Wall Hangings: Showy Little Quilts

Here's what I love about making a quilted wall hanging:

1. They're small enough that I can whip one up in a weekend.

2. I can do the quilting myself, instead of sending it out to the long-arm.

3. When hung, everyone can see the quilty wonderfulness.

Wall hangings are a great use for that little bit of fabric that you have . . . not enough for a full-sized quilt, but pretty enough that you want to use it. And backing fabric is no problem for two reasons: You don't need much, and it won't be seen until one of your discerning quilter friends decides to do an inspection. :)

I have finished three wall hangings in the past year, and have two more waiting for me to quilt (quilting is not my strong suit, so I have to gear up!).

This large anchor quilt wall hanging I made with blue batiks on a white background. The pattern is "Anchors Away" by Denise K. Bane. She is nice enough to share her pattern for free on her website, I Am a Quilter. She shows how to make this quilt with ombre fabrics - so much fun!

Having a new (to us) condo means lots of big, blank walls. What better way to fill them than with quilts? Because we're on a lake, this "Choppy Waters" quilt seemed perfect. The pattern is from the Art East Quilting Company. Fabrics are Kona solids.

I love these variations in colors and I was really torn about whether to make the multi-color quilt or the one in blues. Maybe it's time to make another!

This blocky, modern quilt is from Karen Anderson Abraham of Blooming Poppies. "Guard Rails" is a fun modern, improv design that allows each maker to get creative and experiment with shapes and color combinations. This was my first try at a black background, which really makes the colors pop.

Check out this lighter version of "Guard Rails." So dreamy!

Now for my two wall hangings that are waiting in the wings! I love foundational paper-piecing and I've always wanted to tackle one of Veruschka Zarate's patterns. Her Vase of Flowers was so out of my league but I decided to give it a try. She is just the sweetest, and emailed me back and forth a little bit to help me through some rough spots. I love her Instagram presence - her enthusiasm is contagious.

So while I was in the FPP mode, I decided to try this modern marvel. "California Poppies" is a pattern by Tina Curran. This was an absolute joy to make, since I got to have fun with improvising on the poppies and the background.

I will be quilting and finishing these two wall hangings in the next few months (as soon as my sisters give me some lessons in some new quilting techniques I'm ready to try). Stay tuned for the finished products!

🦆

To learn more about these quilts and Diane's other quilting projects, contact her at diane.fitzpatrick@mac.com. And check out her Instagram page.

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