In June I wrote a blog post about starting to design a quilt for my stepdaughter, Alisha, who got engaged to her girlfriend, Wendy, earlier this year with the plan to get married in early 2019. I used a pattern called Fire Whirl in the Scraps, Inc. book that was designed by Lee Heinrich and decided to use solids in teal, turquoise, and red violet with splashes of orange. I chose fabrics using my Kona solids swatch card, and I have to say that several of the fabrics that seemed like they would work well together when I looked at the tiny swatches did not look so good together when the yardage arrived. By process of trial and error, these are the Kona solid colors I ended up choosing for my version of Fire Whirl which I named Wedding Whirl: Teal Blue, Caribbean, Breakers, Dark Violet, Geranium, Magenta, Torch, Flame, Violet, Berry, Turquoise, and Peacock.
I then spent the next couple months making over 750 HSTs (3” unfinished) and starting to sew blocks together, and in August I sewed the blocks into rows for the top half of the quilt. Oh my word, there were SO many seams to match!!! My Aug ‘18 OMG Finishes post shows a lovely shot (minus a pesky shadow) of the half quilt top with my out-of-control sunflowers. (Below is the a photo of the whole quilt top finished on 9/16/18).
I had a sneaky feeling that the engaged couple might not be able to wait until next year to get married, so I decided to prioritize getting this quilt top finished and started sewing the blocks for the bottom half of the quilt in early September. And then a week ago, I received a text that they had eloped. Below is a photo of the happy married couple (my stepdaughter, Alisha, is the lovely bride in the wedding gown).
So the following day, I did a long day of sewing with my best friend, who is a fabric presser extraordinaire, to get the quilt top finished. And because Michael at ThreadBear, who is usually my long-arm quilter, was so backed up with quilt tops to be quilted, I sent it to Melissa at Sew Shabby Quilting who is highly recommended by Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter. I’ve actually sent Melissa two quilt tops in the last two weeks, and I can’t wait to get my quilts back from her.
Linking up to From Bolt to Beauty: Brag About Your Beauties.
Quilting is in my Blood 
Hi! I remember seeing this quilt top when it was just half its size, and it was stunning. It is even more so now, only outshined by the lovely couple. What a nice setting for their wedding picture. I really, REALLY LOVE the colors you chose and the fabrics for this piece. I hope they enjoy it and feel all the love you’ve stitched into this quilt for them. I wish them all the best, many blessings and successes going forward. ~smile~ Roseanne
LikeLike
Congratulations to your growing family. Melissa is a fabulous long arm quilter, and I know she’ll do an amazing job on this beautiful quilt for your stepdaughter!
LikeLike
What a colouful gift for the happy couple to remember their special day. Wishing all the best for the newly weds.
LikeLike
Love the movement in this quilt. Brava!
LikeLike
Yes, yes, yes! I know that pattern — it’s so good. I’m glad you forged ahead and made all those HSTs. The results were well worth the effort. And I can’t wait to see the quilting!
LikeLike
Pingback: Wedding Whirl Finished! | Quilting is in my Blood
How lovely, both the quilt and the couple! Congrats to all.
LikeLike
I just commented on your latest post showing the final quilt and had to come back and look at your links to the story of it. I love your take on the original pattern and the colors you chose.
What a sweet couple – they are so attractive. 🙂 They look so happy!
LikeLike