Monday, March 24, 2014

Tennessee Lightnin' Strikes Again



Tennessee Lightnin',  54" x 70",  is now quilted!
It started back here, with some old shirts bought with friends on a trip to Tennessee 
and inspiration from the book, Bold Improvisation by Scott Heffley.




It had another border for awhile, but it just wasn't working for me.    




I quilted it with straight lines, using the free motion foot.  
The trick is turning the quilt at each corner, so you're always sewing forward or backward, 
not side to side or diagonally.  At first I tried it with the walking foot, but the fmq was faster.




I kept the diagonal quilting lines going in the border.  
It's hard to see, but it makes a nice overall texture.




Even the binding got to join the diagonal dance!




Now for more play with fans.  Hmm, straight or diagonal?











28 comments:

Rachaeldaisy said...

Yay for quilting Tennessee Lightnin!! The border it ended up with really suits it perfectly!! I love your fans too, both ways look great but I think I like them pointing upwards a bit more.

Unknown said...

Beautiful quilt! The darker border really makes the colours sing :)

Tonya Ricucci said...

woohoo, congrats on finishing your fabulous quilt!!!! your quilting is excellent. gotta say I like the fans better on the left side (is that diagonal?)

Julie Fukuda said...

That is really stunning and I have great admiration for someone who can make a machine behave that well.

audrey said...

That black floral works perfectly! Love your very striking quilt and those fans are wonderful. Will be fun to see where you go with those.:)

smazoochie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
smazoochie said...

I have always loved your Lightning quilt, it inspired my lightning quilt. Free-motioning the zigzags is pretty darn smart (maybe next time, for me).
You are my inspiration!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Diagonal for fans

LOVE your lightning quilt - and that new border!,,

regan said...

This quilt is fantastic! I love how bold it is! Awesome! And I vote for diagonal on the fans! They're gorgeous, too!

Chris said...

I heart your zigzag quilt - border quilting all of it! Nice fmq! And the fans? Diagonal on the fans. Have fun!

Sherrill said...

LOVE it--so beautiful!!

Kim said...

Oh wow love the zigzag, I can't believe you took the borders off and replaced them, but you are right the new border is just perfect.
Oh the fans are gonna be wonderful not matter how you place them :0)

Happy Sewing

Barb said...

FABULOUS finish! can't believe you FMQ the straight lines - good for you!!
I love the floral border, perfect foil for this quilt.
Your fans are wonderful. Are they vintage or did you make them?
I have to say I like them straight.

Cathy said...

I love your Tennessee Lightning. Very striking. Hugs

cinzia said...

lovely quilt! I like the fans on the diagonal!

Karen said...

Yay!! I know you are doing a happy dance :). And the fan blocks are looking so good,

Cynthia@wabisabiquilts said...

Really playful and strong - just awesome. The fans will be great too - I like seeing your progress on those. I think I said this before but... I love your use of red as a "neutral" - nothing neutral about it!

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I like the fans on the right best.

Carol E. said...

I love your zig zag!!

Marit said...

Another great pattern I would love to make! Such a fun and colorful quilt. I think your border really binds it all together. Well worth not settling for the first choice. And your quilting is the perfect choice
; )
Not so clever with fan blocks, but a bit inspired by using the shape as snakes... I think Denyse Schmidt has one in her latest book. Sorry, just a stray thought... Have fun testing out your options.

Annemieke said...

Dramatic border fabric, I like it. I can imagine why you chose the dark one. Your quilting looks very good and of course fits this design very well. The fans look fun too. It is maybe a bit more uncommon to place them straight? But I think they will look good anyway.
Groetjes
Annemieke

fiberchick said...

Really striking quilt and I love the darker border. Have never heard of quilting straight lines fmq- thanks for the tip!

Marisa said...

Your finished quilt is awesome. I love all the colors and patterns together. Floral border worked out very well. Congrats on finishing it. Well done.

Mary Keasler said...

Fabulous. The finish is perfect. Can't wait to see it in person. :) And now for those fans. Whatever you decide will be perfect!!!

Yvette said...

via Nat....i love love love your quilts

imquilternity said...

Ooooo... it's gorgeous... I love it! I agree with you about the second border being the perfect choice.

Anonymous said...

Your quilts are so gorgeous! Love the diagonal fans too :-)
Mandy

Monica said...

You source such amazing fabrics. I quite like the grey one too -- I could go either way. Very nice finish, great job!