are hundreds of vendors...it is pure hell!!!;) I don't usually take any classes-just if I want to meet the teacher but...I certainly leave plenty of money behind and get lots of new stuff.

[knitter4democracy]

28. Sounds like the knitting guild conferences I love so much.

*sigh* It's just too much fun. :)

[eleny]

23. I've opened this thread a number of times....

But I haven't yet found the right words. I can only imagine the impact of this quilt in person. Good luck with it when you enter it. I hope it lasts forever.

[Mrs Robeson]

24. You're so sweet eleny!!!

Thank you so much!:hug:

[eleny]

27. Oh, pshaw!

:pals:

[earth mom]

29. OMG-I LOVE IT!

I absolutely love your color choices and that it's hand pieced and that you will have it quilted and completed by hand. One thing I don't like about modern quilt making is that so many quilts are finished with machine quilting. To me, if you're going to do that, you might as well buy a made in China quilt at Target. Bravo for you! :applause:

p.s. I've yet to make a quilt-have the books, love to sew, but haven't taken a class or anything yet. Now I'm inspired to take a class and figure out "how to"!

[Mrs Robeson]

30. Thanks TheGoldenRule...

It is definitely a fun, bright quilt! I just got home from my local quilt shop and I took it to show them and they all were really nice and complimentary.
Most people can't believe that I do it all by hand.
You need to take your fabric and just start--make a pillow or something small. Practice, practice is where you gain confidence. I have been doing this for a long time and you should see some of my earlier stuff!!!If you already know how to sew you are half way there!! :hi:

[earth mom]

31. What also impresses me is all your color choices.

I looked at one of my quilt books and it said to start by picking 7 fabrics. You obviously have way more than that in you quilt and that's a big part of what makes your quilt so incredible IMHO.

Starting small is a good idea. I've long wanted to make a quilt for my kid so maybe a lap blanket for starters. If it's any good, I'll post some photos, though that may not be for several months! :)

[Mrs Robeson]

33. Hundreds of fabrics..

I definitely have a fabric obsession. I buy fat quarters here and there ...so when I go to make a quilt I have a wide selection.
I already had a huge stash and 15 years ago when my Grandmother died I was asked if I wanted all of her "stuff". I said YES!!! Well, a few weeks later my brother and Dad pulled up at my house in a U-Haul and preceded to unload 60 large boxes. It was absolutely amazing. She was 85 years old and obviously never threw anything away!!! I was washing and sorting for weeks--alot of it had to be tossed but I was in heaven. The first date I ever had with Robeson was during that time and when he came over there was a 6 foot tall mountain of washed fabric waiting to be ironed and put away!!! He knew from the start what he was getting in to!!!
Yes, post pictures--time doesn't matter--it's the enjoyment of the journey.:hi:

[earth mom]

35. What a great way to remember your grandmother! :)

I've long been tempted by fat quarters but thought that since I hadn't started a quilt that I couldn't/shouldn't buy any fabric. Thanks to you I can see it's the best way to get started quilting lol! O8)

[Le Taz Hot]

32. Wow!

Love the colors you've chosen. And by hand! :applause:

[Mrs Robeson]

34. Thanks LeTaz Hot...

Hand work is the best relaxer for me!!!:hi:

[Left Brain]

36. Mrs. R -

What a work of art and love! Congratulations on completing that beauty.

[Mrs Robeson]

37. Thanks, LB

It was lots of fun! :hi: