Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Lattice Birds - It’s a Finish!

It’s like having a baby. I know I’ve said that before, but sometimes finishing a quilt (especially one that takes more than 9 months to make) feels like having a baby. And my new baby is Lattice Birds.

First, let me apologize for the less-than-stellar photos. Well heck, all my photos are less than stellar. But I am hoping that when the weather warms up (and the damp grass and mud, etc) disappear, perhaps we can take this out for some nice photos. We’ll see.


This project was started at the very beginning of 2018, although I had planned it out during the fall of 2017. I wanted birds alternating with Irish Chain to mimic the effect of lattice. We have grape vines that grow in our backyard along a lattice wall that protects the patio from the afternoon sun. Every few years we’ll get bluebirds in there who build nests and raise a clutch or two of hatchlings. So, that’s where the idea for the quilt came from.

As I have occasionally mentioned (more often when I first started this project), I first purchased the Feathers pattern from The Pattern Basket (Margot Langedouc). I found the
directions confusing and cumbersome (probably a little bit her and a little bit me, LOL), and anyway it made a 8” finished block. I needed a 10” block to alternate with the Irish Chain. So, I found a free picture/pattern online at QuiltingSupport.com, but that site doesn’t seem to be online anymore. But it’s in my Pinterest board under Tutorials.

Anyway, it showed a basic picture for a nearly identical bird to Margot’s, and I don’t know whose bird was first. Regardless, I didn’t use either pattern exactly, but altered them for my needs. The main differences are that: (1) the bird is set in a 10” square, (2) the wing has a flip corner in front (thanks, Sally) to round it, (3) the tail is shorter and (4) there is no fussy micro-piecing for the beak. I made it as a prairie point and inserted it into the seam near the head, then stitched it down.




So please excuse me if I refer to these as “my birds” and “my quilt design”. I own the quilt; it’s a derivative design for personal use, and I have made the proper attributions in the previous paragraph. I only mention it because I had an anonymous reaming last year by someone who took exception to me calling them mine.




Lattice Birds used primarily Kona White and Kona Ocean (blue), but the colors were inspired by the floral fabric I used in the center patches of the Irish Chains, the border, the back and in some of the blue birds. The feature fabric is called Maggie, and it’s from Tamara Kate’s line called Frolic from a couple years ago. 


The quilting was done by Diane Knott of Butterfly Threads Quilting. Diane is the author of two books, Scrap Quilt Secrets and Strip Quilt Secrets, which I’ve mentioned here on my blog before. Strip Quilt Secrets is a great book and I’ve already picked out several of her quilts I want to do!  Diane quilted it in a pattern called Tweet Tweet with light blue thread. Below you can see not only the flowers and swirls, but the hint of a bird, beak and wing just in front of the yellow/pink bird below. 


Diane did a lovely job (thank you!), is very reasonably priced, and it was a really quick turnaround. I guess I lucked out with the timing!! I highly recommend her quilting services (and book!)


Lattice Birds measures about 88x108”.  It’s huge on our queen-sized bed, but I’m expecting it to shrink a couple inches in each direction when laundered.  :-)


And Darla approves, so what more could you ask?? She did say that now that I’m done sewing birds, I should start on a FISH quilt....


Lattice Birds was my #1 Goal for the first quarter Finish-Along. You can see my goal list HERE.  I’m also linking up to Sarah’s “Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?” Friday.


Thanks for stopping by!

28 comments:

  1. I have really enjoyed watching your lovely bird quilt take shape...bravo! Bravo!!

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  2. What a fabulous finish! If it were on my bed I would pause to admire it each time I walked by.

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  3. Beautiful quilt, I just love those birds! I’ve enjoyed seeing your progress!

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  4. Sigh! I'm so happy to see the final result of all your hard work on Lattice Birds! I've loved this quilt every step that you've shared along the way. Except the anonymous reaming. WTH?? These are TOTALLY your birds! That kind of criticism just frosts my cookies. You have my permission to completely ignore anonymous crap like that. In fact, you can even delete anonymous comments. It's YOUR blog.

    Ahem. Sorry. Back to the quilt. It's gorgeous! The birdies are so bright and sweet, the lattice design is so crisp in the blue and white, and of course that focal fabric...to die for! Thanks for pointing out the birdie quilting, too. Very clever and appropriate, without overwhelming your stellar piecing. Congratulations on such a wonderful finish to grace your own bed :)

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  5. Your quilt is gorgeous! I have admired it every step of the way. And the design is yours. Every pattern that anyone has designed is a variation of another pattern or based on an antique quilt design. When you tweak a pattern like you did, then it becomes your own. You should not feel bad at all. Everyone does it. Congrats on a beautiful finish!

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  6. Oh I just love how this finished. The quilting is so beautifully done. You have said every step of the way that you altered the pattern to fit your needs...so there!!
    xx, Carol

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  7. LIke a recipe when you change 3 things it is your recipe or in this case bird pattern. Love the colors and the whole idea withe the Irish chain to create the lattice effect.
    And of course the lovely little beaks!!

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  8. What a beautiful quilt--something you will be proud of and cherish for a long time to come--
    now you can make me one!!!! ok--so a girl can hope right???
    luv, di

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  9. Congratulations, Mama! This beautiful quilt is certainly worth all the work you’ve put into it. The whole design, the colors and especially the feature fabric show your thoughtful process. I think it is the finest quilt you’ve ever made, of course my memory is not that great. It looks beautiful on your bed. May the bluebird of happiness fill your dreams.

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  10. Hi Cathy! What a beautiful finish Lattice Birds is. With all of the changes you made to the bird pattern, I think you may call it your bird. Every single design is inspired by something or someone else, and there are only so many ways to make the basic shape of a bird. I think your prairie point beak is a genius idea, but you are certainly not the first person to think of it. You certainly have given credit where credit is due, and now let's just enjoy the finished quilt shall we?! Doesn't it just look fabulous on your bed?!! Nice and Springy and happy looking - you must smile each time you pass by. You are inspiring me to make my own . . . some day. Happy Wednesday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  11. Your quilt is wonderful, soaring birds just in time for spring!! Enjoy it!!

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  12. This quilt is absolutely stunning! Love it, I love the colors! It is so happy and very appropriate for this time of year...

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  13. Beautiful quilt. And around here they have Stellar Blue Jays, so your photography is perfect. And Molly suspects that every permutation of patchwork block has been made before. But she is certain that Darla is stealing the look of Molly's beautiful eyes.

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  14. Love the birds and love the Irish chain setting like each was framed!!! Congratulations on the new baby. What shall we name it? We could discuss anonymous (or not) reaming but is it really worth it? Hugs to you and your new baby!!! Enjoy the snuggles

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  15. I say call yours! Your inspiration was the other two bird patterns. But the bird and lattice design was all yours!

    If you do the fish kitty will then want mice!

    Love the birds quilt!

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  16. Congrats on that beautiful finish! What fun and unusual quilting on it too! Now if I could just spot a robin...

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  17. Well, I do like your birds. I mean prairie points and everyrhing—what a neat idea. And I love that the inspiration was the birds nesting in your lattice. Such a pretty quilt. And I totally get not being able to take photos outside—it’s definitely the grungy time of year out there.

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  18. Such a happy finish! I know you will smile every time you lay eyes on this quilt! I hope you put a label on it!

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  19. Your bird quilt is wonderful!! Such happy colors for the birds in a great setting. Thanks for sharing!

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  20. Absolutely beautiful! And I'm so glad Darla likes it too. Such a happy quilt for your bedroom!

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  21. I’ve been watching you make those birds and the result is stunning! The stop border color is perfect the birds are cute, the quilting is “spot on”! Wonderful! Congratulations! Ps....about the criticism regarding your birds!..... forget about it,, some people just can’t stand it when others are successful, I, for one, think your birds are perfect! 🐦

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  22. I must admit to being just a tad sorry that this quilt is done because I've so much enjoyed watching you making it. I know I have told you before (several times over!) how much I love it. Definitely one of my favourites (and if you ever happen to get tired of it, my bed up here in Canada could use a little freshening up...ahem.....)

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  23. "Your Quilt" is absolutely lovely! The birds are beautiful and Everything looks perfect. I would love to make a smaller quilt of the same type. I'm Irish, so the Irish part is a no brainer, and I love the way the birds look! Any suggestions for a new quilter?
    Pat Mastel patstmpnpd@aol.com

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  24. Somewhere along the line I missed this post of yours, but I hope you already know how much I love this quilt! Your birds are wonderful, as well as the blue chain and I especially love your inspiration fabric. I'm glad you were so happy with the quilting - it really is beautiful! Wonderful finish, Cathy!

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  25. Gorgeous! And a perfect finish for spring. (And I totally agree - they are your birds!)

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  26. How did I miss this one? It's so pretty! The chain blocks are perfect with the birds, and I love the color. The birds themselves are spectacular! All around just a beautiful, happy quilt. As for the anonymous poster, you must do as Veronica Dearly says and "mentally fling them into a volcano." Of course they're your birds!

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  27. What a pretty bird quilt! And, hey - I have that panto! I'm with those who say when you've taken other patterns and changed them up, your result is your own, with the inspiration of the others. :)

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