TGIFF! Be a Unicorn FYOP and Pattern Release

Today I am happy to present my third version of my Follow Your Own Path quilt design that was originally featured (on the cover!) of Benartex's ezine Modern by the Yard issue #15. This was also the quilt for this year's annual quilt along that I host each year. This year was the fifth QAL! It always begins on my birthday, April 3, and ends on June 15, the birthday of a 'famous Canadian', my dad, who would drive my mum crazy by writing 'birthday of a famous Canadian' on his date on each year's calendar. We kids loved it. 

I am also pleased to host TGIFF here on the blog today where we link up our finished quilts!And, I am very pleased to release the pattern today which has directions for both the baby and throw sizes!

You can purchase the pattern in my Etsy shop, SandraJaneQuilts. It is on sale through the weekend for 25% off, which means it is just $8.25CA. Thank you so very much to Yvonne of Quilting JetGirl for her expertise in tech-editing skills, taking this pattern to a professional level.

The fabric I used for this throw size quilt is "Believe in Unicorns" by Ann Lauer for Benartex. It is really pretty fabric, with a couple of unicorn prints and several beautiful blenders.

The black with grey shot through it is one of Amanda Murphy's basics, 'Cotton Shot', also for Benartex. You can see in the photo below that I used the unicorn print in just one arrow, the unique, marches to her own tune, arrow.

After seeing Kathleen McMusing's terrific shot of her FYOP quilt on location, I had a think as to what would be a good one in my neck of the woods. This is Mettawas Station, former train station, now converted to a very well-known, excellent restaurant. I can personally vouch for the excellence! It was built in 1889 by Hiram Walker, yes that Hiram. The architect is the well-know Albert Kahn.

This third quilt got a little bit different quilting from the other two I made. I used a pale blue Aurifil, which they kindly sent me, in all of the arrows (it blends really well!) quilting ribbon candy and dot-to-dot in the main arrows, and lines spaced 1/2" apart in the arrow shadows. I quilted the background with a grey Aurifil of my own, doing a swirl and hook meander. I have finally got this down pat, and just love quilting it, especially swirls with double hooks! It's an Angela Walters design. The brown was what I used for piecing.

Isn't that backing fabulous?

Unicorn tails! The unicorn prints have metallic gold threads through them.

Hobbs Batting proved the 80/20 cotton/polyester black batting, perfect with the black background. If you ever wonder that it will show through or shadow where lighter fabrics are, do not worry! You can see it is just fine on the pale mauve.

I am totally in love with the swirly polkadots fabric I used for the binding. Here is an in-process closeup shot of binding.

Love the texture of the quilting. The threads sinked into the fabrics and batting so well. The 20% polyester in the 80/20 batting gives just a bit of extra poof.

I tried for a quilt drape shot, photo-bombed by Bella, who's getting rather too brave at being allowed 'just on the upper deck'. Here she is on the lower level, considering hopping off it...

Quilt Stats:

Pattern: Follow Your Own Path an original design by me

Size:  54" x 60"
Fabric: Believe in Unicorns by Ann Lauer for Benartex; background is Color Shot by Amanda Murphy

Backing:  Believe in Unicorns by Ann Lauer for Benartex
Batting: Hobbs black 80/20 cotton/polyester
Quilted: on Avril: 113 759 stitches

Threads: pieced with Aurifil 50 wtbrown 2360; quilted with Aurifil 50 wt light blue 2715 and grey 2610

Here are all three version of my design:

If you'd like to check out the parade of absolutely wonderful FYOP shadowed arrows quilt, click this link!

Linking up

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Quilt Fabrication

My Quilt Infatuation

Quilty Girl

TGIFF at Anja Quilts

Elm Street Quilts

Meadow Mist Designs - favourite finish for June

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