Sometimes, the planets align and produce the perfect moment to make something. I had been musing on a throw for our living room - something warm and subtle to snuggle under on the sofa. I've never really been a sofa-throw kind of person, but that room is chilly and I was fed up of returning duvets to the beds from whence they had been dragged.
I was fairly wedded to the idea of a quilt with large blocks of neutral-ish fabric, and then the stars aligned with an article in Marie Claire Idees and a sale on wintry fabrics at my local fabric shop.
And so my germ of an idea transformed itself into a throw. Some widths of wool suiting backed with thick black wool (so no need for additional batting), tied with embroidery floss and edged in bias tape.
Difficult to get a decent photograph of something large, in situ, in the chilly grey light. I have newly found admiration for those gorgeous photos in the quilt books. We had to make do with the garden bench.
But the cat says it is very cosy indeed.
Well, when it's indoors anyway.
I love sewing blog posts. A handful of words I don't understand - batting, floss, bias - and then something lovely to covet.
Posted by: The Coffee Lady | 16 February 2011 at 15:07
It looks very cosy.
Posted by: Gina | 16 February 2011 at 15:39
I don't think I'd ever seen embroidery floss used like that, I guess it shows I know nothing of quilts!
Looks nice and cosy - and MC Idees, how do you get hold of that here? I can only find it around Kensington, and I don't go around those parts very often
Posted by: Petit Filoux | 16 February 2011 at 15:42
Oooh, that does look snuggly and would fit really well in our living room. I've been coveting a quilt made from wool suiting since I saw Jane Brocket's Suits and Ties quilt. Glorious!
Posted by: dottycookie | 16 February 2011 at 15:53
Now this I love! It was a fab article with lots of inspiration.
Posted by: Dragonfly | 16 February 2011 at 16:15
Beautiful!
I was in the Cloth House just a couple of days ago stroking the bolts of woollen tweed, and lamenting again that I failed to make a winter skirt from them this year. I love the idea of a winter throw.
Posted by: The List Writer | 16 February 2011 at 16:33
Oh, it's lovely and looks so warm. The wonder of wool!
Posted by: ellen kelley | 16 February 2011 at 16:50
Oh that is gorgeous Ali, absolutely gorgeous. And now I am completely regretting letting my Marie Claire Idees sub slide.
Posted by: Rebecca | 16 February 2011 at 16:53
What a beautiful quilt, great idea to use wool suiting, fits much better than florals in a modern sitting room
Posted by: Catherine | 16 February 2011 at 18:20
That looks gorgeous - much better than the spare duvet that my daughter keeps dragging out to our sofa (I'm not sure why the sudden need, when she has been happy enough running around in wee shorts and a t-shirt all day...)
Posted by: UK lass in US | 16 February 2011 at 18:32
Oh Ali, it's beautiful. And looks so cosy. I love your photos - especially the cat one - although the colours are very autumnal so I'm all of a muddle about the season!
Posted by: domestikate | 16 February 2011 at 19:35
it is wonderful! and so different and perfectly cosy. how great when creative dreams come to fruition like that. and wow...those moose heads in the magazine!! next project?! x off to see if i can get my hands on a copy : )
Posted by: kelly | 16 February 2011 at 19:55
Oh that tweedy lampshade in the first picture!
The throw is perfect for snuggling on chilly days, warm, enfolding and such wonderful fabrics. x
Posted by: French Knots | 16 February 2011 at 20:09
you made it!!!
it's fabulous. Love it.
did it pass the boys' test? I know that if mine fight over something... it's good!
Posted by: Monica | 16 February 2011 at 20:30
Oh that's lovely. Just lovely. (Would love to know your source for bias tape if you care to share...)
Posted by: Joanne | 16 February 2011 at 20:50
Oooh, very nice! It looks wonderfully cozy too. I love the shot of the cat enjoying it!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | 16 February 2011 at 21:59
Great job, Ali. Very subtle and cosy - makes me want to find a cool iceblock in the middle of this summer heat though. I'll come back and look at it in a few months the cold winter storms.
Posted by: Megan | 17 February 2011 at 04:39
Very cosy. I love the throw it's so different. I have spent the whole winter getting frustrated with my molting chenille throw.
Love the moggie pic! x
Posted by: PinkCat | 17 February 2011 at 09:45
It's lovely. Is it nice and soft? I have a wool blanket which is half soft and half itchy. I wish it was softer, but then it wouldn't be a wool blanket I suppose...
Monda
x
Posted by: Monda | 17 February 2011 at 09:59
It looks lovely and very cosy. The cat has good taste! Lucy x
Posted by: lucylocket | 17 February 2011 at 13:12
Oh just gorgeous Ali - such a beautiful subtle palette! And yes quilts are so impossible to photograph - I think you did a stirling job!!
Posted by: Chloe | 18 February 2011 at 01:15
That last comment was from me Ali - silly children have been on the computer again!!
Posted by: Louise | 18 February 2011 at 01:16
I love those muted colours and tweedy fabrics - like lots of little wintry fields. It's definitely an evening for snuggling (so cold!).
Posted by: Emma | 18 February 2011 at 16:52
That is stunning. I am speechless. Ax
Posted by: Magic Bean | 18 February 2011 at 19:54
Oh how wonderful!
I remember falling in love with the suiting fabrics on our visit to the Cloth House but not knowing what to do with them. Now I know :)
K x
Posted by: kristina | 19 February 2011 at 09:50
What a beautiful quilt - and I bet it has a lovely weight to it too. I really like the finish of the hand-tying too.
I haven't bought Marie Claire Idees in ages, but seeing this post I really miss my subscription - might have to renew it this year!
Posted by: Helen | 19 February 2011 at 21:01
I'm glad the planets aligned for you! and I'm glad I found your blog :)
I love your gorgeous quilt....
Posted by: posymoth | 20 February 2011 at 16:32
Gorgeous! A new sofa throw is on my 'to-do' list. We really need them in this old house!
Posted by: Kristy | 20 February 2011 at 20:52
If it passed the cat test..it must be cozy!
Posted by: Gina | 21 February 2011 at 16:26
all your recent posts are beautiful as ever! Love this Tweedy Throw, might have to go for a rummage at the local charity shop and steal this idea!
Posted by: Bev | 22 February 2011 at 14:35