The Elegance of the Hedgehog - Project Quilting 14.4

 When the challenge for Project Quilting 14.4 was announced, A Novel Project, I knew exactly which book I wanted to highlight.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by the French author Muriel Barbery is my absolute favorite book.

 A moving, funny, triumphant novel that exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us (Goodreads).

 The phenomenal New York Times bestseller that “explores the upstairs-downstairs goings-on of a posh Parisian apartment building” (Publishers Weekly).

The book is very well written, it is a pleasure to read, try it out! 

 

 From the title of the book I just had to make a project with a hedgehog. After some internet searching I found the cutest, free pattern on the Flamingo Toes blog: Harriett the Hedgie Pillow.

I needed a new pillow, so this was a win-win situation! The pattern fits a 20" pillow form. I chose to narrow the borders a bit to make the pillow a little bit more puffy.

 Here's the pieced pillow front.

 

 The only time the hedgehog could prick me was in the basting process.

 

 After quilting the hedgehog is so soft and cuddly.

 

I made the back of the pillow with a hidden zipper closure.

 

I seem to have a preference for pillows in these Project Quilting challenges, here's a comparison with the 3" pincushion I made in PQ 14.3.

Keep on quilting!

The Missing U

 A new month and a new charity quilt. This time a very colorful one. I made my own version of The quilt The Missing U by Cheryl Arkinson from the book Sunday Morning Quilts, co-authored with Amanda Jean Nyberg.

 I took a deep dive in my scrap bins and made nine blocks of each color slab, the blocks finished at 12". Added narrow white sashing and dark blue corner stones.

The individual blocks were quilted with walking foot in matching Aurifil threads, and the sashing was hand quilted with big stitches in a white cotton crochet thread.

 The quilt finished at 38" square. Backing is a a cute Disney Princess fabric. Striped binding for the win!

 A detail picture of the quilting.

This is my fourth charity quilt for the year 2023, and number 96 all time for the children's ward at the hospital. 

 

Project Quilting 14.3

Here's my entry for Project Quilting 14.3, 54-40 of Fight, a mini pincushion.

Grey and black, but some optimistic blue in the corners. Interpret it as you like.

Golden Zipper Pouch

This is my latest pouch made. It is relatively large, and the starting point is the Open Wide Pouch by Noodlehead.

I made the exterior using the Quilt As You Go method, using leftover fabrics in fall colors. The design is log cabin'ish.

 A little bit different design for the front and back. I used a yellow/golden zipper and the lining is a dark red solid. I added a homemade zipper charm made from crocheted Aurifil wool embroidery thread with a matching bead.

 

Keep on quilting!

 

 

LOTS of Disney Cars

 

I happened to get a hold of two Disney Cars panels, and I just couldn't get myself to cut them up. Instead I added some leftover blocks to the ends of each panel in addition to another Disney Cars fabric I used in a previous quilt in between. 

 

With a blue border, wavy quilting with the walking foot, and a camo binding, this will be a popular quilt among young boys. The finished size is approximately 36" x 46".

This is my third charity quilt for the year 2023, and number 95 all time for the children's ward at the hospital.

Keep on quilting!

 

Portland Quilt

 My second quilt finish for 2023 is the Portland Quilt by Kate at @seaminglykate. This is a free pattern at her website.

 

 The quilt is a good lap size of 54" square. Fabrics are from the line Birchtree Lane from Connecting Threads, in addition to white solid in the sashing. All fabrics from my stash.

Pictures were taken on a cold winter day with my trustworthy quilt holder DH holding it up.

 

 The pieced backing in green tones.

 

I had lots of fun free motion quilting with Aurifil thread.

 

 FMQ on my domestic sewing machine with a white loopy border in the sashing, and stars and loops in the print areas with a thread color blending in.

The whole quilt laid out on my deck. Binding is a matching blue print.
 

This is my second charity quilt for the year 2023, and number 94 all time for the children's ward at the hospital.

Keep on quilting!