Ocean Themed "Simply Serene" Couch Quilt

I machine pieced this quilt on my Bernina 240.

I quilted this quilt on my Janome QMP-18 long arm.


Finished size: 74" x 74"

(click on photos to enlarge)

🌊FINISHED QUILT:🌊

Front piecing: Using 99 ocean-colored charm squares (5" precut fabric squares), plus 41 blue & white half-square triangle blocks, I created a version of the "Simply Serene" pattern, but modified it to be 17 rows x 17 rows. 

Border: Added a 7¾" blue, green and purple batik I acquired in a bulk purchase from a quilting store that recently closed.

Backing: The backing fabric is "108 Earth Jewels - color #36" from Marshall Dry Goods.

Quilt Stitching, Pattern: Quilted using edge-to-edge "Sea Shells" from Wasatch Quilting.

Quilt Stitching, Thread: I used "Glacier" (So Fine 50 #471) thread on the front of the quilt, and "Blizzard" (So Fine 50 #451) on the quilt back.

Label: I embroidered my initials and the year right onto the binding, still one of my favorite ways to personalize a quilt's label.

🌊PROGRESS PHOTOS:🌊

Construction - Blocks:

This quilt all started when I discovered one day that I had collected a LOT of charm squares (5" precut fabric squares) from estate sales, store closings, and online stash decluttering sales. Several collections were blue and green tones, and I decided to find a pattern where all of these could work together in one quilt (sometimes called a "controlled scrappy").

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"Dottie" Artisan Batiks Charm Squares from Robert Kaufman

"Sapphire Sky" 5 Karat Mini-Gems from Wilmington Prints

"Take the Plunge" 5 Karat Mini-Gems from Wilmington Prints

The pattern I decided to use was "Simply Serene", although I did increase the length and number of rows, since I wanted this quilt to be square, not oblong.

I started by making 41 blue & white half-square triangle blocks. I sliver-trimmed each one.

 After I put the completed half-square triangle blocks on the design wall, I tested the location of many charm squares, moving them around to find color balance, while still keeping the "scrappy" feel.

For the setting triangles (both sides and corners) I chose "Tonga Batiks - Scuba (Seashells Tossed)" by Timeless Treasures (purchased from my local quilt store). I followed Quilt Fabrication's formula to calculate and confirm the correct size of the setting triangles.

I began joining blocks into rows.

Then I joined each row to the one before/after it. 

I pressed every seam as flat as possible. Lots of seams!

Here's the completed quilt-top center, ready to add the outer border.

Construction - Borders:

After auditioning three different fabrics from my stash for possible borders, I chose a blue, green & purple batik yardage that I acquired in a bulk purchase from a recently closed quilting store.

Lots of pins and measuring more than once to be sure the borders are the correct needed length. Added side borders first, followed by top and bottom.

Quilting:

I loaded the backing fabric (face down) onto my longarm, and then rolled the fabric back and forth a couple times between the front and back bars. This helps even tension and eliminates any folds in the backing fabric.

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After the back fabric was loaded, I draped one layer of high-loft Quilters Dream Puff batting over the backing, and then floated the pieced quilt top as a final layer.

The quilt sandwich is then completely basted through all 3 layers, stitching down one side, across the belly bar, and back up the other side, advancing and repeating, before it is finally ready to be quilted. This pre-basting saves me so much time in the long run, since it leads to straighter quilting!

I used my ProStitcher software to resize, repeat, and wrap the edge-to-edge "Sea Shells" from Wasatch Quilting.

Beginning the first of 8 rows.

By the second row, I was in love with "Sea Shells". Due to the intricate sea shell details, the design does have several areas of backstitching, so it was a pretty slow stitch out.

The stitch pattern is intricate and flowy but not too dense, so it doesn't take away at all from the beautiful batik fabrics.

Finishing up the final row, #8 of 8.

Trimming:

I lined up my ruler to trim exactly 7¾" from the inner edge of the batik border, helping the quilt  to remain square.

Binding:

I joined together several 2.5" strips of a vivid blue batik I had in my stash, making a total of 330" of binding. Then I ironed the binding fabric in half lengthwise. 

I embroidered my initials and the year directly onto the binding (using my Pfaff's alphabet feature) before I attached it to the quilt.

First I attached the binding strips to the back of the quilt, using my sewing machine and a 1/4" seam.

I joined the binding ends on the bias to reduce bulk. 

Then I wrapped the binding around and attached it to the front of the quilt. 

I use thick corsage pins when I can to help me make neat, mitered corners.

Washing:

To absorb some of the vibrant fabric dyes and prevent them from bleeding onto the white fabric, I machine washed the finished quilt (cold water, no bleach) using dye trapping sheets (I use either Color Catchers or Color Grabbers). 

 

After washing, the stitching is exquisite, the drape is lovely, the quilt is very soft, and just puckery enough - perfect!

🌊QUILT SUMMARY:🌊

I machine pieced this quilt on my PFAFF Expression 710.

I quilted this quilt on my Janome QMP-18 long arm.

Finished size: 74" x 74"

Front piecing: A 17 x 17 row version of the "Simply Serene" pattern, using 99 ocean-colored charm squares and 41 blue & white half-square triangle blocks. Surrounded by a 7¾" blue, green and purple batik border.

Back: Wide "108 Earth Jewels - color #36" from Marshall Dry Goods.

Binding: Machine sewn vivid blue batik.

Quilting: Edge-to-edge "Sea Shells" from Wasatch Quilting. "Glacier" (So Fine 50 #471) thread on the front, "Blizzard" (So Fine 50 #451) on the back.

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