Finished - Kasey's Kerchief Quilt

We make quilts for many reasons.  For gifts, for healing, for donations, for fun.  This quilt was made for love. The love of a dog.
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After 13 plus years, we lost our very special Kasey last year.

In the process of going through her things, we realized we had collected a surprising number of kerchiefs from her visit to the groomer, her "spa."  My husband was the first to suggest that a quilt should be made from these various odd shaped triangles.

I finished the quilt top in July.  This is a special quilt and deciding on the quilting took some time.  I finally sucked it up and jumped into the quilting and I am thrilled to share with you the finished Kasey Kerchief Quilt.  Kasey loved the cold and snow so I ran out in the 4 degree temps for these.

As this quilt is staying with us, it seemed like the perfect project to practice my FMQ'ing.  In each white stripe, I quilted lines both "free-hand" and with a ruler.  It took some time, but I think I have figured out how to hold a ruler and move the quilt at the same time.  Believe me, that is really is a lot to think about at the same time! Each white stripe has a linear and round-ish element.

For the incomplete chevrons at the top and bottom I experimented with more quilting designs.

The chevrons made of the kerchiefs are stitched in the ditch with monofilament thread (another first for me). All of this quilting created wonderful texture.

The backing of the quilt and the binding is a dark paw print that just seemed right for this dark dog.  Left-over kerchief slices add a little color to the back.

Someday I will figure out that if you want to hide your quilting imperfections, one should NOT use a black backing, even if using a thinner thread in the bobbin.

 I was unable to print a picture on my home ink-jet printer (after two failed attempts involving serious fabric jams).  I ended up using an iron-on method.  Kasey is in her 13th year in this picture and enjoying one of her favorite activities, riding in a boat.

Quilt Facts:
Finished size:  64" by 64"
Thread used:  primarily Aurifil 2021 and Aurifil monofilament.  Bottom Line thread in bobbin for quilting.
Fabrics used:  Kona White and Kasey's Kerchiefs (sorry don't have the name of the dark paw print fabric) and a little Best of Show (with the Bernese Mountain Dog's fussy cut).

Thank you for letting me share this special quilt with you.  Linking up with Amanda Jean's finish it up Friday and Jessica's TGIFF. Also, linking up with Pretty Bobbin's I Quilt: Imperfect Perfection.

 Kathy