I am over the moon about this finish!  My new quilt is called Sophisticate because she is sewn up in a limited, subtle palette that reminds me of pearls and silk.  There is also a bit of metallic fabric here and there in the quilt and metallic thread was used in the quilting.  All in all, she is a refined, elegant quilt, I think!

Sophisticate was designed using my improv paper piecing design technique.  Antlers were my initial inspiration.  Of course, after playing with the block layout in EQ8, as well as the color placement, the final design doesn’t particularly scream “antlers.”  But, I tell my students in every class, that if the object inspires the block design, its job is complete.  It has served as inspiration. There is no need for the final design to reflect the object.  In fact, I often prefer that it doesn’t!

This picture makes my heart beat a little bit faster.  I found this chair at a yardsale a few years ago. I recovered the cushion for this photoshoot in one of my Improv fabric collection prints that coordinates with the quilt top so well that I also used it for the backing.  I borrowed the antlers from a woman here in town.  And my friend let me use her beautiful yard with tall summer grass for these pictures.

I straight line quilted Sophisticate with lines spaced 1/4″ apart.  The lines change direction in each section.  And they are done in coordinating shades of Aurifil 50 weight thread, and Superior metallic threads.  The metallic threads were used on the Kaufman Essex Yarn Dyed Linen Blend Metallic sections.  This was my first time quilting with metallic thread. The idea of metallic thread feels very “art quilt like” to me so I wanted to try using it in a modern quilt instead.  It worked out well! I used a 50 weight Aurifil thread in the bobbin and it was smooth sailing.

I love the texture that the quilting provides and how the antler sections, in grey, pop.  This shot shows how nicely the quilting shows on the back…and how perfect that backing fabric was for the job!

On Instagram, when I was showing sneak peeks of this quilt project, people mentioned that it looked like an enchanted forest of birch trees.  So, I wanted to share this shot with birch trees in the background too.

Here is one more gratuitous picture.  I think it looks ethereal!  I love that tall grass and the wild roses.

I have loved every second of making this quilt, except for the time when my sewing machine was acting up.  I’m a little sad that it is finished up now!  But, the timing couldn’t be more perfect because this is the last week of school and things are going to have to slow down a little bit in my sewing room for the next couple of months.