Sunday, March 22, 2009

The Going Away Quilt

This started as the "Asian Strip Gift Quilt", then it became "Tammy's Quilt", and now it has become "The Going Away Quilt". My friend, Tammy, is at this very moment driving across the country with her sister-in-law Susie (0ne of the funniest women inside AND outside of West Texas) on her way to Chicago where she will live forever. Or until retirement. Whichever comes first.

Tammy and Susie are driving Tammy's truck, along with all the stuff the movers wouldn't pack, like the liquor and the guns. And somewhere in all that is "The Going Away Quilt":

Tammy and I picked all Asian themed fabrics, for a rich looking quilt. We got most of them at the Quilt Man in Ashland, Virginia. My instructions for this easy, fast quilt from 30 fat quarters is here.

The quilting was done, again, by Susan Caldwell at Quilting Around the Block, and the design is called "Oriental". Here are some close ups, although they don't show how beautiful this pantograph is:


The quilting was done in gold thread, which blends with the golds in the fabrics, but I am happy with it. I love the quilt, and I love the friend I gave it to.
When we bought the fabrics for the quilt, Tammy also bought some pillowcase kits to go with the quilt. So last Sunday, Tammy had her first sewing lesson and made her very first pillowcase:


She was pleased as punch how it turned out and I was even more so. She ended up making two pillowcases, and we had a great time.

Parting Shot: Tammy will want to kill me for posting this because she is sans makeup, but here is Tammy lying on her new quilt with her newly made pillowcases. She will have to forgive me because I miss her so much already:

6 comments:

Vicki W said...

Great job! I think the quilt turned out awesome. Even better that you got Tammy sewing too! At least long distance calls to the Deerfield office are free.

gwensews said...

That's a lovely "theme" quilt. Congratulations on getting it done.

Summerset said...

Bittersweet! Such a pretty quilt, but sad that it is already leaving.

Anonymous said...

The really good friends may move, but they never go away. So you'll see Tammy and Glen more than you'll think possible now - you'll go to Chicago (though for your sake, not in the winter!) and they'll come to VA and you'll meet in between - believe me; in the past 30 years, I have never lived closer to my best friend than I do now (Boston to Philly) and you know how often we get together! It can be done! By the way, the quilt is gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

This is a beautiful quilt and I love the quilting pattern; it's perfect.

YankeeQuilter said...

What a great quilt...it will help her out as she starts her new life in in the Midwest!